Preparing Powerpoint Presentations for Conferences: Tips for Students Ellie Kazemi, Ph.D. California State University, Northridge Revised December 8, 2013

General Content Tips Cardinal rule - Effective and efficient communication Cardinal rule - Effective and efficient communication Determine content before selecting design and animation Determine content before selecting design and animation Develop an outline Develop an outline Take each line from your abstract (intro, method, results, and implications), paste into slides, and expand on each slide Take each line from your abstract (intro, method, results, and implications), paste into slides, and expand on each slide This will help you stick to what you said you’d discuss This will help you stick to what you said you’d discuss Make sure there is a logical flow between your slides Make sure there is a logical flow between your slides Your vocal VB should include the textual VB you display Your vocal VB should include the textual VB you display Display a few words and stick to one straight forward sentence (max 2) for each bullet Display a few words and stick to one straight forward sentence (max 2) for each bullet 2

Slide Titles Use a new title on each slide Use a new title on each slide Use familiar headings Use familiar headings Introduction Introduction Method Method Participants & Setting Participants & Setting Response Measurement & Reliability Response Measurement & Reliability Procedure Procedure Baseline Baseline Intervention Intervention Generalization probe Generalization probe Results Results Implications (instead of Discussion) Implications (instead of Discussion) References References 3

General Visual Presentation Tips Keep all slides consistent Keep all slides consistent Background Background Keep simple and select color that provides high contrast to text Keep simple and select color that provides high contrast to text Number your slides Number your slides Titles (appear in same exact location across slides) Titles (appear in same exact location across slides) Text (size, style, line spacing, shadowing) Text (size, style, line spacing, shadowing) Type citations in smaller text (e.g., 24 pt) Type citations in smaller text (e.g., 24 pt) Avoid fancy fonts and keep same font throughout Avoid fancy fonts and keep same font throughout Use larger font, underline, or color to emphasize Use larger font, underline, or color to emphasize Bullets Bullets Keep bullets simple, 50-60% of size of text, and consistent Keep bullets simple, 50-60% of size of text, and consistent 4

Transitions Ideal rate is 1-2 minutes per slide Ideal rate is 1-2 minutes per slide Organize your outline into slides Organize your outline into slides Your presentation should be 15 minutes total Your presentation should be 15 minutes total State a few words between slides to transition to new slide State a few words between slides to transition to new slide If your slide titles are same size and in same place, transition between slides crisp If your slide titles are same size and in same place, transition between slides crisp 5

Highlighting and Emphasizing On tables or graphs, highlight or outline to make it easier for your audience to follow On tables or graphs, highlight or outline to make it easier for your audience to follow Action in the highlighting shapes Action in the highlighting shapes Example below Example below 6

Pictures and Graphs Place borders around pictures, tables, and graphs Place borders around pictures, tables, and graphs Example below Example below 7

Displaying Results DRO + Token Economy Occurrence of Elopement from class and Yard Class Yard 8 BL M=PM 79 %M=PM 86 % PM > 93 %

General Vocal Presentation Avoid writing complete sentences because you’ll become dependent on them Avoid writing complete sentences because you’ll become dependent on them Copy and paste your notes into a MS Word file Copy and paste your notes into a MS Word file Edit your written work and keep your VB simple Edit your written work and keep your VB simple Use words you know and can pronounce with ease Use words you know and can pronounce with ease Limit yourself to one sentence for each bullet on slide Limit yourself to one sentence for each bullet on slide Practice presenting Practice presenting Practice varying your words and looking relaxed Practice varying your words and looking relaxed Practice by standing up Practice by standing up Keep your hands steady and use them for emphasis only Keep your hands steady and use them for emphasis only Use presentation mode to get use to transitioning and auctioning items Use presentation mode to get use to transitioning and auctioning items Practice your pace, speak loud, and enunciate clearly Practice your pace, speak loud, and enunciate clearly 9

Presenting your Results Orient audience to X-axis and Y-axis Orient audience to X-axis and Y-axis Explain what is on the plane (your legend) Explain what is on the plane (your legend) Begin by explaining the data paths in baseline Begin by explaining the data paths in baseline Point to main findings and summarize what matters Point to main findings and summarize what matters 10