Students' opinion on plain lectures vs PowerPoint slides

Click here to see my presentation on how to make an ideal presentation using PowerPoint.

Classes using PowerPoint slides

• We can get the picture in our minds when you take class. With pictures and videos we can understand in a better way.
• We can have visual perspective and can remember longer.
• It is something new, videos shown stick to our minds and points are highlighted.
• It is quickly finished and more informative.
• Colourful and easy to understand.
• Since it is interesting, we will not fall asleep.
• More pictures give us a better imagination and hence better understanding of the subject.
• It is attractive; your slides are a little different from others.
• We can very well understand and we can keep the pictures you show on slide in our memory very well.
• Pictorial representation is easy to remember and recollect.
• We get a clear cut idea about the procedures & methods by observing slides.
• Playing animations and sound effects adds little more to effective teaching.
• By visual way of learning one remembers longer, the main points are understood. It is the combination of seeing, reading and hearing which are more effective.
• Because we can see images we can imagine and learn.
• Videos shown are printed in our minds.
• One can learn easily and note down good points.
• We can see the points that we miss hearing.
• Point wise presentation easy to remember, we can note down important points.
• Professor gives more stress in explaining rather than writing.
• Things that are difficult to visualize can be seen.
• No need to read again, it just gets fixed in the mind.
• Revision of things gets easy.
• PowerPoint is better when some words are not clearly heard.
• If we miss to listen anything, we can see the slides and learn something.
• We can get the spelling of certain terminologies.
• Visual perceptions remains in the brain for longer time than what we hear.

• Classroom is dark like a cinema hall.
• Matter is boring as it contains many points
• It is lengthy and sometimes can't grasp what is on the screen.
• Curtains and darkness gives sleepy environment.
• Not able to go through all the points on the slide and is one-way interaction.
• With PowerPoint class is boring and sleepy.
• In big classroom I feel suffocated; curtains should not be used.
• Curtains are close; there is no fresh air or light, so we feel sleepy.
• Sometimes constantly looking at PowerPoint screen will strain the eyes.
• Can't concentrate on the topic, there is no interaction between student & teacher.
• It is slow and gets monotonous sometimes.
• Both the student and the teacher read the same thing.
• Not everything is clear at times, there is no interest in listening.
• Find boring to read what comes on the screen.
• More theory makes class boring, readymade diagrams are difficult to follow.
• Doesn't create mood to listen.
• It is difficult to listen and see both at the same time as it causes little confusion.
• Can't correlate between what the professor speaks and what we see, we usually end up only reading on the screen and not really listening.
• Very small letters can't be seen from back.
• It never lets us imagine things what is being taught because I believe that imagination by ourselves helps us to activate long term memory. In PowerPoint only short term memory is activated. It never lets us to recollect things we read.
• Some time is wasted in setting up PowerPoint; teacher can't concentrate on all students.
• Our concentration is more on seeing the slides and noting down the points rather than listening.
• Explanation should not be mere reading of the slides.
• Temptations to do other things since it is quire dark.

Plain lectures without any multimedia presentations

• Considering the fact that you have no bothering about the slides your complete concentration is upon the student, which keeps us conscious and oriented us to listen.
• It is more interactive, better communication, have eye-to-eye contact & more topics are covered in less time.
• We will be attentive the whole class.
• We can see you and listen to you properly.
• We can understand at least what you say & teach. It is not boring.
• Keeps us awake and helps us concentrate more.
• Repetition of points helps to recall, we can make notes.
• It is easy to remember what we write and listen.
• It is good to see the teacher and the board rather than the screen.
• When the teacher writes on board we can understand each and every point he teaches with full concentration.
• Diagrams drawn on board are easier to follow.
• Students can listen to the teacher as there is nothing to see.
• Natural light and air (no darkeness) improves learning environment.

• It is good; but is too routine.
• Some extra knowledge is not known and photos can't be seen.
• Not interesting and is boring.
• It is boring and can get distracted more easily.
• It sometimes makes us imagine things when the picture is not in front of us.
• Boring and puts you to sleep.
• It is fast. It is difficult to understand and follow the procedure of methods.
• Requires more concentration.
• We have to imagine things and then understand, which is a little bit of strain.
• Because the class is fast, we can't make notes.
• Students are bored of seeing the same blackboard.
• Diagrams drawn don't give clear idea like original picture.

"Recommendations/feedback:

• Please continue to use PowerPoint.
• Only the pictures & videos be shown and not the description or text.
• Both are comfortable.
• Better to teach only some topics using PowerPoint, please use both techniques.
• PowerPoint classes should not be lengthy.
• I am happy with your teaching methods of using PowerPoint. Sir, please continue it.
• We are bored by attending morning class and three hours of clinics and PowerPoint will create more interest in learning.
• In total, with PowerPoint there are only disadvantages and I personally feel it is a very bad idea.
• Using PowerPoint is a good idea but limit it to showing pictures and videos.
• Please switch off the fan and open up the windows, natural air is better than fans.
• Sir, it is actually not your lecture that makes us yawn, but the intense speed of fan, please don't switch it off, reduce the speed.
• Classes without the PowerPoint are also good but are routine.
• It is better if classes are held as lectures and at the end just glance everything with PowerPoint by showing some slides, pictures whichever are concerned to the topic.
• When you take class without PowerPoint, it is entirely your own and not from the CDs or something. Whenever you write something on board it leaves a very good impression over our mind.
• It will be helpful if both by writing on board and showing us the pictures simultaneously will help us a lot.
• Moving around the students is a good idea.
• PowerPoint can be good for a change but on regular class lectures are better.
• PowerPoint should be used for special topics only.
• Students end up listening and not learning anything without PowerPoint and with PowerPoint students see but don't learn.
• Both methods should be followed, half lecture and half PowerPoint.
• We feel boring after first half hour of PowerPoint, so please do without PowerPoint for first 20 minutes and then a video and later PowerPoint for 30 minutes.
• Please display pictures and videos only.