PowerPoint 101 Why PowerPoint? • Help the audience focus – Visual outline – Audience can focus on what is being said • Visual content – Graphics, charts, animation, video – Audience won’t focus solely on you • Allows for audience interaction – Discussion questions or problems Basics • • • • • Be conservative and simple Plan on 2-3 minutes per slide Keep text simple and concise Avoid full sentences (or paragraphs) About 1 concept per slide Not too fancy! • Limit the following: – Animated text or graphics – Inappropriate clip art – Sound effects – Screen transitions – Wild color schemes – Fancy/weird/hard-to-read fonts Type • • • • Larger is better (at least 24 point) Stick to 1 or 2 fonts Avoid using all uppercase Keep bulleted lines smaller than the title Presenting Techniques • Know your stuff • Use slides as an outline for yourself – Present the bullet and then elaborate – “Use” notes, but don’t read from them • Use a laser pointer, if needed • Clear slide after discussing it • Leave some lights on for note-taking Extras • Handouts • Back-up plan – Test the equipment beforehand – Bring overheads just in case – Check sound if applicable