The challenge we all face with this process is:
- The size of the PowerPoint file after adding audio and video
- The optimal length of the PowerPoint
- Should audio be added to all slides
- The best method for file delivery
- Best Practices for Narration
All the points above speak to finding best practices so that consistency will be maintained throughout the development of these types of PowerPoint presentations. Using a software called Adobe Presenter allows us to provide solutions to those challenges.
Let me address each in the above numbered list order.
1. Size of PowerPoint file with Audio and Video
Adding audio and video to a PowerPoint file can substantially increase the file size by many megabytes. (1 kilobyte = 1,024bytes or 1MB).
One of the PowerPoint files I worked on started at 264KB, and by the time we added audio we were looking at a file size of 2.5MB. You can imagine the student that has to download the large PowerPoint file will get impatient if they have a slow Internet connection. Thus we have to be mindful of how much audio and video we add to the existing PowerPoint file. Do we really need to add audio to all slides? How about providing a link to that video rather than inserting it into the PowerPoint file?
2. Optimal length of the PowerPoint
A PowerPoint presentation that will incorporate audio and/or video will substantially increase in size as stated above, but also will a PowerPoint file that has 51 slides as against one with 14 slides. Rather than provide a 51 slide PowerPoint, it would be better to break that PowerPoint file into two manageable slides so as to reduce the file size.
3. Adding Audio to all Slides
One line of thought is to only use audio when it is instructionally necessary. The use of images with captions or embedded text can provide sufficient understanding. Moving away from using audio on slides where the text provides the weight of explanation, means reducing redundancy. What about using a well-written script that reduces wordiness or hmms, and ahhhs, makes for a pleasing audio presentation. Finally not every slide needs audio; break it up with the use of images or external links to additional information.
4. Best method for this file delivery
Adding audio and video to a PowerPoint even if we break up the presentation into several files, or reduce audio some slides, still results in a large file size for the students to download and view. To provide a viable solution to address both file size and access, the university has a site license to a software called Adobe Presenter that is part of the collaborative video tool called Adobe Connect that allows for flash presentations to be created from PowerPoint files. As stated on their website, “With just a few clicks in PowerPoint, you can transform drab presentations into engaging Adobe® Flash® multimedia experiences”. By having a site license, the software is freely available to all faculty for install on their office computer. If you are interested in using the software, contact the Instructional Designers at the FCTL and we will provide the information to do so.
As it publishes your PowerPoint file, Adobe Presenter compresses the file and then creates a flash file that can be easily embedded into your Blackboard course for viewing using the Browser (IE, Firefox, Chrome, Opera, etc.) to show the presentation. No longer will students need to download a file to view the Presentation. Adobe Presenter comes with a easily controlled user interface that gives the students control over viewing and moving through the presentation at their own pace. All transitions, text, from PowerPoint come over with no loss of functionality.
Adobe Connect:
5. Best Practices for Narration
Use it only if necessary according to the instruction on the slides
Have a script that reduces the chances of error will recording and allow the narration to flow smoothly
Ensure you have a quality microphone (suggestion: Get a Gamers headset with microphone at BestBuy).
If you want to use video, a Logitech Webcam is a good buy for that purpose. Webcams come with a built-in microphone.
Conclusion:
At the end of the day, no student wants the entire PowerPoint presentation to be narrated when other activities could provide more pedagogy.
Reading text word to word as seen on screen, is redundant and does not increase transfer of learning, when learning activities could provide stronger learning.
Being able to provide your PowerPoint presentation in a format that can be viewed using only the Browser is a huge plus for students to get right to the subject matter.
Need more information or support? Contact us at the FCTL.
References:
“Nuts and Bolts: Principles of Multimedia Learning,” Jane Bozarth, Learning Solutions Magazine (online), May 4, 2010.
“How much narration in e-learning? Our Lessons Learned,” Don Bair, Mike Dickinson, Learning Solutions Magazine (online), April 21, 2011.
