Bad PowerPoint…I need your help

So, I have to develop a PowerPoint presentation for my dissertation prospectus. The template is simple but the request for content is not. The information required for this assignment is so detailed that PowerPoint is pushed beyond effective to complicated. I’ve drafted 2 versions and just cannot find a comfortable level of information on the slides for my experience with PowerPoint.

Ironically, this post and assignment are on the heels of a presentation about bad PowerPoint presentation for an education audience. Funny how the universe works.

The debate in my mind is about the on-screen portion of the assignment. The template instructions are clear about not altering the template. There are some areas where it is expressly clear that additions can be made for the sake of clarity. It is a cookie cutter template designed to keep things uniform. But uniform for who? Students? No. Audience members? No.

I am guessing that this is an attempt to make things uniform for the attending faculty members. Such a faculty-centric model is  unlike UOP. However, many of the classes are becoming more automated and robotic in nature, perhaps this is an extension of that.

Whatever the reason, I don’t like the PowerPoint assignment. I feel that a better test of the students’ preparation for the dissertation prospectus would be to develop a 10-12 minute speech and written prospectus for the audience. Even better would be to allow for questions, comments, workshops on how to improve the prospectus. This would be student-centric and preferred.

Now, back to the PowerPoint. I am debating on adding slides to make the PowerPoint more effective for the whole audience. As a professional speake, I am geared to an audience-centric style and have the skills to make this an effective and engaging presentation.

What do you think? Your comments are most appreciated.  Don’t wait too long, I am scheduled to deliver this on June 22nd and I want to wrap up the assignment by June 16th.

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