Reading PowerPoint slides isn't training

The advent of computer technology has revolutionised the way we get our message across and in training, there is no doubt that one of the most controversial is PowerPoint.

I remember the first time I witnessed a PowerPoint presentation, I thought wow this looks really good. Of course please remember before we have PowerPoint or any other presentation tool we had Overhead Projector Slides (OHP). No wonder I was excited. To make an OHP slide took forever and involved photocopying the picture you wanted to make into a slide onto the clear plastic acetate. You then had to attach the plastic to the frame of the slide; yes it took forever. Saying that it still didn’t matter to some people how long it took and these people still managed to produce (what appeared) 100s and 100s of slides. Yes it was ‘death by OHP’!

Of course with the introduction of PowerPoint gave us an opportunity to really go to town on our creativity and soon we were able to do swish transitions and have pictures and even animations when we want to. Of course the people who practised ‘death by’ could now develop their art and soon we had a major plague on our hands and the creation of ‘death by PowerPoint’. Unfortunately, this plague hasn’t disappeared and I am constantly amazed by how many trainers practise this art in the belief that they are training.

Please read the following statement:

Reading PowerPoint Slides Isn’t Training

I can understand why people fall into this trap. The PowerPoint slide is a very useful prompt and before you know it you are following the prompt in a manner you can’t leave. Before you know it you are reading from the screen. Reading from the screen does not check understanding or application.

PowerPoint is a great tool but that is exactly what it is, a tool. Over reliance of it should never be accepted. If you are a trainer please review your PowerPoint and ask yourself honestly, do I over rely on it. I have met many trainers on my courses who have admitted that they overuse it and I can understand how this can come about.

Remember PowerPoint should complement and not rule.