Creating Effective PowerPoint

Presentations: 5 Keys for Success

Samantha J. Blevins
July 25, 2012
Overview
 Why are effective presentations important?

 Discussion
 5 key points
 Examples and non-examples

 Activity: 8 slide presentation on your favorite

hobby

 Conclusion
Why are effective
presentations important?
 PowerPoint can put your audience to
sleep if you
 Read your slides
 Include too much text or too many
graphics
 Don’t proofread
 Make each slide different

 Luckily, there are 5 keys to help prevent

audience boredom!

Image Source: http://mikeramm.com/2007/05/an-awful-presentation/

5 Keys to Creating Great
Presentations
 Choose a theme

 Be consistent

 Color is important

 Less is more

 Whitespace is your ally

Choose a Theme
 Gives a professional feel

 Can provide structure

 Fonts and color are preselected and coordinated

 Can be tweaked to meet your needs

Example and Non-example
Be Consistent
 Font should be the same throughout your
presentation
 Color
 Size
 Placement

 Punctuation
 Differences can be distracting

 Slide transitions should be complimentary

 A different transition for each slide can be
distracting
Example and Non-example
Color is Important
 Mood for presentation
 i.e. Use school or company colors when appropriate

 Legibility
 Make sure your text color doesn’t interfere with your
background color
 Contrasting colors can help
Example and Non-example

Images Source: http://www.thugmed.com/2009/01/medical-presentation-skillz/

Less is More
 Don’t fill up every square-inch of your slide

 Watch out for distracting slide or text effects

 Too many can overwhelm
Example and Non-example

Image Source: http://carmenchongky.blogspot.com/ Image Source: http://speakupforsuccess.com/services/powerpoint/

Whitespace is Your Ally
 Images
 Effective when appropriate
 Don’t need to take up the whole slide
 Golden rule: 2 per page

 Text
 Keep it brief
Example and Non-example

Image Source: http://www.mondofacto.com/study-skills/presentation/how-to-create-a-presentation/03.html Image Source: http://speakupforsuccess.com/services/powerpoint/

Summary of the 5 Keys
 Choose a theme

 Be consistent

 Color is important

 Less is more

 Whitespace is your ally

Practice Activity
 Let’s practice using the key points of our discussion
 Create an 8-10 slide PowerPoint Presentation
 Topic Ideas
 Favorite hobby
 Favorite vacation
 Place you want to visit
 Expectations:
 Present your topic in an open discussion
 Credit will be given for completion
 Let’s learn from each others triumphs and mistakes