Effectiveness of chalkboard based lectures in preference to power point presentation from the student perspective

In this study we investigated students’ opinion of the impact of electronic presentations (PowerPoint) in lectures of undergraduate level compared to chalk and talk which is a traditional and nonelectronic approach. Students who were about to complete their second year MBBS course were included in the study. A questionnaire pertaining to different aspects of lecture and overall satisfaction of the students with the method of lecture delivery was circulated to all the students of that particular batch. Students were supposed to choose one of the two methods for each aspect of the lecture, to know their preference for a particular type of teaching methodology; chalk and board or power point. Out of 107 students present in the class, 100 questionaire forms were included which were properly and duly filled up without any error according to our specifications. The results of the present study suggest that chalkboard teaching has the advantage of a better recall besides being the most preferred aid among second year medical students. Students place greater value on lecturing skills in their learning experience than on whether or not technology is intensively used in the classroom.