Using PowerPoint

Using PowerPoint Lucy Bradley-Springer, PhD, RN, ACRN Director, Mountain Plains AETC Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver CO

Effective Visual Aids • 35 words or less • no >6 lines of text • shortcuts: • lean phrases • delete words • abbreviations • Use titles

Decreasing Words • Use symbols: , Δ, →, , &, >, <, etc. • Abbreviate: HCV, OB, ART, VL, etc. • Leave out words: • “There are several indications for the use of ART in pregnancy” • Alternate: “Indications for ART in pregnancy”

Titles • Give learner focus • Can title take place of some of your content? • Ex: ART in Pregnancy • Divide & conquer – make multiple slides out of one with a lot of content (repeat title as needed)

Effective Visual Aids • readable: big font, bold, use whole screen • strong color contrast • minimize details on tables, charts, graphs

Effective Visual Aids • readable: big font, bold, use whole screen • don’t use red on dark background NOT!!!!

Effective Visual Aids • make it simple: use as outline/organizer • add interest: pertinent pictures/graphics • don’t believe what you see on the computer screen: project on wall to know for sure

How to know . . . • print a handout with 6 slides to a page: if you can’t read it on printout, they can’t read it on the screen • if you have to say, “I know you can’t read this, but . . .”, don’t use it!

What if they NEED all that information? • Give a handout • Give a reference • Refer to information in a slide that follows the rules & ask the audience to follow on the handout

Bottom Line(s) . . . • Don’t waste your time/effort • If they can’t see it, they won’t read it

Handout Tips • Don’t print picture slides • Don’t print cartoons or slides meant to be surprises – it decreases the ability of these slides to keep people alert & interested

Using PowerPoint