From the author, in their own words...
Matthew Roberts, Grand Valley State University
Transcript:
Abstract:
For years, you could almost guarantee that a Lilly session on designing effective PowerPoint slides would draw a capacity crowd. The reason was clear: practical need. Modern communication, whether in the classroom or elsewhere, often relies upon presentation software. While it’s easy to create a set of slides, most faculty were never trained in the principles of graphic design and cognitive science that help ensure a clear message and an engaging presentation. Now with the advent of ChatGPT and other generative AI tools, technology seems ready to make that knowledge unnecessary. Can AI truly create presentations better than we can?
Key Words:
Artificial Intelligence, Universal Design, Learning Science
Outcomes:
1. Describe ways in which AI tools can contribute to the planning, design, and delivery of a presentation.
2. Summarize a brief set of principles regarding the design of effective presentations.
3. Articulate the strengths and weaknesses of AI in terms of presentation design principles.
References:
Reynolds, Garr. (2019). Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery. New Riders.
Duarte, Nancy. (2025). "What GenAI Tools Can and Can’t Do for Presentations | Nancy Duarte." MIT Sloan Management Review.
Duarte, Nancy. (2025). slide:ology: The Art and Science of Creating Great Presentations. O'Reilly Media.
Brown, Peter et al. (2014). Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning. Belknap Press.