Presentation Design. For Educators.

Introduction

I hope to help you improve your use of technology in the classroom – especially presentation slides.

Although technology has contributed to great educational advances, it has also become a hinderance to students in the classroom when it is used inappropriately. Few people would deny the fact that cell phones, laptops, and other portable connected devices are a distraction to students & teachers, but it may seem strange that PowerPoint can be just as much of a distraction.

PowerPoint becomes a distraction in the classroom when:

  1. It is over-used as the only method of teaching
  2. It is used inappropriately

I hope to share some reminders of alternative teaching methods and provide simple principles to follow to ensure that PowerPoint slides are used at appropriate times and in appropriate ways.

First, it is important to understand how the brain works and processes information. Then it will be possible to determine which teaching methods complement brain function.

Here's a quick primer from brain scientist, Dr. John Medina.

What are BrainSlides?

BrainSlides was developed to address a particular niche in the world of presentations: using slides in education.

Many people are familiar with the Death by PowerPoint concept and a handful of books and blogs address the issue of designing good presentations in the business world. But PowerPoint presentations have also made their way into the classrooms at universities, colleges, high schools, and even some junior high and elementary schools. There simply aren’t any good online resources addressing the incorrect use – and overuse – of PowerPoint slides in the classroom.

Why Brain Slides? The main ideas presented on this site are supported by scientific research. The book Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Home, Work, and School, by Dr. John Medina, was a huge catalyst in making the decision to create this site. What we know about how the brain works tells us that the way we are currently using PowerPoint, well… sucks.