Designing Documents, Slides, and ScreenNotes on Module Five and Additional Material

HandoutsMake it clear how you intend the audience to use your handouts

Purposes

Taking notes (design with space for notes)

Future Reference (make it “file-able”)

Large amounts of information (make the information easy to find)

Documentation (might not be necessary during presentation.

When to Distribute?

Decide when the most appropriate time to distribute them to the audience.

If the audience has a handout, it’s demanding attention.

Integrate into Presentation

Refer to them in your presentation.

No handout stands on its own.

Presentation Slides

Size of InformationMust be legible to the people in the back of the room (font-size, size of visuals, complexity, etc).

Do not read your slides.

Use phrases or images.

Explain your slides.

Use your slides as examples of the point you’re trying to make.

Part, not the Whole

Do not make your slides the entirety of your presentation.

Slides make presenters disappear.

Make slides a part of your presentation.

Visuals

Don’t use clip art.

Avoid obviously “stock” photographs unless especially effective.

How Much Info?

The fewer points a slide makes, the more effective your message will be.

Think 3 points per slide… max.

Generally best to make one or two points per slide.

Who’s in Charge Here?

Don’t present your slides.

Make sure the slides augment your presentation.

Don’t depend on your slide to remember “what comes next.”

Other Presentation Aids

“Pass-Arounds”

Generally not a good idea.

Only one or two people can experience the item when you’re actually referring to it – all the other times, it is a distraction.

Consider effective alternatives.

Demonstrations

consider using people from the audience, make sure the outcome is predictable or that you can handle the possible results, practice.

Food?

Important to ask the question: “What does this accomplish?” or “How does this help?”

Make sure it’s directly and explicitly practical to your audience.

Limit audience time with food.

Help a Slide Out

No presentation aid—whether a slide, a video, a sound clip, and image, a handout, etc.—no presentation aid stands on its own.

You’ve got to introduce it, refer to it, and make it practical.

Thanks.