Powerpointlessness!

In my experience "Powerpoint" has become a generic term that refers to a computer based slide presentation. When we are asked to create a "Powerpoint" it seems like the "Powerpoint" becomes the hallmark of the assignment. The usage of PowerPoint has also become a generic measure of technical ability. While one may be very adept at creating fancy transitions and making fireworks appear onscreen the depth and breadth of content gets lost among the residual smoke. The article, Scoring Power Points, states that "powerpointing can become a goal in itself - an unfortunate example of technology being done for technology's sake."

I think the author is trying to say that powerpointlessness is when the presentation is put together so poorly that it doesn't convey a meaningful message. A great deal of effort is spent on the visual presentation with little attention to the content. The article also mentions that students usually spend more time on the special effect than on the topic being presented. Additionally, when there is too much text or too many bells and whistles in a presentation the audience becomes distracted. The distractions from too many fancy special effects and not enough engaging evidence loses the audience and the Powerpoint becomes pointless. 

I have seen many pointless PowerPoint presentations. Students have used them to present what they have previously "cut & pasted" rather than using it to highlight their own ideas and thoughts about issues. I think we can teach students to do them effectively by focusing on the topical content of their material rather than on the presented outcome. I think we should require students to complete their research and a rough draft prior to telling them it will culminate in a PowerPoint presentation. We should also monitor their research and ensure there is adequate data for them to make their points. According to the article their points should be tied directly to the evidence and the PowerPoint should be used to make an interesting representation of those ideas. 

Teaching students about creating effective PowerPoints should be a priority when it is part of the curriculum. I feel that students can develop bad habits related to ineffective PowerPoints early on and it will be much harder to break those habits as they get older. Educators should also be very involved in helping students understand how to use the tool when it is first introduced to avoid those ineffective tendencies. 

It's unfortunate to miss the mark on how to use a tool like PowerPoint effectively. Powerpoints should be used to further build on an author's body of work and collection of thoughts and ideas. It can be an effective communication tool to enhance ideas, present compelling evidence and engage audiences.