Effective PowerPoint Presentations It is easy to make a PowerPoint slide show; however, harder to make an effective presentation

Why Use PowerPoint  Overhead Transparencies will not work anymore in large auditoriums.

Effective PowerPoint Presentations  If your presentation is meaningful it will determine if your audience will go to sleep or be involved in what you are saying.

Color Scheme  Light text on a dark background is most effective.  As long as you stick to this just make sure that your colors are pleasing.  Only change the scheme on certain slides that you want to emphasize.

Too Much Information!  Your PowerPoint presentation is an aid not the presentation in itself.  If you have a slide with more than five bullets include them in a new slide.  Make just major points with bullets your audience cannot read too much information from a slide, consider using handouts!  Never read from your presentation.

Clip Art  Use clip art to help make your points without having to explain them!  Be careful with animated gifs that might take away from what you are saying!  Try not to use the same clips several times in your presentation.

Backgrounds  Try to customize your presentations by changing the color schemes, and making custom backgrounds.

Technology WWWWhen you use transitions, sounds, and custom animation use it sparingly. RRRRemember sound from your laptop may not have enough volume for everyone to hear it. RRRRemember some animation makes text harder to read. TTTThere is nothing better than a presentation that is done professionally with only limited effects

Empty Space Use it! Empty Space adds impact!

Why are you doing this presentation?  Start with the end in mind.  Why are you speaking to, what are you trying to accomplish!

Hints For A Successful Presentation  Plan carefully  Do your research  Know your audience  Time your presentation  Practice your presentation  Speak comfortably and clearly

Effective PowerPoint Slides  Standardize position, colors and styles  Include only necessary information.  Use colors that contrast  Too many slides can lose your audience

Text Guidelines  Generally no more than 6 words a line  Avoid long sentences  Larger fonts indicate more important information  Be sure text contrast with background  Fancy fonts can be hard to read  WORDS IN ALL CAPITAL LETTER ARE HARD TO READ

Clip Art and Graphics  Should balance the slide  Should enhance and complement the text not overwhelm or take away from it.  No more than two graphics per slide.