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Journal of Teaching and Learning with Technology, Vol. 1, No. 1, June 2012, p. 63. 

Reducing ‘Death by PowerPoint’ 
 

Michael Abernethy1 
 
Keywords:  PowerPoint, best practices, student engagement 
 
Framework 
 
PowerPoint use in the classroom has increased dramatically in the last ten years, although not always 
successfully. When PowerPoint presentations take precedence over lecture material, students lose interest 
and feel that they are being read to, not taught.  Numerous studies show that overuse of PowerPoint 
actually decreases student – teacher interaction in the classroom, as instructors focus on the presentation 
and not the class, while students are afraid to interrupt the “flow” of the PowerPoint with questions or 
comments. 

Making it Work 

To help increase student interaction, only use brief bullet points in your PowerPoint, as opposed to 
putting all the information on your slides, so that you have to explain the material to the students. More 
importantly, after each main point or every 3 to 4 slides, include a blank slide.  This serves as a 
“discussion” slide, which allows students the opportunity to ask questions or engage in interaction and 
forces the instructor to turn away from the PowerPoint to face the class and get feedback. 

Audience: any class in which PowerPoint is used 

Tools: PowerPoint presentations 

Implementation: Immediate. Requires no additional work beyond adding extra slides to PowerPoint 
presentations. 

Future Implications 

Outcomes/Assessment:  

 Outcome: Increase student engagement and student-teacher interaction 

 Assessment: Assessment may be achieved by comparing tests/quiz results before and after  
changes to the use of PowerPoint     
 

Hybrid/Online contexts: When PowerPoint presentations are posted online for students but won’t be 
discussed in person, replace the “Discussion” slide with a “Questions” slide. This would include 
questions over the material just covered.  Make it clear that if students struggle to answer any of the 
questions, they can contact the instructor for further clarification. 

 

                                                        
1 Senior Lecturer, Communication Studies, Indiana University Southeast, mabernet@ius.edu