POWERPOINT Presentations

When I worked as an ESOL teacher in College, I noticed that very few teachers used PowerPoint as a means of teaching.

When they did, the slides were almost always static, often black and white, usually in small font, and the teacher stood at the computer, regularly pressing a key to move to the next slide.

Not all teachers worked like this, but many did.

I realise that some schools, unfortunately, don�t have computers � indeed, some do not have electricity � and not all teachers are familiar with the computer. So, I can understand the difficulties.

However, on ESLP, there are numerous excellent PowerPoints, already prepared, and some are automatic. With one of these presentations, all the teacher has to do, is to start the computer on PowerPoint, click �Slide Show� and click �From Beginning�. If it�s automatically timed, the presentation runs itself to the end. If not, the teacher does nothing more than clicking the �Down� arrow to change to the next slide.

There are many advantages to using a good visual presentation.

1. Needs little preparation.

2. Effective teaching method.

3. Engages attention of students.

4. No standing in queue for photocopying.

5. Needs no chalk, pens, Whiteboard, etc.

6. Teacher can work on other things.

7. Needs only computer, (Memory Stick is a good option).

8. Colourful, animated, with music and commentary if necessary.

9. A mini cine-film.

10. Teacher can change timings, (slow/fast), for different level classes.

11. Teacher can pause, restart, stop at any time.

12. Can be small screen, or big screen with OHP.

13. Suitable for solo work by student.

14. Lesson can be repeated effortlessly at any time

15. Lasts �for ever�.

These are my thoughts. What are yours?

Les Douglas