Sessions /
Re-thinking Presentation Design Together #1141

Sun, Feb 28, 14:30-15:15 JST | KOTESOL Room | Open Session
Open session: please log in Technology / CALL / MALL Synchronous-Zoom Workshop (40 mins)

Presentation software is one of the most commonly used tools of instruction in educational technology. At the university level, it is regularly used to display lecture notes and assignments, but as we move down each stage of formal learning, its use tends to gradually decrease. At some schools, the use of technology in the classroom is discouraged or prohibited, and at others, the required equipment may not be readily available or accessible.

When classes were pushed online due to the COVID pandemic, a number of EFL teachers found themselves turning to presentation software —some for the first time in the classroom. Those who were familiar with its use in this setting were at an advantage, but a general desire to use the software creatively to engage students increased, as was evidenced by the teachers who reached out to me for help in designing their lessons. While some EFL teachers may be aware of creative ways in which they can use presentation software, finding design inspiration and moving from concept to creation can be a challenge, especially when their familiarity with the software is not that high.

In this presentation, I will help you re-think presentation design. I will re-introduce you to some of the features available in desktop presentation software, and I will guide you through practical exercises geared at helping you to think creatively about how you can display information on your slides and engage your students. Come prepared to channel your inner creativity!

This presentation is brought to you by the MCALL Special Interest Group

Lisa M. Hunsberger

Lisa M. Hunsberger

Kyushu Sangyo University
I have an MA in linguistics and I've been teaching in the field of language and linguistics for over a decade. I've taught at universities in Jamaica, at a high school in France, and at every level in Japan, from kindergarten to university, teaching currently at a Japanese university. I enjoy public speaking and I regularly use presentation software in my classroom activities in fun and innovative ways. I've honed my presentation software skills over the years, and most recently, I've found myself doing a lot of workshops and presentations with JALT and KOTESOL on presentation design. Since the COVID pandemic, I've had a number of my former presentation and workshop attendees reach out to me for ideas and guidance on creating activities for their online lessons. It encouraged me to start a presentation design service for persons who are interested in having personalised lessons based on their specific needs.