Why Do Nursing Instructors Rely So Heavily On PowerPoints To Teach?

[SarahMaria]

I have completed 3 semesters of Nursing School and so far, every lecture instructor has used PowerPoints in the classroom to teach. This method has been used probably 99% of the time. The PowerPoints are provided ahead of time for download on a website, so students can bring them to class. Then, the instructor projects the PowerPoint on a screen and READS it at us for the lecture period (3-4 hours). Occasionally, there is a student question or the instructor may add something.

Why is this type of "teaching" popular? Why am I spending money to go to class to have somebody read to me when I am fully capable of reading the same material in the comfort of my own home? It seems lazy and insulting to my intelligence.

Any thoughts? Does anyone else have this experience? Does anyone benefit from this method of instruction?

[ready2baRN]

My point is the OP gave an example of a teaching style is boring and less engaging to the student with the instructor standing in front of the class room for hours and reading verbatim off a power point. In my experience in undergrad the professors at my college would still have power points as a means of direction for the subject matter that is being lectured that day but would engage the class periodically to get students to critically think about the subject being taught. As an example: My professor would be speaking about slow versus fast twitch muscle fibers and explain to us the difference between the two then pose a question to the class. How would these types of muscle fibers benefit sprinters versus long distance runners? The professor would then wait for a student to answer the question and if the student was wrong the professor would acknowledge the students attempt to answer the question then proceed to explain why the student answer was not the best choice. I believe this is the type of teaching the OP is referring to. Actively engaging the class to participate in the subject being taught and not just standing up in front of the class reading word for word what the class can already see as if the professor is teaching a bunch of students in kindergarten. At least that’s the last grade I remember being read too.