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The powerpoint presentation is ubiquitous, but just because everybody does it doesn’t mean everybody does it well. Here are some tips to help you save your audience from "death by PowerPoint."
• Use the slide master feature to create a consistent and simple design template. It’s fine to vary the content of your slides (e.g., bulleted list, 2-column text, text & image), but be consistent with other elements such as font, colors and background.
• Simplify and limit the number of words on each screen. Use key phrases and include only essential information.
o Generally no more than 6 words a line
o Generally no more than 6 lines a slide
o Avoid long sentences
o Larger font indicates more important information
o Font size generally ranges from 18 to 48 point
• Limit punctuation and avoid putting words in all capital letters. Empty space on the slide will enhance readability.
• Use contrasting colors for text and background. Dark text on a light background is best. Patterned backgrounds can reduce readability of text.
• Avoid the use of flashy transitions such as text fly-ins. These features may seem impressive at first, but are distracting and get old quickly.
• Overuse of special effectssuch as animation and sounds are distracting and may make your presentation seem less than serious.
• Use good quality images that reinforce and complement your message. Ensure that your images maintain their impact and resolution when projected on a largerscreen.
• If you use builds, have content appear on the screen in a consistent, simple manner; from the top or left is best. Only "build" screens when necessary to make your point because they can slow your presentation.
• Limit the number of slides. Presenters who constantly "flip" to the next slide are likely to lose their audience. A good rule of thumb is one slide per minute.
• Learn to navigate your presentation in a nonlinear fashion. PowerPoint allows the presenter to jump ahead or back without having to page through all the interim slides.
• Know how to and practice moving forward AND backward within your presentation. Students may ask to see the previous screen again.
• If possible, view your slides on the screen you'll be using for your presentation. Make sure they are readable from the back row seats. Text and graphics should be large enough to read, but not so large as to appear "loud."
• Have a Plan B in the event of technical difficulties. Remember that transparencies and handouts will not show animation or other special effects.
• Don’t read from your slides. The content of your slides is for the audience, not for the presenter.
• Don’t speak to your slides. It’s very easy to be distracted by the content on your screen. A minor exception to this guideline is a need to draw your audience’s attention to a specific part of your slide. For example, you could use a pointer to identify a trend in a graph. Otherwise, there's simply no reason to show your back.