Technology’s Effect on College Lectures and its Evolution from Chalkboards and Whiteboards to Visual Presentations

Today’s typical college student attends a variety of courses, all of which feature a lecture given by a professor educated in the subject.  The way the lecture is presented however depends on the preference of the professor, who chooses between blackboard and chalk, whiteboard and dry-erase marker, or a visual PowerPoint.  Certain classes make this decision easier as the majority of the time, subjects like Math, Physics and Chemistry feature chalkboards while English, History, and Biology tend to utilize dry-erase whiteboards.  But with the technological phenomenon of PowerPoint growing in popularity year after year, professors are breaking down the stereotypical wall of customary teaching methods and beginning to use PowerPoint as they please

So are we approaching an era of college lectures that are chalkboard-less and whiteboard-less, and eventually adopt visual presentations?  With necessary input from my Calculus and Music professors, and two advisors from the University Career Center the main questions of “Which method of presentation do you prefer and why?” and “What does the future of lectures look like?” have been answered in significant detail.

Blackboards and Chalk Provide Clarity and Swift Flexibility in a Calculus Lecture Hall, Which May Soon Adopt PowerPoint

Quadruple Blackboards are crucial for equation-filled math lectures.

For years, students taking mathematics classes have copied down notes and examples from one of two options: chalkboards or whiteboards.  Calculus II professor Kasso Okoudjou felt that his preference between the two is easy: with “messy handwriting,” he chooses chalk over dry-erase markers because chalk “allows definitive strokes and a glow effect that is easy to read.”  Okoudjou talks about the convenience of teaching mathematics by hand, yet leaves the door open for a transition to some form of PowerPoint in his lectures next year.

listen to ‘REAL kasso’ on Audioboo

While Chalkboards and Whiteboards are Crucial for Brainstorming, PowerPoint Presentations are Essential for Visual Stimulation and Efficiency

Whiteboards and dry-erase are an acceptable alternative to chalkboards.

When whiteboards and dry-erase boards quickly started to replace the green and black chalkboards, teachers had to adjust and find a middle ground.  Crystal Sehlke, an academic advisor and workshop lecturer at the University Career Center, mentions that while PowerPoint has been growing (and will continue to grow) in popularity, it is simply a method of presentation as opposed to a method of instruction like a chalkboard or dry-erase board.  She feels that students brainstorm better on a blackboard/whiteboard but are more attentive when it comes to following along during a lecture.  

Dr. Richard King, a professor in the School of Music, strongly prefers not only PowerPoint, but also musical and video elements as well.  He states that many students nowadays are visual learners, and therefore PowerPoint presentations tend to be a more efficient way of conveying information to the class.  For his lectures, he prepares outlines in advance to follow along and keep the students engaged during the PowerPoint, videos, and songs, and minimize the amount of information students miss while they frantically try to write down everything on the slides.

listen to ‘REAL king’ on Audioboo

Dr. King goes on to conclude that professors will never and should never “move away from blackboards and dry-erase boards” but that they should keep in mind the more efficient and entertaining method of showing pictures, video, and interesting PowerPoint slides.

listen to ‘REAL king 2’ on Audioboo

Chalkboards and Whiteboards are “Completely Done” and PowerPoint Presentations are Not Far Behind as Technology is Becoming More Dynamic

As we look to the future of college lectures, can we assume that PowerPoint is, in fact, the future?  If so, do blackboards and dry-erase boards have any chance?  University Career Center advisor and workshop lecturer Megan O’Rourke was quick to jump to the conclusion that the future of lectures is certainly not with chalk or dry-erase markers, but also not with PowerPoint either.  She mentions that sites like Prezi, which are more dynamic with moving parts, are more engaging and can eventually be a tool to link the professor’s lecture to an iDevice, for example.  O’Rourke prefers PowerPoint, but is preparing for the inevitable scenario where PowerPoint is outdated and chalkboards/whiteboards are a second (or even third) thought.   

The Next Step for Colleges and Universities is to Begin Immersing its Students with This Generation’s New Technological Devices

In 2008, Abilene Christian University became the first college in the nation to provide iPhones and iTouches to all incoming freshmen and launch an "innovative new learning experience."  At the University of Maryland, iSeries “Blended” courses are allowing students to use more technology for their classes than ever before, some even specifically stating that the course is “paperless.”  With the future of the tablet upon us, it is intriguing to wonder how lectures will look in the next 5-10 years.