Comments on: Death by PowerPoint no More!

By: CaliforniaISD

CaliforniaISD — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 22:41:38 +0000

Death by power point (PPT) is a reference I make daily – I am required to create and maintain slides and provide briefings as a an AF Instructor. I feel that the three points made about the content and how to use PPT is a good rule of thumb however – I also feel that presentation is a huge factor. PPT in my opinion can have a lot of information that way when students leave they have a good reference guide if the briefer is able to provide a outline or handout during or after the presentation. It is up to the briefer to convey what they want the student to take away and be able to apply by incorporating other tools. Being able to talk smartly about the content on the slides and not reading them will also help individuals focus on important information. Also by simply adding a video clip at good break points may help highlight a point and reengage students during long briefs.

By: Sheila Johnston

Sheila Johnston — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 22:32:14 +0000

It’s funny that I would find and read this blog just two days after my work required me to go through all of our PowerPoint presentations for the year. I was required to tally up the number of slides I created for each course, and I found not a single course had less than 200 + slides! As one of their technical writers/graphic artists, the more slides I create, the better I look…it shows that I am working, right?!

However, as a brand new instructional design student, I find it interesting how many of my current work ideas and requirements are being challenged by my new instructional design course material, by instructional design blogs sites like this one from Langevin, and by other instructional design resources. As far as my work goes, I guess I have my work cut out for me if I am to follow the three tips presented in this blog.

By: Brian L

Brian L — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:09:47 +0000

Full page documents should never be incorporated into a slide. Instead, hyperlink to them and distribute as handouts

By: Liz Wool, CMT

Liz Wool, CMT — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 02:29:38 +0000

Excellent points.

For tips # 1 and #2 — I always add the ‘visual’ anchors ‘my visual’ learners !

By: Christine SG

Christine SG — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:52:07 +0000

This article made me completely rethink my approach on the training program I am currently working on. I’ve gone from about 60 PPT slides down to just 5 for a one day session. This is my favourite blog.
Thanks!

By: Ruth

Ruth — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 17:50:26 +0000

Thank you, Jim! What a great reminder in the power of using PowerPoint intelligently! So often this tool is over-used and the more it’s used (at least in my organization) more it’s abused. The art and skill of facilitating should be propped with slide presentation, rather than become a crutch for a facilitator. PowerPoint should never be the training material, but the facilitator’s aid. Learners should be learning from their experience and actvities involved in the training. If reading a PowerPoint presentation to a group of adults is what defines a training session, then just print it off and let the learners do it themselves. It can be insulting to adult learners to have someone stand in front of a room and read bullet by bullet (6pt font or othewise), slide by slide, and call it training. This has long been a pet peeve of mine. Thanks for validating my beliefs!

By: Joyce

Joyce — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:22:13 +0000

Turning off the slides when not being referenced is powerful!

By: Jim Bowles

Jim Bowles — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:51:17 +0000

Jim,
Great advice.

I have come up with a couple of PowerPoint rules of my own.

The first is the “666PPT” rule to be used by presenters who refuse to follow your advice. This rule will ensure a nearly 100% “kill rate”.
1. Have ‘at least’ 6 bullet points per slide
2. Have a minimum of six sentences per bullet point
3. Use no larger than a 6 point serif font.

The other rule is the Lenny rule and is much more along the lines of your positive advice. Like Lenny of “Of Mice and Men”, keep each slide “Big & Simple”.