The document provides tips for creating effective slide presentations in 3 sentences or less:
Keep slides simple with limited text and use animations, high-quality graphics, and an original theme sparingly. Include the correct charts and graphs and create color schemes that are appropriate and enhance readability. Choose font styles carefully and consider employing audiovisual aids to engage audiences while organizing information logically on each slide.
6. Use an Original Theme
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7. Use the Correct Chart
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Slides should not carry the bulk of the information; entertain your audience by speaking while powerpoint is a visual accompaniment. This means that there should be lots of space and no clutter on your slide.http://www.flickr.com/photos/vinothchandar/6895047173/sizes/l/in/photolist-bvhViF-ejB6hG-a4Ba1k-7Ly55g-bXqieW-8uK5LJ-gmF94S-fas7rP-a4bPbu-aeJbhc-9mU2mA-aHA44z-a5jveK-9wDfH6-8SpefS-8Sm8dX-8SpeaW-g24ePp-aaxVi1-c5Eru7-8quvYe-ct7fQm-98MWMt-9fo1W6-bV7Ptw-bTFJ2t-bTFBri-bX9JE5-bELX8S-9dhHpy-8YpQUH-axaFsN-btdMVx-a5FBTu-bV7TD7-fwqgj2-a8n56x-a8pXtm-acq4k1-a8n3KK-8JsgEb-ee1EJq-ahpfnu-eaG6Jm-aDekRG-8kRaXF-88qQGp-e6Bhwz-bGoor4-axaN5F-7BDT8H/
Slides are intended to support what the speaker is saying, but should not carry all of the information. Lots of text on the screen means they do not need to pay attention to the speaker to get the information, and they will also be bored by the presentation.http://www.flickr.com/photos/revdave/459199102/sizes/o/in/photolist-GzvTU-GHqGi-GJJ8h-HgMDt-NZkfL-NZSf6-St1Fg-2trSak-2XiAr4-38cJzN-3FBVgz-3FC13c-3FG7mQ-4oV8RW-4rx9gB-4s6Wge-4Ms8W5-4Uhiez-578hfp-5kauHT-5keE7U-5r7QAQ-5G3Ew8-5RNQ8x-5UDk75-5ZoqzJ-61gjZw-62mdyg-62ww3u-64c8LP-6azFFH-6kXZgZ-6mY9x3-6qgQy4-6rNYZF-6waV9j-6HTiP5-6UbeQd-6UHvih-6X6iub-6YJg6x-72t2cf-7eahLz-7fMeWE-9YmcHx-7Kekqp-9WrHTo-fDe9ih-7LZetr-8yhTxP-9ZTonx/
Animations refers to the use of transitions in slides and the addition of movement for bullet points, lists, pictures, etc. The most basic of movements added are best when used sparingly– not on all the slides. Listeners will quickly lose interest if they have to endure numerous slides with animations.
This means using a high resolution photo or graphic. Taking a small image and stretching it to fit the screen is not an appealing or professional visual. The images used should be original and new to the audience, in which case clipart should be avoided in most cases in order to maintain originality and professionalism.
This means that you should try to avoid using a powerpoint template. Your audience has seen them all which makes it unexciting, boring, and routine for them to sit through another presentation with the provided themes. The use of these templates implies that your presentation is a package.
Charts are a good way of concisely summarizing information and data, but keep in mind to use the correct chart or table for the data. Pie charts:percentages. Vertical Bar charts: slow change over time. Horizontal Bar Charts: comparing quantities. Line charts: trends. Tables: compare quantitative data
You can create your own color scheme that works for your presentation. Cool colors (Blues and greens) should be used as a background color while warm colors (orange and red) are better for text. Also take into consideration the lighting of where you will be presenting. In a darker room use a dark background with a light colored text. In a room with the lights on use a white background with dark colored text.
Serif fonts are for documents with a lot of text, but on presentations the serif fonts are lost due to the low resolution of projections. Make sure the text can be read from the back of the room.Be consistent with the font you use; do not use more than 2 complimentary fonts.
The use of video and audio should be used when appropriate. The use of a video within your PowerPoint can increase the interest of the audience or you can use an audio clip from an interview. The sound effects included in PowerPoint are cheesy and unprofessional and should be avoided.
People understand information better when it is grouped in small chunks or segments. In order to improve the organization of your powerpoint you can enter Slide Sorter view in order to see the overall flow of your presentation and verify that it is logical.
