AI-based presentation assistance has been available through Microsoft Powerpoint for a few years. This type of AI is not generative as it does not generate content for you, but other tools are available that can generate content that could be used in a presentation.
Learning benefits of presentations:
The learning value of presentations is in the preparation, especially in the research that you conduct and the thinking you do about what to include and how to communicate it in a way that is meaningful and engaging to your audience.
It’s likely that presentation assessments will have a substantial question and answer session at the end to test how well you understand the topic, so it will be very important that you have a deep understanding of the content beyond whatever is written on the slides or your notes.
Presentations also give you valuable practice at communicating ideas to an audience in a way that is persuasive and engaging, and this is an extremely important skill in many professions.
Impact of GenAI on presentations as a form of learning:
Given that learning mostly happens through the process of researching for and creating your presentation, there’s not much learning value in getting an AI tool to create a script, a set of Powerpoint slides or a video. Learning happens when you get the tools to do things with you, but not for you.
Doing the research and thinking about which ideas to include and how best to communicate them is where the learning value lies, so you still need to do these parts yourself, unless instructed otherwise by your teacher.
Strategies for using GenAI for presentations
Instead of getting GenAI tools to create a presentation for you, use them to assist your learning by:
1. Brainstorming initial ideas for the content of your presentation
2. Suggesting possible structures for a presentation that will be engaging and suitable for your purpose.
3. Providing feedback on the content, design and delivery of your presentation
A word of advice: when you include any GenAI created content in your presentation (i.e. data, images, text, sound or video), you must reference them. Visit the Study Guide to learn how to reference GenAI tools.
Do you want to learn more about how to prepare for your presentation effectively? Reach out to HELPS or attend one of our workshops.