PowerPoint guru Ellen Finkelstein thinks PowerPoint is a good alternative to expensive courseware systems for many elearning designers.
In this article dating back to March 2001 for InfoComm, Ellen Finkelstein lays out guidelines for making a successful Web-based course with PowerPoint.
Photo credit: Matt Williams
Do you think that the same considerations still apply today or do you see Powerpoint as inappropriate for this purpose?
If you have been thinking of putting your classes online, you have probably given a little thought to which program would be the best for designing or authoring your course material.
There are several programs, sometimes called courseware, designed especially for this purpose.
However, the top programs are quite expensive, usually costing over $1,000 and requiring users to climb a steep learning curve in order to use them.
In return, though, these programs offer many features, such as the ability to create and grade tests online.
A simpler alternative is to create Web-based courses in PowerPoint, especially if you don't need the high-end features of expensive courseware.
PowerPoint is simple to use and lets presenters easily add graphics, video and narration to presentations. PowerPoint 2000 (Ed. Note: as do 2002 and 2003) also makes it easy to save files as Web presentations.
But before you can place your PowerPoint-based course on the Web, you'll need to make sure the presentation reflects your course objectives and how your students will need to use it.
Your web-based presentation should also accommodate the computers and browsers your students will use to access your online materials.
Here are Ellen Finkelstein's own guidelines for creating elearning materials in PowerPoint.
Check them out.
