Using PowerPoint Presentations to Enhance Student’s Learning: With Reference to Undergraduates of University of Kelaniya

Abstract

PowerPoint can be used as a tool to facilitate teaching and learning. It guides students in note-taking, reinforcing points made in a lecture, and to inject occasional humor or visual reinforcement. Therefore, it helps students to learn more efficiently. But the problem is, are they using this tool to enhance their learning efficiently and effectively. The study aims to investigate the effectiveness of using power point presentations in classroom to enhance learning. Sub objectives are to examine student’s attitudes towards using PowerPoint presentations in learning and find out the strengths and weaknesses associated with using PowerPoint presentations. Fifty undergraduates from faculty of Social Sciences were randomly taken as the sample of this study. Methods such as interviews, questionnaires were used to collect primary data and magazines, books, journals and websites were used as secondary data. Data analysis was done both quantitatively and qualitatively. The analysis of the results revealed that the vast majority of students have positive attitudes towards the use of PowerPoint in the class room. This will help the students to learn this tool effectively and efficiently for their studies. SWOT analysis was done to find out the strengths and weaknesses of using PowerPoint presentations in the classroom. Moreover, it was found that PowerPoint improves the student’s learning motivation, it breaks down the daily routine of lectures and encouraging interaction between the teacher and the students. Based on the findings, it was concluded that the use of PowerPoint presentations enhances student’s learning efficiently and effectively