I don't understand the powerpoint haters either. Sure a lot of people use presentation software badly, and the automated "presentation building" features of MS PowerPoint are a good example of good intentions gone wrong, but it is a lot handier than making a bunch of slides and using an overhead projector. Owen is right about presentation skills, and illnumeracy should be added to problem.

One thing that I can see in powerpoint haters is that the learning or cognative style typically associated with powerpoint doesn't appeal to them. ". . .[W]ould be better off if . . .went to the Exploratorium or wrote an illustrated essay . . . ." These activites speak to certain learning styles too but don't necessarily invalidate an instructor using powerpoint as a learning tool.