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Sharing information via PowerPoint presentations is a long-established strategy in higher education. Designing PowerPoint presentations for online courses can pose unique challenges; however, best practices can help overcome these hurdles. With time and attention, faculty and instructional designers can create engaging and purposeful presentations with lasting value.

Effective page design requires a balance between white space, or negative space, and positive space. Positive space encompasses all elements of content; on a course page, content elements might include an introductory paragraph, a lecture video, an infographic, an opinion poll, or a thought-provoking quotation, among other possibilities. Relative to these course components, white space might seem like a nice-to-have. However, white space plays a key role in instructional page design by reducing distortion and promoting clarity.

There are many components to consider when developing an online course; a key framework to inform course development is student engagement. The Glossary of Education Reform defines student engagement as “the degree of attention, curiosity, interest, optimism, and passion that students show when they are learning or being taught, which extends to the level of motivation they have to learn and progress in their education” (Great Schools Partnership, 2016, para. 1). Developing and evaluating course content through the lens of engagement can help instructors create an environment that is conducive to learning and mastery of course outcomes.