Powerpoint

Synonyms:
Slide show, slides, slidedeck, PPT

Structuring presentations with a series of powerpoint slides is now the most common way of presenting information to groups.

Unfortunately, many presentations are not prepared well, which leads to bored audiences. Powerpoint presentations are a useful way to organize information coming from evaluations as well. To make your presentation effective, you need to take time to prepare your results into a clear and interesting story that will engage your audience’s attention.

Advice for choosing this method

  • PowerPoint can only be used when there is a projector, a computer and power. Without a projector and a light space to project onto, the presentation will be ineffective for groups larger than a few people.
  • A PowerPoint presentation is only good if it supports what a presenter tells, rather than if it becomes the main source of information

Advice for using this method

  • Know who your audience is so that you can communicate to them most effectively.
  • Start with a compelling story, and then supplement your story with Powerpoint slides.
  • Keep the slides simple and avoid clutter: short text, colourful graphs or other relevant imagery.
  • Try to plan your presentation to display one new point at any given moment – so that you stay in sync with your audience.
  • Use a sans serif font for body text (e.g. Arial, Helvetica, or Calibri) as they are the easiest to read on screens.
  • Follow the 10:20:30 rule:  Keep it short – 10 slides at the most - not longer than 20 minutes – and do not go under 30-point font size.
  • Insert video into the presentation to provide another way to bring across your message and to liven a presentation.

Resources

Wax, D. (2009). 10 tips for more effective powerpoint presentations. Lifehack. (Accessed 2012-05-15) http://www.lifehack.org/articles/technology/10-tips-for-more-effective-p...

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