Quick tips on teaching students how to create PowerPoint presentations and adapting them to your lesson plans.

When the lights go off and a PowerPoint presentation begins, it can be the start of something different and unique, depending on how you plan your lesson. It is the time when students can exploit their creative skills. PowerPoint presentations also appeal to a variety of learning styles especially the students who learn best visually.

Students may have even started to approach you with their thoughts of presenting a PowerPoint presentation to their peers. While this is a nice thought, it is a skill that needs practice.

Teach your new students the essentials of PowerPoint presentations. Most students learn by doing, so even if the first PowerPoint presentation does not go according to plan, that is alright. You could spring from the first test case and show the students how to think in terms of PowerPoint presentations from planning to doing.

The Lesson Plan is in the Planning Stage

Encourage students to think before they prepare their slides. What is the actual hook of their presentation? Here are a few basic generic questions to help get them started.

My PowerPoint Lesson

My PowerPoint presentation is on: __________________________ (subject)

I want to teach: ___________________________ (examples here are helpful)

I will present the information by: ______________________(ie. giving facts, showing pictures, asking questions, playing music, graphs)

At the end of the lesson, I want the students to know more about: ___________________________________________________________________

(encourage students to be as specific as possible - ie. what steps have been done to prevent the Saber Tooth tiger from being extinct)

Preparing the Slides

When students do more planning, the actual creative part comes easier for them.

PowerPoint presentations are also being used more and more for student projects, homework and performance tasks. Maximizing student attention and focus is of utmost necessity for ALL PowerPoint presentations but even more in particular for High School research projects.

However just like a teacher's unsuccessful lesson, a PowerPoint presentation can disappoint and upset the fluidity of a lesson plan. Here are some tips to encourage maximum student participation and focus.

• Make sure the font size is large enough. Encourage the students to view the font size from the back of the room as a indicator.
• Have a balance between information and visual data.
• Encourage students to stop and explain, not simply to read off the slide. This is the part where they can add or elucidate something thus giving the slide their own personal touch.
• Encourage five minute of questioning and five minute of feedback. This ensure quality control and a balance between media and students.
• Test all technological setups and communications prior to presenting the lesson plan in class.

Keep it Interactive

Interactive PowerPoint presentations should combine a variety of media. Use non-visual date such as charts and pictures with captions.