Welcome to my PowerPoint resource page. It will evolve over time as new information and links become available. I should begin by saying that I’m not a “Sourpointer”. I use PowerPoint almost every week, but perhaps not in ways you’d expect. I view PowerPoint as just another tool–whose use can lead to good, bad, or even ugly results. I’m mostly impressed by how mediocre PowerPoint presentations can be. It creates a path of least resistance that often gets in the way of meaningful classroom interaction PowerPoint was built for marketing and is great for making a pitch to a potential customer. But colleagues and students rarely want a marketing pitch. Instead they need audiovisuals that support and clarify what the speaker has to say.
I must acknowledge my debt to Edward Tufte who’s work inspired me to look deeper into how information is displayed, transmitted and assimilated–and incorporate these insights into my professional life. His many books are beautiful to behold and a joy to read. He also has an active online forum with many thought-provoking threads. I attended his short course in 2007 and can highly recommend it.
Resource Links
Using PowerPoint Effectively Handout
Edward Tufte Monograph on The Cognitive Style of PowerPoint
PowerPoint Does Rocket Science–and Better Techniques for Technical Reports
Lousy PowerPoint Presentations: The Fault of PP Users?
Editorial Links
‘Teach Naked’ Effort Strips Computers From Classrooms
Edward Tufte, Offering ‘Beautiful Evidence’
The Level of Discourse Continues to Slide
PowerPoint is Evil: Power Corrupts, PowerPoint Corrupts Absolutely
If Lincoln Had Used PowerPoint for the Gettysburg Address
PowerPoint: Shot With Its Own Bullets
