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PowerPoint is a presentation package
suitable for creating electronic presentations, plus overhead transparencies, handouts,
outlines and speaker notes. A PowerPoint presentation's main purpose is
to
- show the focus of a speaker's message in key points; and
- enhance the meaning of a presentation with multimedia, i.e. text,
graphics, animations and sound.
When used properly the use of
PowerPoint can
- increase understanding and reduce confusion;
- increase audience involvement;
- reinforce key points;
- make dull statistics come alive;
- freshen an old message; and
- give the presenter a feeling of confidence and control.
The dangers of PowerPoint presentations include overdoing the multimedia so that
- animations, sound, colour and graphics, i.e. multimedia, overwhelm the senses.
- multimedia entertains without enhancing the message.
- the presenter focuses on the screen and looses eye contact with the audience.
- it gives too much
information too quickly.
In the classroom PowerPoint can be used by
- learners presenting their own ideas, as they learn about the topic;
- educators achieving their goal of explaining a concept or introducing a small section of content;
and
- educators creating clear illustrations used as transparencies.
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