PowerPoint Tips for Trainers

By Karen S. Sieczka

founder@growinggreatideas.com

Getting started

I need a presentation to go with my training materials….where do I start?

Use your ASTD-provided PP template for consistent look in graphics and colors. The logo is already built in.

Don’t forget to save it with your new

presentation name before adding your

own information

What next?

Consider: What are the key points from my workshop

handouts I can copy and paste into the presentation?

How can I shorten these points to make them user-friendly?

Do I have any clip art or pictures I would like to include?

Now what?

Take a few moments to review tips for making a great, understandable presentation…

Slide Structure – GOOD

Write in bullet form, key words and phrases only

Include only up to 2-4 points per slideNo large blocks of text

Slide Structure - BADThis page contains too many words for a

presentation slide. It is not written in point form, making it difficult both for your audience to read and for you to present each point. Although there are exactly the same number of points on this slide as the previous slide, it looks much, much more complicated. In short, your audience will spend too much time trying to read this paragraph instead of listening to you. Can you even understand this slide’s point?

Slide Structure – GOOD

Show one point at a time:

Will help audience concentrate

Will prevent audience from reading ahead

Will help keep presentation focused

Slide Structure – GOOD

How do I make one point appear at a time on my slide?Highlight your point and use custom animation

to add an entrance effectKeep it simple- the appear or ascend are not as

distracting as some of the more exciting onesFor more information, check out Microsoft’s

training on animations: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/TC103382651033.aspx?pid=CT103366151033&WT.mc_id=42

Slide Structure - BAD

Don’t use distracting animation

Don’t overdo it

Skip sound effects

Fonts - GOOD

Use at least an 18-point font this is 18 pt- make sure you can see it from the back of the room!

Use different size fonts for main points and secondary pointsthis font is 24-point, the main point font is 28-

point, and the title font is 36-pointUse a standard font like Times New Roman

or Arial

Fonts - BAD

If you use a small font, your audience won’t be able to read what you have written

CAPITALIZE ONLY WHEN NECESSARY. IT IS DIFFICULT TO READ & FEELS LIKE SHOUTING!!!!!!

Don’t use a complicated font. This makes it hard to read

Color - Good

Use a font color that contrasts sharply with the backgroundEx: Black or dk. blue font on white background

Only occasionally use color to emphasize a point

Color - BAD

Using a font color that doesn’t contrastUsing colors for decoration is distracting

and annoyingUsing a different color for each point is

unnecessaryTrying to be creative can be a bad idea

Background - GOOD

Use attractive, simple backgrounds. Many are built into PowerPoint under the Design Tab & you can download more from Microsoft.com

Use light backgrounds. They are easier on the eyes.

Use the same background consistently throughout your presentation.

Background – BAD

Avoid backgrounds that are distracting or difficult to read

Always be consistent with the background that you use. Don’t use a different one for each slide.

Clip Art & Pictures-GOOD

A picture IS worth a thousand words if used right

Illustrates your pointReplaces textMakes it easier for audience to visualize

Clip Art & Pictures-GOOD

This program

saves millions

of dollars!

Picture matches your point!

Clip Art & Pictures-BAD

Too much of a good thingDoesn’t have any thing to do with your pointConfusing

Charts - GOOD

Use charts rather than just data and wordsCharts are easier to comprehend & retain than

raw dataPictures speak louder than wordsTrends are easier to visualize

Always title your charts

Charts - BAD

January February March AprilBlue Balls 20.4 27.4 90 20.4Red Balls 30.6 38.6 34.6 31.6

Does anyone know what this data means????

Pretty boring too, huh?

Charts - GOOD

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

January February March April

Items Sold in First Quarter of 2002

Blue Balls

Red Balls

Okay—now I understand!

Charts - BAD

20.4

27.4

90

20.4

30.6

38.6

34.631.6

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

January February March April

Blue Balls

Red Balls

HUH?????

Charts - BAD

Font is too smallDistracting colors/shading/gridlinesTitle is missingWhat does it mean?

Spelling and Grammar

Proof your slides for:speling misteakesthe use use of of repeated wordsgrammatical eras you might have make

Use spell check on Review tabNot sure?-- please have someone else

proof your presentation!

Encourage Input

Questions??Use a simple question slide to:

Invite your audience to ask questionsProvide a visual aid during question period

Make sure you leave some time for questions at the end of your presentation

Conclusion

You can use a conclusion slide to:Summarize/review main points of your

presentationSuggest future avenues of researchCall for a specific “next steps”Provide contact information, if appropriate

How Does Your Presentation

Look?