The devil uses PowerPoint

"I did it. I finally used PowerPoint, that program-with-horns from the pit of Microsoft," Andrew confesses on his weblog. A funny posting in which he also quotes Wired:

PowerPoint's pushy style seeks to set up a speaker's dominance over the audience. The speaker, after all, is making power points with bullets to followers. Could any metaphor be worse? Voicemail menu systems? Billboards? Television? Stalin?

Agree with most of it. Up to now I've never used PowerPoint when teaching, for two reasons: it's pretty inflexible, you're more or less forced to stick to a chronological presentation; and it draws away attention from people to a screen.

Comments

[Paul]

I agree that powerpoint can be pretty restrictive and maybe there are other programs that are better. And I loved Andrew's comments. However, I think you can use it to focus the attention of the group from the person to the message of the Scriptures. Here is an example of that from my web page: http://www.dzubinski.com/PowerPoint%20and%20Biblical%20Text.ppt I know it uses some bullets (ouch) but it also empahsises the text of the Bible. If you read Spanish you could check out my presentation on how to use PowerPoint in Sermons http://www.dzubinski.com/Ppt_y_la_predicacion_A.ppt It can be pretty useful.

[Martijn]

Hmmm. Interesting fact is that most preachers don't use any modern ways of communications. PowerPoint may help but, indeed, distracts easily as well. Maybe it depend on the kind of teaching you're sharing. A bit of a laugh can ben quite valuable for opening up peoples emotions in church...

[Frank]

Power Point is only as restrictive as ones creativity! I use it every Sunday morning. One needs only be confined to bullets if unable to conceptualize well. As far as directing people to a screen - it allows people to visualize the point being shared and if people see as well as hear what is being said, then retention increases!