Power Point Presentations For Effectively Conveying Scientific Information

1. Power Point Presentations For Effectively Conveying Scientific Information Source: Kroodsma and Byers (2000). Auk 117:831-835.

2. 1 - Use Large Enough Text This is large enough (50) This is large enough (45) This is large enough text (40) This is large enough text (35) This is large enough text (30) This is large enough text (25) This is large enough text (20) This is large enough text (15)

3. 2- Use the right background for slides Is This Better Is This Better

4. 3 – Use Color/Animation/ Pictures Thoughtfully. • These options can enhance communication. • Gratuitous c/a/p hinder viewer understanding. • People should remember your points not how cool your slides were.

5. 4 – Strive to Avoid Tables of Numbers. • Tables of numbers make it hard to meet the 30 pitch font rule. • Remember people see/remember trends more readily than numbers. So if possible use figures instead of tables.

6. 5- Use Text Only Slides Effectively. • Long passages can be read by the audience faster than the presenter. • Use both upper and lower cases letters. • On important points consider progressive disclosure.

7. 6- Project All Slides Horizontally. • Leads to the efficient use of the projection area. • Slides usually must be made smaller to project horizontally. • Horizontal slides can be projected higher.

8. 7- Build Graphs Specifically for Presentation. • Label slides directly. • Minimize the use of legend.

9. Stream Width = 6.04 Elevation = 1455.39 Gradient = 1.26 26 24 22 Width-to-Depth Ratio 20 18 16 Managed Unmanaged Compare the Readability.

10. 8- Be Consistent In the Style of Slides. • Consistency should include; • Background color, • Size and style of letters, • Choice of color to enhance message, • Style, so you can use slides for multiple talks.

11. 9- Organize the Talk Around the Slides. • Decide what you’re important points are and design slides for those points. • Organize presentation around slides so as to form a theme. • Always ask the question, “Does this slide help make my point?” • Practice

12. 10- Keep Slides Simple. • Each slide should contain one main idea, two at the most. • The slides message should be deciphered by the crowd in a couple of seconds. • Simple slides permit the audience to focus on the presenter instead of trying to figure out the slide.