Think of PowerPoint as mini-lecture materials with visual appeal; online course content works best when instructors “chunk” information.

• If instructors want to narrate PowerPoints, the instructors should explain the images and main points of the content, not read the words or information on the slides. Narration should expand and expound upon the material. Instructors should provide a script for the narration and their slide notes so that learners can download the materials and review them without streaming video.

• Use PowerPoint as a visual tool, provide examples, images, graphs and explain their importance and meaning for the learners. 

• Use alt-text, scripts, and notes to ensure that all learners can access the material. 

• When delivering information in a PowerPoint both in person and in an asynchronous environment, the best practice is to plan, to outline, and to provide information in the visual portion of the slide in a format that is visually easy to read. 

• For in-depth complicated concepts with a great deal of information, provide the explanations in the Notes fields, or provide official supplemental lecture notes, and allow the learners to read the notes and to ask questions. 

• To accommodate for access concerns, instructors may consider collecting Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and announcing answers daily. 

• Instructors may also consider a discussion board or forum in which learners may ask questions.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Sources and Relevant Links