The Effects of MS PowerPoint on Students at a Malaysian University in the English for Professionals (EFP) Classrooms

Abstract

The use of Microsoft PowerPoint (a form of multimedia) presentations in classroom instruction has significantly increased globally on both online and offline platforms. This study examines the perception of “English for Professionals (EFP)” students toward the usage of MS PowerPoint in the classrooms for delivering lectures and the effects of MS PowerPoint on students' learning. Questionnaires were used to conduct a quantitative survey. Descriptive analysis was used to analyze the results of this quantitative research. The results illustrate the students' positive attitude toward lectures presented with MS PowerPoint slides. While the majority of the students were receptive, a significant percentage held an indifferent view. The implication is that while MS PowerPoint is a dominant tool in teaching, there is a need to understand the factors behind the neutral reception, whether they are in the tool itself, the application by the educators, or the expertise of the educators in developing the slides.