Monday, April 4, 2011
Powerpoint
I agree with the author of the article for the most part. I feel that there shouldn't be an emphasis on technology related presentation, but writing. Writing is the basis for all communication and it baffles me to see that the younger generations taking no interest in it whatsoever. Instead, they just focus on learning everything they can on a computer to just half-ass presentations. I understand the use of technology in the classroom, but we need to get back to basic writing for A Powerpoint is a good aide for reinforcing what your content consists of. Pictures, for example, is a great way to show and emphasize certain aspects of the provided rhetoric. I feel that an essay can stand alone a lot better without the outside help of other media. However, with Powerpoint, you are limiting the amount of information to provide. Furthermore, if you merge the two, using visual aides to back up the rhetoric, it would be a very simple, yet effective way to further convey your thesis. What teachers should be teaching is when and where it is appropriate to use Powerpoint.
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Thoughtful post, Erik.
ReplyDeleteI might argue that if we think in terms of "composing" rather than just writing, then incorporating more multimedia technology makes sense. These writing classes were trauditionally called "Composition" I and II. Aristotle's definition of rhetoric involves "seeing and discovering the available means of persuasion" - and it seems to me that Power Point is just another "means."
As you rightly point out, though, it's awfully easy to phone in a Power Point presentation. As one who studies/teaches writing, I agree that we shouldn't overlook its importance. Sometimes this DOES occur - in our haste to adopt new technologies as educators, we forget that writing is still central to everything we do.
You write:
>>What teachers should be teaching is when and where it is appropriate to use Powerpoint. <<
Yes. Amen.