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Using
PowerPoint for Academic Presentations
Helen Dixon
Information Services
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Aims and Objectives
Aim
To learn
how to use PowerPoint 2007 as an effective instructional tool
Learning Objectives
Be aware of
the advantages and disadvantages of using PowerPoint
Understand
the techniques of good presentation and slide design
Be able to
create and present effective PowerPoint presentations
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What is PowerPoint?
A software
application used for producing presentation materials which can combine
different types of media and include links to other applications
Designed for
delivering presentations using a computer but can be used to produce
OHP slides, handouts, Web presentations and posters
Why Use PowerPoint?
To take attention
off me
I can email
slides to those who can00 attend
To remind
me what to say next
To maintain
some sort of structure
Professional-looking
slide layouts
Ready-made
visuals
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Advantages of Using
PowerPoint
Easy to organise
and modify information
Greater control
over the flow of information
Can incorporate
images, movies, sounds, diagrams, charts, tables, etc.
Can switch
between presentation and other programs or online resources
Presentation
can be placed on the WWW or printed as handouts
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Disadvantages of Using
PowerPoint
Need to be
familiar with the technology
Less effective
if a lot of detail is required
Poor presentation
can prohibit discussion
Originally
designed for the Business community NOT the Academic community
Tendency to
spend more time on creating the PowerPoint presentation than on the
actual presentation content
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Good Presentation
Design
Plan your
presentation on paper first
Decide on
your aims and objectives
Keep in mind
the students00existing level of knowledge and the learning outcomes
Include an
Introduction and a Conclusion
Present material
in a logical order
Avoid the
temptation to include too much detail
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Good Slide Design
Choose an
appropriate Slide Layout
Maximum 6
points per slide
Use words
or phrases rather than sentences and paragraphs
Spread points
evenly over slide
Simple designs
and colour schemes are best
Include most
important points first
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Using Text
No more than
two fonts
Minimum size
24 pt (this is 28 pt)
Use sans-serif
fonts (Verdana or Arial) for presentation
Use serif
fonts (Times
New Roman) for handouts
Remember that
a significant portion of your audience may have sight problems or dyslexia
Check your
spelling and grammar!!
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Using Text
You should try to use
no more than two fonts. Aim for a minimum size of 24 pt (this
text uses 28 pt). You should use sans-serif fonts (e.g. Verdana
or Arial) for presentation. You should use serif fonts (e.g. Times New Roman) for handouts. Remember
that a significant portion of your audience may have sight problems
or dyslexia. Make sure that you check your spelling and grammar!!
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Using Colour
Choose colour
combinations carefully
Dark text
on a light background works best
Use colour
sparingly - no more than 3 different font colours
If you are
using graphics, try to use the same colours for text
Remember certain
colours can convey meaning
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Using Colours
Hot and Cold
will emphasise
the meaning
Hot and Cold
may confuse
the audience
Accessibility
Issues
How many of
you can read this?
Red 00green
is the most common form of colour blindness.
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Accessibility Issues
What about
this?
Blue 00green
is another common form
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Emphasising Points
Use bold
or colour rather than italic or
underline
AVOID USING
ALL UPPERCASE
People
can read sentence case easier
Use Animation
Schemes to control the pace of points
Fade out earlier
points to concentrate attention on current point
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Using Animation/Transition
Effects
Can be used
to emphasise key points and control the flow of information
Animation
can be applied to text and graphics
Avoid animated
gifs unless they are extremely relevant
Don00 use
different animation/transition effects on each slide
Avoid elaborate
effects
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Using Graphics
Include Diagrams,
Charts, Clip Art, Photos
or Cartoons
Be wary of
copyright!
Should be
relevant
Most beneficial
when material is complicated
Try to be
consistent 00size, shape, colours
Check out
Technical Advisory Service for Images at
download Using PowerPoint for Academic Presentations
