how to give a good powerpoint presentation
DESCRIPTION
Notes from a class on how to give an effective PowerPoint talk, with a number of slides demonstrating what NOT to do...TRANSCRIPT
Presentation Guidelines
Last four class days devoted to student presentations
Approx. 20 minutes (15+5) each
Grade: comments from me, comments from peers
This class: Some basic guidelines on presentation technique
Know Your AudienceFirst and most important rule: KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE
Different audiences need different types of talks
Fellow experts Technical jargon OK, Details good
Briefing for Colleagues Some jargon OK, less detailed
General Audience Minimal jargon, “Big Picture” only
Know what style is appropriate for your intended audience
Know Your Point
Make sure you know what you want the audience to take away
1-2 main ideas per talk
Everything must come back to main points
Tell A StoryOrganization is key
Beginning, Middle, End
Clear and Logical Flow
Keep audience informed
Try to streamline presentation so each step is obvious
For very complicated material, outline/ summary breaks
Limit Your MaterialRule of thumb: 1 slide per minute MAXIMUM
Lecture notes: Typically ~20 slides for 65 minute class
50-minute Research Talk: 26 slides
50-minute Social Media Talk: 32 slides
50-minute Public Lecture: 39 slides
(Very image-heavy)
In-class presentations: No more than 20 slides
Slide Design
1) Text Is Death
The deplorable practice of putting huge blocks of text on a slide and then reading every single word to the audience probably accounts for half of the problems people have with PowerPoint. Most people in the audience will be able to read the text faster than you can say it out loud. Those who can’t will be so busy reading it that they’ll tend to miss what you’re saying.
Keep words on slides to a minimum
This goes double for math/equations
Slide Design
1) Text Is Death
2) Use high-contrast fonts and colors
Certain colors of text are nearly invisible on some backgrounds
Be aware of/ sensitive to visual impairments, like colorblindness
Don’t use complicated fonts or tiny little text
8.5”x11” printout should be readable from ~10 feet
Slide Design
1) Text Is Death
2) Use high-contrast fonts and colors
3) Keep Background Images Simple
Complicated background images make text disappear
Use solid colors, or simple patterns
Slide Design
1) Text Is Death
2) Use high-contrast fonts and colors
3) Keep Background Images Simple
4) Use animation sparingly
Sure you can use a different transition every time
but it’s incredibly irritating
Know What to Say, WhenReading pre-written text is deadly dull
Too much text on slides is bad
Need to seem improvised while being prepared
1) Provide clear (but subtle) prompts on slides
2) Use “Presenter Mode” when available
0) PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE
If It Works, It’s GoodThese are suggestions, not absolute rules
It’s possible to give a talk thatbreaks some or all of these
The only solid rule of publishing is:If it works, it’s good. -- Teresa Nielsen Hayden