I use a lot of power points in my classes.
- They help me be consistent from class to class within the same course.
- I can easily change them even in the middle of class if need be.
- I can upload them on to slideshare.net and when a student is absent or “zones out” during class, then they at least have the lecture notes if not what I added. (Of course what I add is very important too, but the basic lecture is a good start.)
Here is my school blog and for examples of how I use slideshare in the day-to-day posts.
Something that has surprised me is the number of people that view some of the powerpoints. I’ve got some with well over 1000 hits. That means other students are looking at them. Every once in a while I get a PM through their system with a thank you. That’s nice.
Powerpoint is awesome. It’s great that you can connect with your students through them, and man, even that your students are proactive enough to go out and look at them outside of class!
I’ve been surprised at how many tell me they go home and read the power point again. You try to go slow in class, but there is so much to cover when you include record-keeping, questions, homework . . . .
Some of their parents like it too. Helps them keep in touch.