Preparing Slides & Posters: Some Perceptual Tips for Better Presentations

Elizabeth Krupinski, PhD Department of Radiology University of Arizona

Presentation Goals Convey information Concisely & effectively Support & complement verbal Illustrate what words cannot

Presentation Goals It is NOT a paper Time is limited Present your key points Present in a logical order Stick to your topic What’s your point !

Basic Rules Make It Big Keep it Simple Make It Clear Be Consistent

Make It Big Gauge your room size Gauge audience distance Title font = point Text font = point Use bold face font Move 6’ from your computer

Font Size 14 point font size 18 point font size 24 point font size 32 point font size 36 point font size 48 point font size 60 point font size

Keep It Simple San serif - no squiggles Block letters No italics Mix UPPER & lower Case Times, Arial, Century, Univers Bold, underline & color for emphasis

Fonts Types Impact Letter Gothic plain text Bookman Italics Syndie shadowed Syndie shadowed Curlz MT Arial bold Blackadder ATC underlined

Make It Clear lines text per slide ~ 7 words per line Leave spaces Avoid lots of text Points vs complete thoughts Avoid punctuation !. ;, “ ?

Do Not Crowd This is how to crowd a slide with way too much text! The goal of this demonstration is to show the audience- distressing effects of crowding way too much information on one slide using as many words as possible in a font size that is way too small to make a multitude of extraneous and unrelated points so that the reader gets cross-eyed trying to read every word I have written in as short amount of time as possible without ever stopping. I have used plain text font at 24 point so it is even more difficult. I have not emphasized a single word. I have used lots of punctuation marks. As the bumper sticker says - if you can read this you are too close! Are you still reading or have you given up already as you should have long ago?

Make It Clear Progressive disclosure of information Use multiple slides Include only necessary info Make content self evident

Illustrations Picture says 1000 words Graphs & Tables No more than per slide colors max Do not crowd illustrations Keep things simple

Schematics WS blue red green blue A A A A A A A uytty rtt rtrt fggsg back go stop A A

WS # 4 green blue A A ENDEND back

Graphs

Label the axes Show units Provide a legend Use color / graph Clearly differentiate lines 2+ graphs - consistent within & between slides

Graphs

Tables Limit columns & rows Spilt into multiple slides Show only relevant entries Highlight relevant entries Summary > all data

Tables One Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight Nine Ten Eleven Twelve

Tables

Visual Balance English is read left to right Eyes tend to land on center Balance your slides Center graphs / pictures Fill screen L to R with text

Using Color Use complimentary colors Dark background - light text Maximize contrast Blue/red & green/red = bad Shading - looks nice, hides text

Choosing Colors

Maximize Contrast Red & blue is very bad Red & green is very bad Black & blue are bad Blue & yellow are very good Dark colors & white are very good Black & neon green are pretty good

Shading Text across shades of grading less visible Reading left to right or up & down 1/2 obscured Contrast significantly reduced Eye strain increased Some of your message gets lost

Pictures & Clip Art Use moderately Compliments text Humor is good Don’t overshadow the text

Laser Pointers

Use moderately Point to specifics Know your slides Don’t wave around randomly Don’t point at audience Use text overlays instead

Arrows & Text Right Ventricle

General Talk to the audience Not your notes Not the screen behind you Speak clearly & loud Know your time limit Practice your timing

Some Good Sites kumc.edu/SAH/OTEd/jradel/effective psyche.uthct.edu/shaun/SBlack/slides ukans.edu/cwis/units/coms2/upa/upa

Some Good Sites research.ucla.edu/era/present classes.monterey.edu/CHS/CHS /world/powpoint/index med.monash.edu.au/crh/publicati ons/max-97