I don't remember where I read this, but there is a theory or maybe even some research done that says we remember 30% of what we hear but 70% of what we see and hear. While in the audience during a lecture, the presenter began to speak and a large screen behind them illuminated. I was relieved to see some sort of technology used to help illustrate fine points, perhaps show a movie clip or use still images to bring relevant meaning to the topic being addressed. Nope. Not even close. What happened for the next hour and half has inspired me to think that teachers or any one that addressed an audience a course in PowerPoint (Keynote ) usage. Literally every word that came from the presenters mouth was on the screen. EVERY WORD! They stood next to the screen and read to us, standing on a awkward angle, looking at us when they read ahead and then back to the screen. I was able to read faster than they could talk so I would get to the end of the slide, take a note and wait for them to finish. Needless to say, it was very hard to learn, and to be honest, it was very annoying. Why bother speaking, just switch the slide when we are all done. So my thinking (in between slides) I was wondering, who teaches presenters and teachers how to use this media in an effective way? Is this part of any curriculum? So here are some resources that I found that might help you or maybe someone who needs some help.
If we retain more of what we see and hear, how do we use this in our lesson plans? Are we going to have everything read aloud? Do we need a voice over for all our technology presentations or even all our in class reading? Will it become distracting to students with ADD or those who have trouble focusing.
How about on tests? Do headphones become mandatory?
Thanks for the humorous blog post - which of course rings true for anyone who has sat through an awful PowerPoint presentation matched with a lecture. I think it is great to use resources like these if we are ever to present, but more importantly, I think it is so important to teach students these skills as PowerPoint becomes even more popular in the real world.
I believe we do retain more of what we see and hear. I was referring to more of a presenters use of visual aids as an enforcer of ideas rather than larger note cards. I think having everything read out loud could be beneficial to some people. How you use this in your lesson plans is up to you. In terms of a voice over for presentations, that would be the presenters job to make the points. And it would be highly distracting, almost as distracting as having someone read off a slide. So students with disabilities could benefit from having questions read to them and as could all students. Hearing key words versus glancing over them. I am afraid that you may have missed the point of the post. I started with the idea that we remember more of what we see and hear. The use of visual aids (hence the word aids) should help the audience retain and enjoy a presentation, not bore them.
If we retain more of what we see and hear, how do we use this in our lesson plans? Are we going to have everything read aloud? Do we need a voice over for all our technology presentations or even all our in class reading? Will it become distracting to students with ADD or those who have trouble focusing.
ReplyDeleteHow about on tests? Do headphones become mandatory?
Hello Jon,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the humorous blog post - which of course rings true for anyone who has sat through an awful PowerPoint presentation matched with a lecture. I think it is great to use resources like these if we are ever to present, but more importantly, I think it is so important to teach students these skills as PowerPoint becomes even more popular in the real world.
Thanks,
Sean
I believe we do retain more of what we see and hear. I was referring to more of a presenters use of visual aids as an enforcer of ideas rather than larger note cards. I think having everything read out loud could be beneficial to some people. How you use this in your lesson plans is up to you. In terms of a voice over for presentations, that would be the presenters job to make the points. And it would be highly distracting, almost as distracting as having someone read off a slide. So students with disabilities could benefit from having questions read to them and as could all students. Hearing key words versus glancing over them.
ReplyDeleteI am afraid that you may have missed the point of the post. I started with the idea that we remember more of what we see and hear. The use of visual aids (hence the word aids) should help the audience retain and enjoy a presentation, not bore them.