1. Making PowerPoint Work
Keys to effective PowerPoint slides
Making PowerPoint Work

2. We’ll Cover … Presentation structure Style Colors Text Images Syntax
Start and end with summaries
Just enough detail in the middle
Style
Colors
Text
Images
Syntax
Spelling

3. Presentation Structure
Start and end with summaries
Tell them what your going to tell them
Tell them
Tell them what you told them
Just enough detail in the middle
Avoid reading slides
Key points
Reminders

4. Why Summarize?
A good listener typically gets 70% and will probably forgets most of that
Daydreams, distractions, noise
Motivated listeners perform better
Explain why they should care in opening
Explain the importance in closing

5. Style Colors Text Images Syntax and Spelling
When/where to use bright/dark colors
Text
Size is important
Less is more
Images
Adding interest
Adding information
Syntax and Spelling
Fragments are ok
Break some rules
Why spelling is important

6. Color Color adds visual interest
Room lighting (windows, sunlight, night) plays a role.
Use high contrast in general
Dark text on light background (best for bright rooms)
Light text on dark background (best for dark rooms)
Projector lumens plays a role
With enough lumens it doesn’t matter

7. Color Too much color The right colors Simple choices
Don’t make color a distraction
The right colors
Like music notes, some colors don’t play well together
Find good blends
Simple choices
Built in schemes are good

8. Text Less is more No one wants to read your presentation
Limit your self
7 words per line is usually enough
7 lines per page
Rules are meant to be broken
Have a reason for breaking it

9. Text Size matters Use as large a font as possible
Back of the room viewing
Rules can vary with the size of the room
sizes may be too small for large rooms
Bonus: large font means less text

10. Images Images add visual interest Include relevant image
Clip art
Graphs
Aim for every slide
Give the audience something to focus on

11. Images People process images faster than text
An outstanding graphic transmits more information
Is more memorable
Carries more weight

12. We Covered … Style Presentation structure Colors Text Images Syntax
Spelling
Presentation structure
Start and end with summaries
Just enough detail in the middle