The Allen Wrench of Instruction

Published on Wednesday, November 8, 2023

It is time we discuss what some may consider a controversial topic – PowerPoint presentations. “But Dr. Ricker, I have so much information to share all at once!” You do, and that is very exciting! However, for the audience, all of the information in your brain all on one slide is a bit overwhelming. Let’s say this all together, “It’s okay to have blank space on a slide!” See! Everything is still okay even though we have said it out loud.

PowerPoint presentations are really not for members of the audience. They are for you as the presenter. They help you to stay on topic and gives you talking points as you move through your presentation. What should be included on a single PowerPoint slide? A slide should feature 3-5 summarized key points. These key points do not have to be in complete sentences. Think of it as a reminder for you as you are talking through your presentation. I encourage the use of bullet points as it visually delineates one point from the next. Another option for a slide is to feature a graphic (tables, images, diagrams, etc.). Be careful of how many graphics are on one slide though. Too many pictures or details is visually overwhelming. I also encourage the incorporation of putting the session objective the slide is related to at the bottom of the slide like a footnote. This allows students to go back and reference certain slides that meet the objectives.

One great PowerPoint feature to keep students engaged is an add-on called Poll Everywhere. You will find out more information about that in the next Journey article. In short, Poll Everywhere is an audience response system that gives you real-time feedback from the students through multiple choice questions, open text, diagrams, and more! Email me, Dr. Brittany Ricker, if you would like more information on this and how to incorporate it into your presentations.

Everything you say in your lecture does not have to be verbatim on your slide. Students are very good about taking notes, and that is also a way to keep them engaged as your progress through your presentation. A cool feature in PowerPoint is the notes section located at the bottom of the screen in the application. In that section, you can write out more detailed information you would like to remember to say in your presentation. This could also serve as your script if needed. It is saved in your presentation so students are able to reference it when reviewing later.

Think of it this way: You’re putting together a bookshelf for your home or office with the poorly illustrated instruction manual and also that little Allen wrench the store always provides. You are the builder. The bookshelf is the product. The instruction manual is a source of information. The Allen wrench is the tool.  Translated into a classroom context – you are the instructor (builder); the exam question data is the product (bookshelf); the textbook or article is a source of information (manual); and the PowerPoint is the tool (Allen wrench). The PowerPoint brings it all together just like that little Allen wrench puts together that bookshelf. Your presentation is a key piece of your lecture for you and the students, and they are extremely beneficial when used well!