PowerPoint: A Potent Teaching Tool Dolores Lehr La Salle University ABC Convention October 28, 2004
Popularity 30 million presentations every day (1.25 million every hour) The No.1 choice of students when giving oral presentations
Problem: ”Death by PowerPoint” Edits ideas Squeezes ideas into preconceived format Homogenizes discourse
Cause: Lack of Preparation Not taught except as part of discussion on visual aids or in an introductory computer class Little discussion in textbooks on business communication
Solution: Teach its Composition and Delivery Follow the steps for constructing any means of communication
Steps Determining the Purpose Identifying the Audience Planning Composing Formatting Editing Delivering
Determining the Purpose What is the general purpose? What is the specific purpose?
Determining the Audience Who is this audience?
Planning Brainstorming Outlining with parallel structure Storyboarding
Composing Introduction & Closing Blueprint slides Conciseness Guidelines for the number of words on slides
Formatting Type fonts White space Color Graphics Effects
Editing Organization and writing of the presentation Organization and writing of each slide
Editing: Check the Organization Logical order Transitions (words and effects)
Editing: Check the Writing Correctness Consistency Clarity Conciseness
Delivering Appearance Eye Contact Voice Projection Interaction with the slides
Delivering: Appearance Posture Facial expression Confidence Enthusiasm
Delivering: Eye Contact Make contact at least once within a room of people
Delivering: Voice Low and high Projection Pronunciation
Delivering-Interaction Look at the slides Comment and point Interact with audience
Benefits Reinforces the teaching of other communication media Emphasizes graphics and layout Combines the teaching of the verbal, visual, and vocal
Benefits LIVELY Create LIVELY PowerPoint presentations