Voice-over PowerPoint lectures are a popular format for the delivery of content in online science courses. Modern students have short attention spans and the entertainment aspect of even education, both of which are tough aspects to incorporate in asynchronous online courses. While there is much research on the use of tools to engage students in lecture videos, such as test your knowledge breaks, there is little in the area of video content. Popular media use delivers both entertaining and memorable breaks in content delivery that can enhance student retention of the material by such. The use of copyrighted material and difficulty in learning editing software potentially prevents the use of popular media, but this tool when learned properly, can be both free of fear and eased into other aspects of education.
