Dr' G'L' Whitt

1
PowerPoint A Two-headed Instructional Tool
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PowerPoint

• Common Abuses
• Best Practices
• You get to practice

3
Common Abuses

• Funky graphic design
• Distracting noise
• Graphic density too high
• Dual processor fouls (read and listen)

4
Graphic Design

• Watch for color bleed

5
This is Hard to Read
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Choose 1 Emphasis Method

• If you choose too many methods of
• emphasiszing
• something,
• your students dont know what is important!

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So is This
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Fonts Should Be Large
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Use Contrasting Color Schemes
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Fonts

• This is a 32 point font
• This is a 32 point font
• Notice any difference??
• Serifs make it difficult to read text.
• Its pretty but it is less legible.

11
Noise

• Can be useful (rarely)
• It is usually distracting and counter-productive

12
Graphic Density

• This is just a fancy way to say that many people
  try to put too much stuff on a slide. PowerPoint
  isnt meant to be used this way. You dont ever
  want to put more than 25 words on a slide. This
  slide has 47.

13
Dual Processing

• Never read to your students while expecting them
  to read. If you were going to read it to them,
  you shouldnt have put it on a slide, unless, of
  course, you were going to give them time to read
  it as well.

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Best Practices
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Large Fonts

• This is a 60 point font
• This is a 40 point font
• This is a 20 point font and has become an eye
  test

16
Some Colors Just Work Better
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Dark Font on Light Text

• Its fairly dull but it is legible

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Light Font on Dark Background is Also Fine
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Just Be Careful Out There and PowerPoint
Responsibly