PowerPoint Presentation Guidelines Tips for Developing Engaging Presentations

Remember to include an overview slide KISS Limit Slides Limit Text Limit Animations & Graphics Consistency Background & Layout Color Scheme Font Style & Size Content Write to Your Audience Add Interaction Review Quiz Reminder Resources Remember to include an overview slide

KISS Keep It Short & Simple

Limit Slides Limit each slide to one idea Limit number of slides used Use bullet points to convey components of each idea Limit number of slides used Approximately one slide per minute of presentation If not presenting in person, slides should take approximately one minute to read

Limit Text General rule: 6 x 6 Keep bullet points brief 6 bullet points per slide 6 words per bullet point Keep bullet points brief Avoid full sentences or paragraphs Limit text even when presenting electronically Ex. web conference or online classroom The notes section can be used to cue the presenter to discussion points so that s/he adds to the information presented on screen. This section is also particularly useful in online presentations because the presenter can provide additional information for clarification.

Limit Animations & Graphics Animations and graphics are entertaining but distracting Audience misses message of presentation PPT presents graphs and charts well To make them meaningful, ensure graphics Significantly add to purpose of presentation Are large enough to be easily read

Background – Layout – Color Scheme – Font Style & Size CONSISTENCY is Key DESIGN TEMPLATES HELP MAINTAIN CONSISTENCY Background – Layout – Color Scheme – Font Style & Size

Background & Layout Use the same background for each slide Changing backgrounds distracts the audience Utilize a similar, logical layout for each slide Title at top Content written from left to right, top to bottom Important info at top Audience may not be able to see bottom of screen

Color Scheme Use the same color scheme on each slide Utilize contrasting colors for background and font Dark text on light background Avoid white backgrounds Can be blinding in dark rooms Light text on dark background Dark background on computer reduces glare Good for close viewing Do not use if audience more than 20 feet away

Color Scheme Examples Utilize Avoid White on Brown Orange on Blue Yellow on Purple Black on Light Blue Avoid Orange on Green Yellow on White Purple on Blue Red on Green Red on green provides good contrast, but some people are red-green color blind White on Brown USE THESE CONTRASTING COLORS Orange on Blue Purple on Yellow Black on Light Blue Orange on Green DON’T USE THESE COLOR COMBINATIONS Yellow on White Purple on Blue Red on Green

Fonts smaller than 24 pt. are difficult to read Font Style & Size Use easy to read styles Examples: Arial Tahoma Verdana Avoid fancy, difficult to read fonts Larger font is better 40 pt. for title 32 pt. for subtitle 24 pt. for content text Fonts smaller than 24 pt. are difficult to read

Content Write to your audience Add interaction (poll, quiz) Know your audience Who are they? What do they already know? Provide needed background Avoid unnecessary info Add interaction (poll, quiz) Click on one of the links below to continue with this presentation Link to Review Quiz Skip the Review Quiz

Review Quiz – Do or Do Not Statement Do or Do Not? (click for answer) Use bullet points to convey information. Do or Do Not? Write in full sentences with appropriate punctuation when presenting slides in an online classroom setting. Utilize detailed animations to keep the audience focused on your presentation. Use a consistent background and layout for each slide within a presentation. Present ideas in red font on a green background to provide good contrast for ease of reading. Utilize easy to read fonts, such as Tahoma or Verdana. Know your audience, and write specifically to them. Continue with Presentation

Review Quiz – Answer DO Back to Quiz Continue with Presentation

Review Quiz – Answer DO NOT Back to Quiz Continue with Presentation

REMINDER It only enhances it. The media (PPT) does not constitute your presentation. It only enhances it.

Don’t forget to cite your sources Resources ARMA International. PPT Guidelines. (2009, August 4). Retrieved August 5, 2009 from http://www.arma.org/learningcenter/facilitator/index.cfm Kaminski, Steven. PowerPoint Presentations: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. Retrieved August 19, 2009 from http://www.shkaminski.com/Classes/Handouts/powerpoint.htm Russel, Wendy. 9 Presentation Tips for Students. Retrieved August 19, 2009 from http://presentationsoft.about.com/od/classrooms/tp/student_tips.htm Scheel, Nicole. 8 PowerPoint Tips for the Online Classroom. (2009, July 22). Retrieved August 19, 2009 from http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/10/ Don’t forget to cite your sources