10 TIPS FOR EFFECTIVE POWERPOINT PRESENTATIONS

  1. Plan, plan, plan.
  • Like any project, planning makes prefect.
  • In the case of a presentation it is wise to start off with a pencil and paper storyboard outlining the presentation.
  • Developing a storyboard is especially important when more than one presenter is involved.
  1. Less is more.
  • Avoid sound and video unless critical to the educational purpose of the presentation.
  • Whereas color, selectively used, can enhance the feel and impact of a presentation, sound and video is generally distracting.
  • This is especially true for unexpected sounds such as tire screeching, bullets being fired or applause.
  1. Choose fonts carefully.
  • Clear, legible text is essential for effective presentations.
  • Supports the oral presentation
  • helps keep the audience focused
  • assists understanding of the presentation.
  • Basically, there are two font styles.
  • “Serif” - small tail added to the ends of letter strokes as a decoration
  • Times New Roman
  • Bookman Old Style
  1. “Sans Serif.” - no tail, therefore less decorative.
  • Ariel
  • Franklin Gothic Demi
  • Serif fonts are traditionally used for the printed page, they do not always work well when projected on screen.
  • The different thickness of the lines making up the characters can make them difficult to read, whereas a sans serif font with uniform line thickness may be easier to read and a better choice for PowerPoint presentations.
  • A maximum of two different fonts per presentation, one for headings and one for the body of the text is better for audience viewing, and easier to manage in the design phase.
  • It is often better to select a standard font such as Helvetica or Ariel whenever possible.
  1. Color is a “spice” to a presentation-use it wisely.
  • Color can be used for:
  • highlighting key messages
  • audience cues
  • emphasizing relationships between topics
  • discriminating between objects
  • arousing interest
  • providing a professional finish.
  • In choosing colors, the following guidelines may be helpful:
  • Limit the number of color regions on any one slide to a maximum of four.
  • Be consistent with your color choice.
  • Select colors for audience meaning (e.g. red-and-white stop sign).
  • Consider the cultural significance of colors.
  • Text color should complement, and be distinguishable from, the color background (e.g. white or pale text, dark background; black or blue text-lighter backgrounds).
  • If you grade colors, moving from light to dark, the intensity should increase as you move to the bottom of the frame.
  • Consider the psychological effects of color. Bright colors project energy and pastels are more delicate, blues and greens are ‘cool,’ reds and oranges ‘hot.’ White is perceived as more cheerful than black.
  1. A reminder on the selection of colors:
  • In choosing colors, consider the type of output when selecting colors. Colors displayed on your monitor may not be the same when viewed on a large screen projection display.
  1. Follow the “Rule of Six.”
  • six lines per visual, and six words per line.
  • Limit the number of words on the screen and present one idea per screen.
  1. Choose pictures and clip art that enhance your presentation message.
  • Illustrations may support, reinforce or add variation to your presentation.
  • Limitthe number of pictures on each frame, avoiding covering text, and choosing pictures relevant to the topic.
  • Remember that, in adding features to your slides, you need to create a path for the eye, divide space in an interesting way and keep the slides organized.
  1. Check your work.
  • Spell Check
  • Review the customizing features before moving to the final preparation phase.
  • Check the presentation individually and with at least one other person. Often times as the presentation preparer, we can get “caught in the forest” so that possible flaws or errors might become invisible.
  1. Rehearsal is a virtue and a requirement.
  • The more the presentation is rehearsed and practiced, focusing on topic material and presentation and timing, the better the presentation will become.
  • It should be so well rehearsed that the presenter does not have to refer to notes or other assists, and can focus solely on observing and responding to audience behavior and reaction.