Powerpoints

I have always liked powerpoints as a tool to teach students.  They can make a class a lot more interesting instead of having to stare at a white board for an hour waiting for notes.  Information is precise, obvious and they can be used as excellent study guides on blackboard.  However, if the the PowerPoint is not done correctly, it can end up hurting students.  This has happened to me in one case.  The teacher had not organized his PowerPoint's very effectively, leaving only a couple words per slide and no explanation for the text.  Furthermore, the way he had formatted his slides made the information very jumbled and unclear.  Although I adapted to his style, the unconventional method actually hampered my learning.

When a PowerPoint is done correctly it becomes a very powerfull tool for learning.  I can personally say that without powerpoints throughout high school and my first year at Trinity University, I would have had a much different education, most likely for the worst.  Although not all classes can use PowerPoint's effectively, those that can add a new experience for the students and will help them become better students.