Although PowerPoint has been used for years in schools by both teachers and students, there are pros and cons to its use and in order to use it successfully; teachers need to create effective lectures and assignments while using PowerPoint.
Some pros and cons are listed below:
PowerPoint Pros:
- detailed info can be very legible
- excellent for photographs and diagrams
- can incorporate digital images, video clips (allows teacher to reach visual and audio learners)
- can be animated
- can be shared electronically
- great in an inclusion classroom (great way to motivate and involve both the special education and general education students)
PowerPoint Cons:
- lacks in-class flexibility
- dim lights = drowsy students
- no persistence of information (only one board visible)
- technological failures (no power, blown projector, etc.)
- may be presented too fast for students to make good use/notes
- small amount of words per slide requires presenter to use large amounts of slides which breaks up information (it is proven that information is absorbed and learned better if all relative information is presented next to each other)
In short, PowerPoint is a powerful tool that in the right circumstances can be a significant enhancement to student learning. However, it's not the right tool for all circumstances, and should only be used when it clearly will add to student learning.
