Project 2: Creating Better Presentations


Skills and Tools: Designing a presentation

PowerPoint makes it easy to create consistent professional slides, but you need to come up with the content and determine the layout of the material. Here are 10 important techniques to help you create and deliver better presentations.

The Project

In this project, you'll learn how to creating a better presentation without spending more time and effort.

The Process

Be a presenter, not a reader.

The audience has come to hear you give a presentation, share ideas, and communicate a message, not to look at you read information on a slide. PowerPoint can help you create slides, but it doesn't deliver the presentation. In many ways, you become a story teller. Create a presentation with a compelling introduction to catch the audiences attention, a powerful body of content to draw them in, and a unique ending the audience will remember.

Keep it simple.

Keep slides simple and to the point. If slides contain too much information, the audience can get confused and turn off. Remember less is more. Experts suggest no more than five words per line and no more than five lines per slide. Instead of putting more information on a slide, put it in speaker's notes for you to share. Don't crowd your slides, and only include elements that contribute to the points you want to make.

  • In PowerPoint, add slides with specific layouts to avoid slide over crowding.

Stay visual.

A picture is worth a thousand words, or so they say. I think they are right. The world revolves around visuals, including billboards, traffic signs, and television to name a few. Insert an image, diagram, chart, or other visual to help get your point across to the audience. If you need to share statistics or other data, use a chart to convey the information. Visuals can promote an emotional response and interaction, instead of just information.

  • In PowerPoint, use the Insert tab to add images, diagrams, charts, and other visuals.

Insert other sounds and movies.

Use other sounds and movies for variety and visual appeal. Adding other media into a presentation re-enforces and supports your message. It provides validity to your message when someone else conveys the same thing.

  • In PowerPoint, use the Insert tab to add sounds and movies.

Create a consistent look.

A colorful background and unique look can make your presentation stand out. However, it may also be a distraction to the audience from hearing your message. Know your audience and create a consistent look for your presentation that complements your message.

  • In PowerPoint, use slide masters to create a consistent look.

Add the unexpected.

When you want to make a strong point during a presentation, a unique slide or a blank screen can help you get your point across to the audience. It's useful when you want your audience to remember a certain point or concept.

  • In PowerPoint, use Slide Master view to create another slide master with a different look, or use slide controls in Slide Show view to display a white or black screen.

Review, Review, Review.

Review your slides for correctness, accuracy, and content. Use the spell checking and proofing tools to avoid spelling errors and accidental mistakes, which can make you look bad. Check the accuracy of your content to make sure it's correct. Make sure your slide content contributes to your main point. If some content doesn't add to your message, then take it out.

  • In PowerPoint, use the Review tab to access spell checker, thesaurus, and other text-related proofing tools.

Practice, Practice, Practice.

Practice your presentation over and over again. The more comfortable you are delivering the material, the easier it will be to focus on the message instead of the mechanics of the presentation. Your PowerPoint presentation slides are here to add to your message. Let your message take center stage and use your PowerPoint slides, speaker's notes, and handouts to support your cause.

  • In PowerPoint, use the Slide Show tab to practice your presentation in Slide Show view with slide timings.

Keep time.

I don't think anyone ever minded if a presentation ended early. However, going long can detract from your message. Determine how long you want your presentation to take and stay on time. The best way to stay on time is to rehearse with slide timings. Seems like everything takes longer than you think, so practicing your delivery from start to finish will keep you on time.

  • In PowerPoint, use the Slide Show tab to practice your presentation in Slide Show view with rehearse slide timings.

Distribute minimal handouts.

In many situations, the audience may need to take notes during your presentation. I believe it's better to provide minimal handouts with only slide content to avoid distraction during the presentation. You want the audience to focus on you and your message instead of the handout. If you need to provide more detailed information for the audience, distribute it at the end of the presentation, where they can take it with them for later review.

  • In PowerPoint, use the Handouts Master view to create supplemental handouts for the audience.

The Results

Finish: Open the example project file with the presentation Pres_example.pptx.



Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007 On Demand
Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007 On Demand
ISBN: 0789736438
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2006
Pages: 348

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