PowerPoint - Microsoft
What is Microsoft PowerPoint
Microsoft PowerPoint is a presentation tool. It allows users of the software to create slide-based presentations and provides options to add audio, video, animations and notes to slides. PowerPoint provides powerful tools for making and formatting text, images, tables and graphs. The online versions of Microsoft PowerPoint allow for document collaboration, in which students and instructors can work together to create and edit presentations.
What is the purpose of Microsoft PowerPoint
The purpose of Microsoft PowerPoint is to enable the creation of slides. PowerPoint is a commonly used tool for both instructors and students, as a good presentation conveys information to a wide audience efficiently and in a way that can stick with the audience.
How to use Microsoft PowerPoint
PowerPoint can be used by instructors to present content to students. It can also be used by students when delivering presentations. Western's Center for Teaching and Learning has written a Teachology article about how to improve PowerPoint slide design. This is a helpful reference, as PowerPoint can be done poorly.
Where to find Support
This tool is centrally supported
Support
For help, you can contact the WTS Helpdesk
Documentation
Additional information on Microsoft PowerPoint can be found on the PowerPoint Help Center.
Tool Evaluation
Functionality
| Rating | Rationale |
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ScaleMicrosoft Powerpoint can scaled to accommodate any size class but lacks flexibility to create smaller sub-groups or communities of practice |
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Ease of UseThe tool has a learner interface that may be confusing to some; there is limited opportunity for personalization. PowerPoint has a wide variety of options to choose from. The number of choices can be confusing to those who are not familiar with it. |
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Tech Support/Help AvailabilityIn-person or email based technical support is readily available and aids users in troubleshooting tasks or solving problems experienced |
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HypermedialityThe tool allows users to communicate through different channels (audio, visual, textual) and allows for non-sequential, flexible/adaptive engagement with material |
Accessibility
| Rating | Rationale |
|---|---|
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AODA FriendlyThe tool fully supports compliance with AODA standards for accessibility (W3 WAI), and makes it easy for materials to be made AODA-friendly. Microsoft provides this guide on how to make PowerPoint presentations accessible to people with disabilities. |
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User-focused participationThe tool is designed to address the needs of diverse users, their various literacies, and capabilities, thereby widening opportunities for participation in learning |
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Required EquipmentProper use of the tool does not require equipment other than a computer and access to the internet |
Technical
| Rating | Rationale |
|---|---|
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OWL IntegrationThe tool can only be offered in OWL through a link or static representations of the tool (i.e. PDF, PPT), rather than a functional version of the tool itself |
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Operating SystemsUsers can effectively utilize the tool with a Windows or Macintosh computer. There is also an online version that can be accessed with any modern browser. |
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Web BrowserUsers can effectively utilize the tool with any standard, up-to-date web browser (i.e. Google Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Internet Explorer 10 etc.) |
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Additional Tech RequirementsUsers can effectively utilize the tool without any browser extensions or downloaded software |
Mobile Design
| Rating | Rationale |
|---|---|
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Mobile Operating SystemsThe tool is fully functional with a range of electronic mobile devices (laptops, tablets, touchscreens, mobile devices, etc.) Mobile apps are available for Android, iOS and Windows Phones. |
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Mobile FunctionalityBasic features of the main tool are functional on the mobile app but advanced features are limited |
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Offline AccessThe platform can be used offline, maintaining tools and learning content |
Usage and Account Set Up
| Rating | Rationale |
|---|---|
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Sign Up/Sign InMicrosoft PowerPoint requires an account in order to complete its installation. Western users would use their existing UWO account. Microsoft "collect(s) diagnostic data as you use Office which helps us find and fix problems, identify and mitigate threats, and improve your experience. This data does not include your name or email address, the content of your files, or information about apps unrelated to Office" |
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Cost of UseWhile normally Microsft Word has a cost associated with it, the application is available to Western Faculty, Staff and Students at no charge as part of their Microsoft 365 accounts. |
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Archiving, Saving, and Exporting DataUsers can archive, save, or import and export content or activity data in a variety of formats |
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Data Privacy and OwnershipUsers maintain ownership and copyright of their intellectual property/data; the user can keep data private and decide if/how data is to be shared |
Social Presence
| Rating | Rationale |
|---|---|
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CollaborationThe tool has the capacity to support a community of learning through both asynchronous and synchronous opportunities for communication, interactivity, and transfer of meaning between users |
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User AccountabilityInstructors cannot control student anonymity but the tool provides some solution for holding students accountable for their actions |
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DiffusionThe tool is widely known and popular, it’s likely that most students are familiar with the tool and have basic technical competence with it |
Instructor Presence
| Rating | Rationale |
|---|---|
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FacilitationThe tool has limited functionality to effectively support an instructor’s ability to be present with students via active management, monitoring, and engagement |
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CustomizationTool is adaptable to its environment: Presentations can be easily customized to suit the classroom context and targeted learning outcomes |
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Learning AnalyticsAs a presentation tool, Microsoft PowerPoint is not intended to support the collection of learning analytics |
Cognitive Presence
| Rating | Rationale |
|---|---|
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Enhancement of Cognitive Task(s)The tool enables functional improvement to engagement in the targeted cognitive task(s) |
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Higher Order ThinkingThe tool may engage students in higher order thinking skills (given significant consideration to design, facilitation, and direction from instructor) |
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Feedback on LearningOpportunities for receiving formative feedback on learning are available, but infrequent or limited (i.e. poor opportunities for tracking performance, monitoring improvement, testing knowledge on a regular basis) |
Security and Privacy
This tool has been formally reviewed by Western’s Technology Risk Assessment Committee
Security and Privacy Flags
Information Collection
- Application collects information that could identify the user specifically (email address, class schedule, etc..)
EULA
- Application's Terms of Conditions or End User License Agreement poses a risk of binding the institution to an agreement thereby requiring legal counsel to review the application. However, this is mitigated as it has undergone legal review during the Technology Risk Assessment process.
Last Updated: January 24, 2020
Rubric
The eLearning Toolkit Evaluations are made available under the terms of the CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence
Feedback
Leave feedback to comment or request that the tool be re-reviewed
Topic at a Glance
Microsoft PowerPoint is an application that allows for the creation of slide-based multimedia presentations.
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