Module 3: Presentations

It's difficult enough to engage some students with lecture, and it's even worse when the technology-based part of the presentation is poorly designed (or no technology is used at all!). In working with presentation software, it's important that teachers first understand the basics of good presentating/lecturing.

Here are some lecturing guidelines from Stanford University (USA) that teachers can review before working on adding technology to their lecture.

Here is a brief reading that suggests different, and possibly more engaging, ways to get across the lecture ideas.

However the teacher decides to help learners access the information they need, following the steps below can help make the lecture that much better and more engaging.

Step 1: How to Make a PowerPoint Presentation

Here is a tutorial for those who need support to create a presentation.

Step 2: Design Basics

Here are some basic ideas on how to create an effective presentation - what to do and what to avoid. Also, click here for some great hints and tips on designing your presentation.

Step 3: Twelve Active Learning Strategies

Engagement research suggests that learners will achieve more and understand better if they make the presentations themselves. If this is not possible, this short article explains simple ways to interact with students (or students with each other) during the presentation to help engage them.

Step 4: Trying a New Tool

PowerPoint is easy to use, but if its use is not engaging your students, there are plenty of other tools that may.

Here is a list of free presentation and slideshow tools.

Powtoon

One really fun tool that is engaging both to use and to watch is Powtoon. Use the job aid and your most creative ideas about your topic to create a presentation for your class.

For additional help, see the tutorial videos from Powtoon and information about "explainer videos" (short, animated explanations).