Using PowerPoint EffectivelyUsing PowerPoint Effectively

ID 740 AELIC MethodologyID 740 AELIC Methodology

You Control the Outcome!You Control the Outcome!

PowerPoint is merely a tool. You PowerPoint is merely a tool. You determine how effective or determine how effective or ineffective your presentation is. ineffective your presentation is.

Following some basic strategies Following some basic strategies can greatly improve your can greatly improve your presentation -- and prevent your presentation -- and prevent your show from being "PowerPointless."show from being "PowerPointless."

Good Speaking and PowerPointGood Speaking and PowerPoint

Focus on the Focus on the Content:Content:  As the saying   As the saying goes, “The main thing is goes, “The main thing is to keep the main thing to keep the main thing the main thing.”  Don’t the main thing.”  Don’t let use of the media let use of the media hinder you in hinder you in addressing your topic.addressing your topic.

More Good SpeakingMore Good Speaking

Don’t Read from the Screen:Don’t Read from the Screen:  Overly relying on   Overly relying on the presence of the text is by far the most common the presence of the text is by far the most common problem with novice PowerPoint users.  Your problem with novice PowerPoint users.  Your audience can read for themselvesaudience can read for themselves

Maintain Eye Contact with your Audience:Maintain Eye Contact with your Audience:   It’s   It’s very easy to be distracted by the content on your very easy to be distracted by the content on your screen.  A minor exception to this guideline is a screen.  A minor exception to this guideline is a need to draw your audience’s attention to a specific need to draw your audience’s attention to a specific part of your slide.  For example, you could use a part of your slide.  For example, you could use a pointer to identify a trend of a graph. -- Otherwise, pointer to identify a trend of a graph. -- Otherwise, there's simply no reason to show your back.there's simply no reason to show your back.

Notice—this slide has too many words!Notice—this slide has too many words!

More Good SpeakingMore Good Speaking

Keep Pace with Keep Pace with Yourself:Yourself:  At first, you   At first, you may find it difficult to may find it difficult to coordinate speaking coordinate speaking and showing your slides and showing your slides simultaneously.  But simultaneously.  But coordination of the two coordination of the two is essential in is essential in preventing confusion.    preventing confusion.    You may find it helpful You may find it helpful to make notes to to make notes to yourself of when you yourself of when you need to advance slides. need to advance slides.

Some Basic IdeasSome Basic Ideas

Plan on two minutes per slide (that would Plan on two minutes per slide (that would be 25 slides in a 50 minute class)be 25 slides in a 50 minute class)

Remember: we read left to right and from Remember: we read left to right and from top to bottomtop to bottom

We tend to see graphics first, then textWe tend to see graphics first, then text Keep a logical flow of information Keep a logical flow of information

Don’t Be Seduced!!Don’t Be Seduced!!

Animated graphics or textAnimated graphics or text

Inappropriate clip Inappropriate clip artart

Sound EffectsSound Effects Screen TransitionsScreen Transitions Wild Color Wild Color

SchemesSchemes Fancy fonts – Fancy fonts – should be for should be for titles only!titles only!

Focus on learning, not

on technology

TypeType

Use large type – 24 point is minimum! (this Use large type – 24 point is minimum! (this is 32 point)is 32 point)

This is 24 pointThis is 24 point

This is 44 pointThis is 44 point AVOID USING ALL UPPERCASE AVOID USING ALL UPPERCASE

LETTERS – IT LOOKS AS IF YOU ARE LETTERS – IT LOOKS AS IF YOU ARE YELLING!YELLING!

Preparing Content for SlidesPreparing Content for Slides

Keep text simple and Keep text simple and conciseconcise

Summarize sentences Summarize sentences into bulletsinto bullets

Avoid dense screens Avoid dense screens – the “Rule of Six”– the “Rule of Six”

Once concept per Once concept per slideslide

Pedagogical TechniquesPedagogical Techniques

Progressive disclosureProgressive disclosure Link to other websites (Link to other websites (www.cte.tcu.eduwww.cte.tcu.edu)) Use knowledge of learning stylesUse knowledge of learning styles

– TextText– Visual/art/graphVisual/art/graph– OralOral

Use handoutsUse handouts

HandoutsHandouts

Handouts are easy for students to use and Handouts are easy for students to use and write onwrite on

Handouts can easily be printed or posted to Handouts can easily be printed or posted to a web sitea web site

They are static (no movement) and in black They are static (no movement) and in black and whiteand white

Some faculty don’t give slides as a handout Some faculty don’t give slides as a handout – it is up to you!– it is up to you!

Presentation TechniquesPresentation Techniques

Stand aside so students can read the screen, but Stand aside so students can read the screen, but don’t turn your back on students for very long.don’t turn your back on students for very long.

Use a pointer and move the pointer slowlyUse a pointer and move the pointer slowly Clear a slide after discussing itClear a slide after discussing it Make sure there is enough light for taking notes Make sure there is enough light for taking notes

and that it is dark enough to see the screenand that it is dark enough to see the screen

CaveatsCaveats

Always have a back up planAlways have a back up plan Test hardware and software earlyTest hardware and software early Sound can be problematic in some locationsSound can be problematic in some locations Website access is not always availableWebsite access is not always available

A Bad PowerPointA Bad PowerPoint

Gettysburg AddressGettysburg Address ( (http://http://www.norvig.comwww.norvig.com/Gettysburg//Gettysburg/))