Different Types of 態ackground� of Illustration-based PowerPoint Slides: Anatomy Postgraduate Students� Preferences and Perceived Influence on Learning

ABSTRACT

Background: 態ackground� is an important visual element for creating multimedia (e.g., PowerPoint) slides on which text and illustrations are placed. Although some general guidelines for the background for textual materials on PowerPoint slides are available, detailed and specific guidelines on the background for illustrations are almost lacking. As part of a broader research, this qualitative study was designed to assess the preferences of Anatomy postgraduate students towards different types of background of illustration-based PowerPoint slides and their perceived influence on learning.Material & Methods:An FGD was conducted among eight Anatomy postgraduate students from two medical colleges of Bangladesh. Seven PowerPoint slides with one same pair of Neuroanatomy illustrations but seven different types of background dealing with the following characteristics were shown to them White/light-coloured homogeneous/Dark-coloured homogeneous; Slightly decorated/Heavily decorated; Related to subject/Not related to subject. The discussion was on which background they liked most and why, and whether they think that the background would enhance students� learning.Resultsand Conclusion:Six broad 憈hemes� emerged from the FGD 1. No single type of background yielded a unanimous preference. 2. Coloured homogeneous backgrounds seemed to be the most preferred type with no clear-cut difference between the light-coloured and dark-coloured ones. 3. Preferences for white or slightly decorated background was moderate. 4. Among the slightly decorated backgrounds, preference for those related to the subject was greater than for those not related. 5. No preference was shown for the heavily decorated background not related to the subject. 6. Despite some positive comments regarding the influence of slide background on learning, no definitive conclusion could be drawn. While these results provide some baseline answers to the research questions, further studies addressing more specific issues of background and viewer characteristics are recommended.