Making Good PowerPoint Presentations into Outstanding Ones

1. Making Good PowerPoint Presentations into Outstanding Ones AGRI 196 Spring 2004

2. Think of a great presentation you witnessed • Why was it great? • What did the speaker do ? • What techniques did he/she use? • What was the format of the presentation?

3. But first, a little quiz…

4. The objectives of your presentation should include: • A. The material you have decided to cover • B. What you want your audience to listen to • C. What you as a speaker want to get out of the presentation • D. What you want your audience to know and do at the end of the presentation

5. The two main things to focus on when preparing a Presentation are: • A. Subject and audience • B. Format and room arrangement • C. Timing and visual aids • D. Beginning and Conclusion

6. People tend to remember those points that are covered: • A. Mostly in the middle • B. Only at the end • C. Throughout the presentation • D. At the beginning and end

7. The primary reason for using A/V aids is to: • A. Help keep the speaker on track • B. Highlight and emphasize key points • C. Switch from audio to visual stimulation • D. Establish rapport with the audience

8. Which has the most impact on your audience: • A. Body • B. Voice • C. Content • D. Attitude

9. The single most important voice element in giving a presentation is: • A. Breathing regularly • B. Pacing correctly • C. Inflecting naturally • D. Pausing appropriately

10. Now, let’s take a look at an Informational Presentation Checklist.

11. IT Presentation Issues • Why use Presentation software? • Amount of information • Font • Color • Extras • Examples

12. Why use PowerPoint? • Reach different learning styles • Reinforce key information • Give clear prompts and keeps speaker on track • Move presentation directly to your web site • Serves as Ockham’s razor

13. Amount of information • Ockham’s razor: “entities are not to be multiplied beyond necessity” • Rule of Thumb: Less is more No more than 6 words per line. No more than 6 lines per slide. • What do I really want them to know? • What can they see / read / take in?

14. Why use PowerPoint? • PowerPoint allows me to reach students of different learning styles because it adds a visual element to my oral presentation. This is especially important because today’s students seem to be more visual than other generations. • It helps reinforce the key information in my presentation and keeps student interest focused on the front of the room. • It allows me to give students clear prompts for their assignments, especially in-class assignments. They can always look up to refocus their attention to the assigned task. • A PowerPoint presentation can be moved directly to your web site so that students can look at it again after class and as many times as they want. • It serves as Ockham’s razor by helping me structure my thoughts.

15. Why use PowerPoint? • Reach different learning styles • Reinforce key information • Give clear prompts and keeps speaker on track • Move presentation directly to your web site • Serves as Ockham’s razor

16. Font • Choose font size and type for your particular context. • Use same font for continuity. • Use 2 contrasting fonts to organize information, for emphasis. -- Comic Sans & Arial --

17. Font: Legibility • Which is easier to read? ALL CAPS orUpper & Lower case

18. Font: Type Style • SerifWhich of these is easier to read? (Times New Roman 36) • Sans SerifWhich of these is easier to read? (Arial 32)

19. Font: Size • 12: Read this. • 20: Read this. • 32: Read this. • 36: Read this. • 40: Read this. • 44: Read this. • 60: Read this.

20. Font: Color • Uses: contrast, emphasis, interest • Contrast between text & background -- computer projection often uses a dark background with light text -- overhead projector: light background, dark text

21. Color • Uses: contrast, emphasis, interest • Contrast between text & background -- computer projection: dark background, light text -- overhead projector: light background, dark text light background, dark text

22. Font: Color • Use a consistent color scheme for continuity. • Avoid reds & greens. • Use color sparingly for emphasis. • Don’t get carried away!

23. Extras: Pictures & Animation

24. EZ to Use Graphing Function A B C D F 16 41 49 43 22

25. Font Color Content Amount Extras Images • Generate interest • Illustrate points • Decorate • Visual Literacy

26. Visual Literacy Russia: From Empire to Federation

27. Expand on ideas introduced by images Russia: From Empire to Federation

28. You can introduce text or images one by one • Be careful, don’t overdo it. • Stick to one animation type • Practice until you are smooth

29. Public Speaking Rule 1: Know Your Subject

30. Public Speaking Rule 2: Know Your Audience

31. Don’t Get Carried Away… • …with animations • …with sounds • …with slide transitions • …with clip art • …with pictures • …lots of text • …with all the bells and whistles

32. Remember the KIS Principle • Keep it Simple • And…

33. Don’t forget… • Practice to a live audience and ask for feedback • Practice your slide transitions in PowerPoint • Don’t memorize your speech, but use the slides to guide you through your talk each time. • Paraphrase, don’t read slides to us, it’s boooooooooooooring.

34. And now, are there any questions…? • If not, let’s take a look at the assignment.