By Phillip Tanzilo, CPTD, MHRM
We’ve all heard “death by PowerPoint.” I have learned to understand why. But I invite you to reframe this. Once, I worked with a client who overloaded slides and every word was on them. Part of this was legal; they needed a reference afterward. But those slides weren’t meant for learning. The brain can’t read and listen effectively at once—when you read a slide while speaking, you split attention. Cognitive load research shows these exhausts the audience, and comprehension suffers.
I invite you to balance. Visuals, when intentional, enhance clarity. But adults—through visual, kinesthetic, and auditory modes—need to engage. (Knowles’ Adult Learning Theory) I have learned that when the purpose is a future resource, that’s fine—but that’s not real-time learning. If the goal is learning, design must focus on engagement—slides are a tool, not the lecture.
How PowerPoint—and other tools—can light up learning
I invite you to rethink all tools—PowerPoint, Prezi, or others. When used minimally and with intent, visuals guide focus. I’ve learned true engagement comes when learners see, do, and discuss. The tool is a catalyst—engagement is the goal.
From Death by PowerPoint to light-engaged learning
So, I invite you to reframe. “Death by PowerPoint” doesn’t mean banning tools—it means we ensure tools don’t replace engagement. I have learned that when we “light up, don’t overload,” we embrace visual, kinesthetic, and auditory learning.
Key Takeaways:
• Visual design enhances memory retention
• Poor design leads to cognitive overload
• PowerPoint and tools must support engagement
• Visual, kinesthetic, auditory all matter (Knowles’ Theory)
• Light up, don’t overload brains
#DeathByPowerPoint #PowerPoint #VisualDesign #AdultLearning #InstructionalDesign #LearningEngagement #KinestheticLearning #Prezi #FacilitationTools #CorporateTraining #ActiveLearning #CognitiveScience #LeadershipDevelopment #AdultLearningTheory
