Peer Review

Avoiding Death By PowerPoint

Material Detail page

Reviewed:: Feb 3, 2026 by Faculty Development

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Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:

Avoiding Death by PowerPoint by Patrick Forsyth is a concise, practice-oriented ebook that addresses common problems in PowerPoint slide design and presentation delivery. The material focuses on clarity, audience engagement, visual simplicity, and the relationship between spoken communication and visual aids. Written in an accessible and engaging style, the ebook provides actionable guidance that can be immediately applied in educational, professional, and training contexts. The resource is especially effective for improving presentation-based teaching and learning.

Type of Material:

Open (Access) Textbook

Recommended Uses:

Faculty professional development
Supplemental reading for communication, education, leadership, or business courses
Student skill development for presentations
Individual self-paced learning
Workshop or training support material

Technical Requirements:

PDF or ebook reader
Modern web browser or e-reader device
No additional software or plug-ins required

Identify Major Learning Goals:

Understand why ineffective slide design interferes with learning and communication.
Learn principles for creating clear, engaging, and audience-centered presentations.
Be able to design slides that support spoken content rather than compete with it.
Improve confidence and effectiveness as a presenter.

Target Student Population:

College Upper Division, Graduate School, Professional

College and university students
Faculty and instructors Business and professional presenters
Trainers and facilitators
Graduate students and teaching assistants

Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:

Basic computer skills
Familiarity with presentation software (e.g., PowerPoint or similar tools)
No prior training in presentation design required

Content Quality

Rating:
Strengths:: The content is clear, accurate, and grounded in well-established principles of communication and instructional design. Guidance is practical, coherent, and directly applicable to teaching and learning environments. The material’s flexibility allows it to be used across disciplines, educational levels, and professional contexts, aligning well with MERLOT standards for exemplary content.
Concerns:: None identified.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:
Strengths:: This resource is highly effective as a teaching and learning tool. It integrates seamlessly into courses requiring presentations and can be paired easily with assignments, rubrics, and peer feedback activities. I would use this ebook as a core supplemental text to improve both slide design and oral communication skills in my classes.
Concerns:: Assessment alignment is unavailable. However, this can be readily achieved through instructor-designed rubrics or presentation evaluations.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:
Strengths:: The ebook is easy to navigate, clearly written, and engaging throughout. Content is well organized and suitable for both quick reference and extended reading. The format supports accessibility and flexible use across devices, making it practical for a wide range of learners.
Concerns:: Visual examples are effective but limited in number. This does not detract significantly from usability.

Other Issues and Comments:: Avoiding Death by PowerPoint addresses a persistent instructional challenge with clarity, practicality, and insight. Its emphasis on communication quality and learner engagement makes it a valuable resource for improving presentation-based instruction across disciplines.
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