"Death by Powerpoint" is a sad way of giving a pre-flight brief. The preflight brief must be kept simple and allow for some student interaction: i.e. this is what we are going to do, this is how we are going to do it, and this is what you are expected to learn. Anything more than this should have been covered previously during a long brief. The lesson itself should follow exactly the same format as the brief for the brief to be of any use. Use of the model during the brief are more effective than words or pictures on the board. Use of the model is of the greatest importance but too often done poorly owing to lack of learning or lack of practice.
All students are very different in how they learn and the rate at which they learn. The instructor must be adaptable and be able to adjust the lesson to the individual. The instructor must be able to use the whiteboard effectively if and when required. The problem with a bought in powerpoint presentations or similar is that they are rigid in words and format. They lend themselves well to long briefs. Those instructors who use the powerpoint type pre-flight presentations, ask yourself if you then teach the lesson in the same way in the air - you probably don't. These presentations make things easier for the instructor but may do little for the person who matters, the student.