Slideshows in Education – Useful Tips

Education is a tricky process for students and teachers alike. Thankfully, there are ways to make learning more engaging and effective for both sides. Some are already integrated into the education system, while others don’t stick so easily. Slideshows, as effective as they are, tend to fall into the latter category.

Teachers and students usually struggle with getting a clear idea of why and how to use slideshows. And that is what we want to help you figure out. With a little imagination and a handful of tips below, this method will help you greatly!

For Students

Slideshow as it is

Making a slideshow is a great way to squeeze out the essential information from a topic and give it a clear structure. It is also an effective form of group work, since it helps you to get to the bottom of things as a team. Regardless of the subject, making a slideshow is a great exercise in general, even if no one will see it in the end.

Presentation as a visual aid

Sometimes a subject that you have to present is so vast, that neither your speech nor the slides can hold it in its entirety. All the more reason to use both! Slides can show supplemental images and points that you are elaborating on, thus helping both you and your audience to keep track of your thoughts.

Studying by yourself

You don’t have to make a slideshow to reap the benefits of it and boost your understanding of a subject. Since a presentation contains information in a digestible form, you can find slideshows made by other people online to help wrap your head around anything. This is extremely helpful when you have to learn a lot in a short time.

For Teachers

Interactivity in learning

Learning through playful interaction is in general more effective than boring lecturing and cramming. Slideshows can help you introduce more interactivity into your lesson, be it in the form of a quiz or any other fitting game format. Making your classes fun greatly contributes to faster and better learning!

Graphs and numbers

Numbers belong on paper. In case you need to convey something that involves a lot of, for example, statistics, it is preferable to show the graphs and digits on a screen, while focusing your speech on core ideas. Providing data visually, while using the speech to tie it all together, helps learners comprehend the material better, as long as everything is to the point.

Lab work instructions

Sometimes you need to have some information on display for the duration of a class. For example, a lab session requires quickly accessible and clear guidelines. Not only does it benefit the learning process, but it also is good for safety, since mishandling any science equipment may result in an accident.

For Presenters

Write as little as possible

Remember – the more text there is on your slide, the lower the chances that anyone will read it at all, let alone get the point. So don’t write too much text on your slides and use images whenever possible. The slideshow should supplement your narration, and not serve as its replacement.

Avoid visual noise

A presentation spiced up with a pinch of embellishments, transitions, or animations can be more engaging. However, it is best to not overdo it, or you may end up with a design that is distracting. So, stay focused on substance rather than style, but don’t ignore the latter completely.

Give people some time

When people have to read and listen simultaneously, they get worse at both. And this harsh truth is confirmed by extensive scientific research. So, to make your presentation as effective as it gets, make breaks in your speech every once in a while to let the audience give undivided attention to your slides. This way, the information will sink in much better.

Final Words

Slideshows can truly be useful in a variety of situations. When utilized properly, it inspires students, enables teachers to include more creativity and interaction in the classroom, and increases students’ enjoyment of the learning process.

As useful as they are, slideshows are actually not so difficult to create. There are plenty of tools that will help save a lot of time and effort. For example, an automatic slideshow maker lets you create a presentation in a snap. With a collection of 60+ themed templates, 200+ built-in music tracks, comprehensive guidelines, and “Slideshow in 5 minutes” feature, you’ll be able to quickly achieve great results.

The final piece of advice we have, however, could seem a little counterintuitive: be familiar with the subject enough to present it without any slides at all. You’ll be more at ease, and less tempted to read from slides, and your lesson will flow much more smoothly.