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The Advantages and Disadvantages of PowerPoint
Author: Sophia
PDF Version
what's covered
In this lesson, you will learn how to weigh the advantages and disadvantages
of a particular presentation software. Specifically, this lesson will cover"
1. PowerPoint— Advantage or Disadvantage for the Presenter?
1. Advantages
2. Disadvantages
1. PowerPoint— Advantage or Disadvantage for the Presenter?
PowerPoint is the most popular presentation software. It is regarded by many
as the most useful and accessible way to create and present visual aids to the
audience.
On the other hand, others believe it has created its own mind-set which forces
presenters to spend countless hours thinking in PowerPoint and developing
slides. A political party has even formed to ban PowerPoint in Switzerland.
Depending on one's perspective, it seems that many advantages could easily
be viewed as disadvantages.
Look over the list below to see where you stand— with or against PowerPoint.
term to know
PowerPoint
An electronic slide presentation created and presented using the
program (verb) to communicate to (an audience) by electronic slides.
1a. Advantages
Design:
Quick and easy: The basic features are easy to master and can make you
appear to be organized, even if you are not.
Simple bullet points: It can reduce complicated messages to simple bullet
points. Bullet points are a good basis for a presentation and remind the
speaker of main points and the organization of the message.
Easy to create a colorful, attractive design: Using the standard templates and
themes, you can create something visually appealing, even if you do not have
much knowledge of basic graphic design principles.
Easy to modify: When compared to other visual aids such as charts, posters,
or objects, it is easy to modify.
Easily re-order presentation: with a simple drag and drop or using key strokes,
you can move slides to re-order the presentation.
Finally, PowerPoint is integrated with other products that allow you to include
parts of documents, spread sheets, and graphics.
Delivery:
Audience size: PowerPoint slides are generally easier to see by a large
audience when projected than other visual aids.
Easy to present: You can easily advance the slides in the presentation one
after another with a simple key stroke while still maintaining eye contact with
the audience.
No need for handouts: They look good visually and can be easily read if you
have a projector and screen that is large enough for the entire room.
term to know
Bullet Points
Bulleted items – known as bullet points – may be short phrases, single
sentences, or of paragraph length; used to introduce items in a list.
1b. Disadvantages
Design:
Design power pointless: Gives the illusion of content and coherence, when in
fact there is really not much substance or connection between the different
points on the slides.
PowerPoint excess: Some speakers create presentations so they have slides
to present rather than outlining, organizing, and focusing on the message.
Replaces planning and preparation: PowerPoint is a convenient prop for poor
speakers, as it can reduce complicated messages to simple bullet points and
elevates style over substance.
Oversimplification of topic: The linear nature of PowerPoint forces the
presenter to reduce complex subjects to a set of bullet items that are too weak
to support decision-making or show the complexity of an issue.
Feature abundance: While the basic features are easy to use and apply, a
speaker can get carried away and try to use all the features at once rather
than simply supporting a message. Too many flying letters, animations, and
sound effects without seeing much original thought or analysis can be a real
issue. In many cases, the medium shoves the message aside.
Delivery:
Basic equipment required: You will need to have a computer and projection
equipment in place to display the slides to the audience.
Focus on medium, not message: Too many people forget that they are
making a presentation first and that PowerPoint is just a tool.
summary
In this lesson, you learned that some people regard PowerPoint as the most
useful, accessible way to create and present visual aids; others believe it has
its own mind-set which forces presenters to spend countless hours thinking in
PowerPoint and developing slides. Advantages of PowerPoint include the
ease of use and ability to create a smooth presentation flow,
while disadvantages include the inability to represent the complexity of
certain topics and the need for basic equipment to present the slideshow.
Source: Boundless. "The Advantages and Disadvantages of PowerPoint."
Boundless Communications Boundless, 17 Mar. 2017. Retrieved 3 Jun. 2017
from https://www.boundless.com/communications/textbooks/boundless-
communications-textbook/preparing-and-using-visual-aids-16/using-
powerpoint-and-alternatives-successfully-85/the-advantages-and-
disadvantages-of-powerpoint-323-5654/
Terms to Know
Bullet Points
Bulleted items – known as bullet points – may be short phrases, single
sentences, or of paragraph length; used to introduce items in a list.
PowerPoint
An electronic slide presentation created and presented using the
program (verb) to communicate to (an audience) by electronic slides.
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