PressEd 2019

WordPress Versus PowerPoint

I hope to convince you that you can use a different platform/tool to share information with live or remote audiences. In classrooms or at conferences. That is the goal.

PressEd Title slide


 

It is not a fight.

It is part of the evolution of our expectations, and our skill sets, related to academic environments.

We can present information that moves more freely. And has qualities beyond “Read Only.” 

 

Two people talking about technology
image by @DrSianProctor


 

Remember, it took us a long time to master PowerPoint.

And then, it took us a long time to abuse it.

But, that is what we knew. What we did.  

old PowerPoint image


 

I still see online classes where the “Lecture”
is a 53 slide PowerPoint file.

<sigh>

I still go to conferences where the “Presentation”

shared to the participants is a 53 slide PowerPoint file.

Same difference.

 


 

And it is not like WordPress is the only option.

I dare you, the next time you present at a conference, to make the whole presentation in Spark.
I triple-dog dare you!  

Adobe Spark home


 

But if you want to use WordPress, here are a few examples:

The Internet is You

The Journey of the Words

Meaningful Professional Development

The 9x9x25 Challenge

 


 

Why you ask?

1. You don’t have to worry about fitting it in your suitcase when you travel.
2. You can’t respond to a PowerPoint file.
3. It makes your ”professional portfolio” look fancy  

 

 


 

But most importantly,

you can embed playlists of your favorite songs to play as the audience enters the classroom/ presentation room.
And they can play the music laster as they peruse your amazing presentation!
We should do that now. Let’s go! 

 

 


 

But There are Other Tools You Say!

 



Remember Prezi? Yeah, me neither…

prezi tool screen

At least it was a URL rather than a <file>

 


 

While I sort of miss the ability to add audio over Slideshare content, thankfully there are other options to do the same thing. But we are still left with only a linear timeline of content. But you could share it easily and others could find it.

slideshare page

 

 


 

You can literally make a vertical list

of slides if you have to do that.
I did one of the first times I tried to do a conference presentation with WordPress. 

home page of website for Human Touch

 


 

And I have done it since. It works.

pictures of business cards

 

 


 

These days, if I go to a conference,

I bring a business card as my handout. It has a URL on it. That’s where the real stuff is. Just last month in fact… 

putting play back in PD card

 

 


Thank you for being here. And maybe the next time you present some information, share it with a nice little WordPress website and see how it goes!