PowerPoint

PowerPoint is a tool like a pen or a typewriter…

The big difference between these tools is not the technology involved but the fact that a poor lesson dominated by a long, linear lecture delivered by PowerPoint is blamed on the tool not the presentation author. We do not blame the pen or the typewriter for a badly written book, so we should not dismiss PowerPoint as a very important educational tool because it isn’t used effectively…

…read here for a continuation of my rant against PowerPoint’s detractors the problem with Death By Powerpoint cliche users and to see my 13 rules for avoiding Death by Powerpoint (yes I know 13 is an odd number for an internet list but you’re lucky I kept it to just 13!). A student version is on its way (without the rant).

Meanwhile please find below a collection of some of my templates for quizzes and PowerPoint tutorials from absolute beginner to almost guru status level (most of the latter won’t be from me but ‘derived’ from true gurus!).

Another good link from elearnr.org on bad and good use of Powerpoint. Has a very funny video clip:

Beyond boring Powerpoint presentations

Resources:

Quiz template using macros: good for an independent learning activity for students. See AS level resources for the animal cell quiz and student powerpoint show as a working example. multi-choice-quiz-macro-template

Games templates from Culpepper online (has videos as well)

Training:

Saving presentations as shows (opens directly as a show rather than a presentation first)

Setting your presentation in kiosk mode (self-running presentation)

I have linked to Ellen Finkelstein’s website on my blog roll and really do recommend you check it out. Loads of great ideas, templates and training tips, all for free.

Below are a some links to some excellent and good value e-books and courses also available from Ellen:

101 Tips Every PowerPoint user should know:
Click here to view more details

PowerPoint Self-Study Course:
Click here to view more details

Using PowerPoint 2007 video training course:
Click here to view more details

ClickBiology Resources by Allison Gardner is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.