Designing Slideshows for Effective Student Engagement

MSAA Professional Development Workshop for School Administrators, Counselors, and Classroom Teachers

Designing Slideshows for Effective 
 Student Engagement   

Have you ever sat through a workshop or presentation with font sizes that were too small or with colors that were too harsh to read? Maybe it was riddled with distracting ‘gifs’ or dated with stock clipart from decades ago. Were you engaged in that presentation? Did you feel inspired to learn?

Student engagement is a challenge in a world where content creation is booming and where students are regularly surrounded by exciting visual stimuli. The reality is that not everything we teach can be a game or be super fun; there are notes to take, vocabulary words to learn, diagrams to interpret, charts to analyze, directions to be given… But that doesn’t mean slideshows and worksheets cannot be engaging. Presentations for colleagues or staff members don’t have to be dry, either. Let’s pump them up!

Small changes can make a big difference! Whether you are starting from scratch or redesigning a presentation you already have, you will be amazed at what you can accomplish in this workshop and how much it will change your presentations moving forward. You’ve got this!

Participants will:

·         Learn tips and tricks to create and design engaging Google Slides and PowerPoint presentations to use as effective teaching tools in the classroom and beyond

·         Experience and reflect upon the feelings of boring and overwhelming presentations versus engaging and visual appealing slide shows

·         Learn how to make the most of Google Slides and/or PowerPoint tools that are not distracting from content but that enhance content

·         Design or redesign a slideshow presentation of your own that you can use in your educational setting tomorrow!

When: Friday, January 10, 2025, from 8:30 am to 11:30 am

Delivery Method: In-Person Workshop

Location: The MSAA Office, 33 Forge Parkway, Franklin, MA

Presenter: Jessica Downing, Seekonk High School

PD Hours: 3 in Content Area Leadership and Administration

Fees: Member $150 / Non-Member $205

MSAA Contact: Ethel Kawesa, ekawesa@msaa.net 

Jessica Downing | Seekonk High School

Jess is a middle school teacher in Seekonk with a background in elementary education, secondary science education, and secondary English learner education. Jess graduated from UMASS Amherst with a M.Ed and has started doctoral coursework.

Jess has presented professional development workshops and has developed coursework on differentiated instruction, flexible seating, building an engaging school community, and supporting English language learners in content-based classrooms. She believes that keeping children engaged and motivated is a multi-faceted task that is critical for student success. She is passionate about making strong student connections inside and outside of the classroom, as well as fostering a positive learning experience for all students in school.