Creating Class Presentations using PowerPoint

1. Creating Class Presentations using PowerPoint CCRI – Instructional Support Team

2. Why do class presentations? • Students pay more attention in class • Adds consistency for different sections (keeps instructor on track!) • Multimedia possibilities engage variety of learning styles • Illustrate a point Sometimes a “Picture is worth a thousand words” CCRI – Instructional Support Team

3. Considerations for Presentations • Learning Cues • Text Guidelines • Animation Guidelines • Choosing Color, Backgrounds • Printing Handouts • Graphics, Video CCRI – Instructional Support Team

4. Text Guidelines Use Text Sparingly • No more than 5 bullet points per slide • No more than 6 words per bullet point • Use color for emphasis CCRI – Instructional Support Team

5. Text Formatting • Optimal size- at least 32 point size. Absolute minimum size 24 point • For maximum readability useSan Serif styles for main text, Serif styles for Heading • Limit number of font styles on 1 slide to 3 • Left-align body text CCRI – Instructional Support Team

6. Text Formatting • DON’T USE ALL CAPITALS AS THEY ARE HARDER TO READ • Using Title Case Is More Formal And Harder To Type • Using sentence case is informal, easy to read, and easier to type • Italics are more difficult to read than regular text CCRI – Instructional Support Team

7. 96 Pt. 72 Pt. 36 Pt. 24 Pt. Examples of Text Sizes CCRI – Instructional Support Team

8. Animation Guidelines - Text • Use animation for control, emphasis • Limit different animations to 3 per slide • 1 –introduce title • 2 – bring in graphic • 3 – bring in bullet point • Be consistent. Follow same animation format throughout presentation • Use color in place of animation CCRI – Instructional Support Team

9. Animation Guidelines - Graphics Before adding an animated graphic consider: • Some rapidly repeated animations can bring on seizures in sensitive individuals • Animated graphics can be distracting • What control do you have over the pace and repeat of the animation? • Will the animated graphic slow download time if posted on the web? CCRI – Instructional Support Team

10. Color Guidelines • Use complementary colors with high contrast • Blue or purple backgrounds show well with yellow or gold text • Yellow with black lettering considered most readable • 10% of people have difficulty with reds & greens CCRI – Instructional Support Team

11. Examples Poor Contrast Good contrast Good contrast Unreadable for Color Blind CCRI – Instructional Support Team

12. Color – In Class Color choices should be driven by the classroom lighting and size: • Dark or slightly darkened room - use light text on a dark background • Light room - use dark text on a lighter background • Avoid white backgrounds in very large rooms • Always do a trial run in the classroom CCRI – Instructional Support Team

13. Color – Online • Eye is drawn to light on a computer screen • Light text (yellow or white are good) on a dark background is preferable CCRI – Instructional Support Team

14. Color – Printed Handouts • Dark text on white background is most readable and saves toner • To print black & white handouts from your color presentation: • Choose File – Print… • Print what: Handouts • Color/Grayscale: Pure Black and White • Handouts: Slides per page (3 slides per page adds note-taking lines on right) CCRI – Instructional Support Team

15. Backgrounds • Use single background throughout for consistency • Use simple background that won’t distract from or obscure text • If Web posting is an option, don’t use a photo for the background because of increased download time CCRI – Instructional Support Team

16. Emphasize Learning Cues • Single phrases • Short lists • Questions for students • Fill-in blanks • Quotes • Illustrative photos, graphics, charts • Video clips (keep download time and players in mind) CCRI – Instructional Support Team

17. Graphics • Relevant to topic • Not too big • Format as .jpg, .gifto accommodate Web CCRI – Instructional Support Team

18. Video • Use brief clips • Relevant to topic • Common formats (.mov, .wmf) • Don’t interrupt flow – include clip at either beginning or end of presentation CCRI – Instructional Support Team