AVOIDING “SLOW DEATH BY POWERPOINT”
Creating Effective Presentations
DESIGNING EFFECTIVE VISUAL PRESENTATIONS
Consistent
Simple
Content 1st
Clear
Tell a Story
Summarize
Progressive
THE GOLDEN RULES
Content 1st PowerPoint 2nd
Tell a Story!
CONTENT 1ST
CONTENT 1ST Keep the focus on the content, story, and
Presenter PowerPoint is just the tool to tell the story Don’t make PowerPoint the FOCUS
TELL A STORY
TELL A STORY
In order to engage your audience, they must understand the STORY you are telling: Where are we now?
Beginning Where do we want to end up?
End How are we going to get there?
Middle
TELLING A STORY
A Good StoryA Bad Story
KEEP IT SIMPLE
KEEP IT SIMPLE: SIZE
This is Arial 12 This is Arial 18 This is Arial 24 This is Arial 28 This is Arial 32This is Arial 36 This is Arial 44
Too Big, except for Titles
Too Small
Just Right for Content
KEEP IT SIMPLE - STYLE Too many different colours Too Many different Fonts and Styles
Too many different sizes
KEEP IT SIMPLE - CONTENTInstructional Technology:
A complex integrated process involving people, procedures, ideas, devices, and organization, for analyzing problems and devising, implementing, evaluating, and managing solutions to those problems in situations in which learning is purposive and controlled(HMRS 5th ed.)
Too detailed and wordy !
KEEP IT SIMPLE - CONTENT
A complex processinvolving people, procedures & toolsfor analyzing problems & creating solutionsin learning situations(HMRS 5th ed.)
Instructional Technology:
Much Simpler
KEEP IT SIMPLE - CONTENT
A complex process Involves people, procedures & tools Used for analyzing problems & creating
solutions Applies to learning situations (HMRS 5th ed.)
Instructional Technology:
even Better!
THE 6 X 7 RULE
The 6 x 7 rule No more than 6 lines of Text per slide No more than 7 words per line
KEEP IT SIMPLE - TABLES
Delhi Mumbai GoaJanuary 11,532,234 14,123,654 3,034,564February 1,078,456 12,345,567 16,128,234March 17,234,778 6,567,123 16,034,786April 16,098,897 10,870,954 7,940,096May 8,036,897 10,345,394 14,856,456June 16,184,345 678,095 4,123,656July 8,890,345 15,347,934 18,885,786August 8,674,234 18,107,110 17,230,095September 4,032,045 18,923,239 9,950,498October 2,608,096 9,945,890 5,596,096November 5,864,034 478,023 6,678,125December 12,234,123 9,532,111 3,045,654
Too detailed !
Falling Leaves Observed
KEEP IT SIMPLE - TABLES
In 106 Delhi Mumbai GoaJanuary 11 14 3February 1 12 16March 17 6 16April 16 10 7May 8 10 14June 16 0 4July 8 15 18August 8 18 17September 4 18 9October 2 9 5November 5 0 6December 12 9 3
Much Simpler
Falling Leaves Observed (in Millions)
KEEP IT SIMPLE - GRAPHS
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
January February March April May June July August September October November December
Goa
Mumbai
Delhi
Too Busy & detailed !
Falling Leaves Observed
0
10
20
30
40
50
January March May July September November
GoaMumbaiDelhi
Much Simpler
Keep It Simple - GraphsFalling Leaves Observed
KEEP IT SIMPLE - IMAGES
Images can distract your audience
• Pictures are NOT a substitute for Content
• Too many images detracts from your message
KEEP IT SIMPLE - IMAGES
• Images MUST be relevant to the content
Ex: The Research Process
Not Relevant! Relevant!
KEEP IT SIMPLE - IMAGES
Images should be used to CLARIFY content
KEEP IT SIMPLE - SOUND
Sound effects can be very distracting and annoying
• Use sound only when necessary!
KEEP IT SIMPLE - TRANSITIONS
This transition is annoying, and distracting ….
• Simple transitions, such as Appear and Disappear ,are effective and help you ... Tell Your Story
KEEP IT SIMPLE - ANIMATIONS
2 mToo distracting !
• This animation is annoying, and distracting ….
