EXPLODING MORE POWERPOINT MYTHS ”

In previous blogs, I’ve railed against PowerPoint presentations as a learning tool. It is not a tool for learning — and, never has been. PowerPoint is merely one way to convey information. But, it cannot be used to teach anyone anything! At best, it can only inform — and, not particularly well at that.

We now have another attack on PowerPoint –- only this time about its use as a decision tool. The article, “Dumb-Dumb Bullets” by T. X. Hammes (Retired Marine Corps), published in the armed-forces-journal Armed Forces Journal talks about the destructive use of PowerPoint in terms of thinking and decision making.

Hammes writes, “Unfortunately, as soon as they graduate, our people return to a world driven by a tool that is the antithesis of thinking: PowerPoint. Make no mistake. PowerPoint is not a neutral tool — it is actively hostile to thoughtful decision-making. It has fundamentally changed our culture by altering the expectations of who makes decisions, what decisions they make and how they make them.”

So, there you have it. Another strike on top of the “learning myth” strike I have previously thrown.

Why should you care about any of this? No reason to — unless you have responsibilities in corporate training or education. corporate-training Or, unless you have responsibilities in the creation of, or the purchase of, e-Learning solutions.

There are many vendors out there who market e-Learning authoring tools for PowerPoint conversions who, themselves, have no knowledge of effective learning theory or application. They, ignorantly, believe that their authoring system, built around the conversion of PowerPoint presentations, actually creates learning credibility.

Well, it doesn’t — unless fattening their wallets qualifies as learning credibility.

Those of you who are committed to learning outcomes need to keep PowerPoint out of your learning lexicon and concentrate on effective media design (full motion/optional audio). Develop it or purchase it. You’ll sure be glad you did.