KEEP IT SIMPLE- ANIMATIONS
2mSimple & to the point
• Simple animations can be effective and help you ...Tell your Story
MAKE IT CLEAR
MAKE IT CLEAR - CAPITALS
WRITING IN ALL CAPITAL LETTERS IS TOO DIFFICULT TO READ
Regular Sentence Case with Upper and lower case letters is easier to read
MAKE IT CLEAR - FONTS
ZZbusy clear
• Use Readable Fonts• Serif fonts have projecting “serifs” at
the end of the strokes – they are harder to read
• Sans-serif Fonts are simpler, and easier to readSerif Font
Times
Sans-Serif Font
Arial
MAKE IT CLEAR - STYLES
Use colour, Bold, and Size to emphasize points NOT Distract
Italics are difficult to read on screen Normal or bold fonts are clearer BOLD font should be used sparingly, for
emphasis ONLY Underlining is confusing and should ONLY be
used for hyperlinks
MAKE IT CLEAR – NUMBERED LISTS
Use numbers for lists with a logical sequence
For example:
How to put an elephant into a fridge?1. Open the door of the fridge2. Put the elephant in3. Close the door
MAKE IT CLEAR – NUMBERED LISTS
How to put a giraffe into a fridge?1. Open the door of the fridge2. Take out the elephant3. Put the giraffe in4. Close the door
MAKE IT CLEAR – BULLETED LISTS
Use Bullets to list points about a topic
Use bullets to show a list without Priority Sequence Hierarchy, …..
MAKE IT CLEAR - COLOR
Use contrasting colours to help content stand out
Light on dark or dark on light Use complementary colours
MAKE IT CLEAR - CONTRAST
Use contrasting colours Light on dark vs dark on light Use complementary colours
low contrast
high contrast
MAKE IT CLEAR - CONTRAST
Use contrasting colours Light on darkUse complementary coloursDark on light
MAKE IT CLEAR - CONTRAST
Use contrasting colours• Light on dark vs dark on light • Use complementary colours
These colours are NOT complementary
MAKE IT CLEAR - CONTRAST
Use contrasting colours• Light on dark vs dark on light • Use complementary colours
These colours are complementary
MAKE IT CLEAR - SIZE
Size implies importance
MAKE IT CLEAR - SIZE
Size implies importance
MAKE IT CLEAR – FOCAL POINT
Focal points direct attention
MAKE IT CLEAR – FOCAL POINT
Focal points direct attention
BE PROGRESSIVE
Complexity of Interactions
Mode of Instruction
Individual Pair Group
DirectInstruction
GuidedInquiry
DiscoveryLearning
IndividualInstructive
Tools
IndividualConstructive
Tools
SocialConstructive
Tools
SocialCommunicative
Tools
Informational Tools
BE PROGRESSIVE – SPOON FEED
Too much at Once!
Complexity of Interactions
Mode of Instruction
Individual Pair Group
DirectInstruction
GuidedInquiry
DiscoveryLearning
IndividualInstructive
Tools
IndividualConstructive
Tools
SocialConstructive
Tools
SocialCommunicative
Tools
Informational Tools
BE PROGRESSIVE – SPOON FEED
Progressive & focused
BE PROGRESSIVE – FOCUSED
Floppy disk
User interface
CPU
I/O Error
Backup system
Software
Mouse
Debugger
Function key
Main Storage
Too much at once, Unfocused
BE PROGRESSIVE – FOCUSED
Floppy disk
User interface
CPU
I/O Error
Backup system
Software
Mouse
Debugger
Function key
Main Storage
Progressive & focused
BE CONSISTENT
BE CONSISTENT
Differences draw attention
Differences can imply importance
Use surprises to attract not distract
BE CONSISTENT
Differences draw attention Differences can imply importance Use surprises to attract not distract
This difference draws attention
BE CONSISTENT
Differences draw attention Differences may imply importanceo Use surprises to attract not distract
These differences distract!
BE CONSISTENT
Differences draw attention• Differences may imply importance Use surprises to attract not distract
Small differences can imply importance
BE CONSISTENT
Differences draw attention• Differences may imply importance Use surprises to attract not distract
Too Many differences is Confusing!
BE CONSISTENT
Differences draw attention Differences may imply importance Use surprises to attract not distract
A small surprise attracts
BE CONSISTENT
Differences draw attention Differences may imply importance Use surprises to attract not distract
Too many distracts!
IN SUMMARY
Content 1st, PowerPoint 2nd
Tell a Story Big Simple Clear Progressive Consistent
WHEN CREATING
Focus on the Content Make sure the audience understands the
Story Use text to communicate your message Use visuals to support, not to distract Use Images to simplify and clarify Use Animations to demonstrate concepts
& relationships Use sounds only when absolutely
necessary Think about the people in the back
WHEN PRESENTING
Speak loudly and clearly with fluctuation
Direct your words to all aspects of the room
Maintain eye contact with your audience
Don’t read the slides, use them for reference
Ask questions to engage your audience
Practice before a neutral audience Be particular about the time givenLeave time for questions