Designing Effective “PowerPoint Presentations”
Anwar Jesus O. Esperida
March 15, 2013
• Creating an effective slide presentation can seem like an overwhelming task.
• One way to make the whole presentation more manageable is to follow a proven three-step process-the three Ps (Plan, Prepare and Practice.
PLAN PREPARE PRACTICE
PLAN
1. Identify the purpose of the presentation.
2. Determine the type/level of your audience.
3. Create a storyboard using a piece of paper.
PLAN
• Make sure that text and images are arranged in a visually pleasing, balance, easy-to-read, and functional way.
• Remember: Keep it Simple and Straightforward (KISS)
PREPARE
• Do not carried away with many features that can be used in an MS PowerPoint presentation.
• Keep your presentation focused on the message.
• Do not get carried away by special effects.
PREPARE
Layout• Keep in mind as you arranged elements
that people are conditioned to read text from left to the right.
• Avoid cluttering the slides with too much texts or graphics.
PREPARE
Layout• Your audience should hear what you
have to say and not be distracted by busy screen.
• Use a blank space or white space.• It allows the reader’s eyes to relax and
focus on the key elements.
PREPARE
SimpleConsistent
Clear
Big Progressive
Make It Big
Use a font size large enough to be seen from the back of the room where the presentation will be held.
Make it Big (Text)
• This is Arial 12
• This is Arial 18
• This is Arial 24
• This is Arial 32• This is Arial 36
• This is Arial 44
Make it Big (Text)
• This is Arial 12
• This is Arial 18
• This is Arial 24
• This is Arial 32• This is Arial 36
• This is Arial 44
Too Small
Make It Big (How to Estimate)
• Look at it from 2 metres away2 m
Keep It Simple
• Be consistent with colors and text attributes.
• Keep text simple and easy to read by not using too many fonts and text effects.
Keep It Simple (Text)
• Too many colours• Too Many Fonts and Styles• The 6 x 7 rule
– No more than 6 lines per slide– No more than 7 words per line
Keep It Simple (Text)
Instructional Technology:A complex integrated process involving people, procedures, ideas, devices, and organization, for analyzing problems and devising, implementing, evaluating, and managing solutions to those problems in situations in which learning is purposive and controlled(HMRS 5th ed.)
Too detailed !
Keep It Simple (Text)
A process
involving people, procedures & tools
for solutions
to problems in learning
(HMRS 5th ed.)
Instructional Technology:
Much Simpler
Falling Leaves Observed
Delhi Mumbai Goa
January 11,532,234 14,123,654 3,034,564
February 1,078,456 12,345,567 16,128,234
March 17,234,778 6,567,123 16,034,786
April 16,098,897 10,870,954 7,940,096
May 8,036,897 10,345,394 14,856,456
June 16,184,345 678,095 4,123,656
July 8,890,345 15,347,934 18,885,786
August 8,674,234 18,107,110 17,230,095
September 4,032,045 18,923,239 9,950,498
October 2,608,096 9,945,890 5,596,096
November 5,864,034 478,023 6,678,125
December 12,234,123 9,532,111 3,045,654
Too detailed !
Falling Leaves in MillionsIn 106 Delhi Mumbai Goa
January 11 14 3
February 1 12 16
March 17 6 16
April 16 10 7
May 8 10 14
June 16 0 4
July 8 15 18
August 8 18 17
September 4 18 9
October 2 9 5
November 5 0 6
December 12 9 3
Much Simpler
Falling Leaves
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
January February March April May June July August September October November December
Goa
Mumbai
Delhi
Too detailed !
Falling Leaves
0
10
20
30
40
50
January March May July September November
GoaMumbaiDelhi
Much Simpler
Keep It Simple (Picture)
• Art work may distract your audience• Artistry does not substitute for content
Keep it Simple (Clipart)
• People have limited attention span.• A carefully placed clipart can catch
attention and interest.• A clipart should contribute to the
understandability of the slide. It should not be used decoratively.
Keep it Simple (Clipart)
• Before adding a clipart to a presentation, ask yourself: “Does the clipart convey a message that supports the slide topic?”
• If is yes, put the clipart on the slide.
Keep It Simple (Sound)
• Sound effects may distract too
• Use sound only when necessary
Keep It Simple (Transition)
• Too many different transition effects will cause the audience to focus on the visual effects and not on your topic.
• A general presentation design rule is to limit the number of slide transition effects to two.
Keep It Simple (Animation)
• Suggestions:• To keep you audience from reading
ahead while making a point related to the current item on your slide
• Use animation effects to build up the slide.
Keep It Simple (Animation)
• Suggestions:• Use an animation to disclose each new
point or idea.• Progressive disclosure means to add
new point to hose already presented.
Keep It Simple (Animation)
2 m
Too distracting !
Keep It Simple (Animation)
2 m
Simple & to the point
Make It Clear
Make It Clear (Text)
• ALL CAPITAL LETTERS ARE DIFFICULT TO READ
• Upper and lower case letters are easier• Avoid vertical and italicized texts• For emphasis, it is acceptable to use all
uppercase letters in short titles
Sanserif Z SerifZ
Make It Clear (Fonts)
busyclear
• Serif fonts are difficult to read on screen• Sanserif fonts are clearer• Italics are difficult to read on screen• Normal or bold fonts are clearer• Underlines may signify hyperlinks• Instead, use colours to emphasise
Make It Clear (Fonts)
Make It Clear (Colours)
• Use contrasting colors • Light on dark vs dark on light• Use complementary colors• Use only two or three colors
Make It Clear (Contrast)
• Use contrasting colours• Light on dark vs dark on light• Use complementary colours
low contrast
high contrast
Make It Clear (Contrast)
• Use contrasting colours • Light on dark vs dark on light• Use complementary colours
This is light on dark
Make It Clear (Contrast)
• Use contrasting colours • Light on dark vs dark on light• Use complementary colours
This is dark on light
Make It Clear (Complement)
• Use contrasting colours
• Light on dark vs dark on light • Use complementary colours
These colours do not complement
Make It Clear (Complement)
• Use contrasting colours
• Light on dark vs dark on light • Use complementary colours
These colours complement
Be Progressive
Complexity of Interactions
Mo
de o
f Instru
ction
Individual Pair Group
DirectInstruction
GuidedInquiry
DiscoveryLearning
IndividualInstructive
Tools
IndividualConstructive
Tools
SocialConstructive
Tools
SocialCommunicative
Tools
Informational Tools
Types of Instructional Tools
Too many in one go!
Complexity of Interactions
Mo
de o
f Instru
ction
Individual Pair Group
DirectInstruction
GuidedInquiry
DiscoveryLearning
IndividualInstructive
Tools
IndividualConstructive
Tools
SocialConstructive
Tools
SocialCommunicative
Tools
Informational Tools
Types of Instructional Tools
Progressive & thus focused
Understanding Technology
Floppy disk
User interface
CPU
I/O Error
Backup system
Software
Mouse
Debugger
Function key
Main Storage
Too many & not focused
Understanding Technology
Floppy disk
User interface
CPU
I/O Error
Backup system
Software
Mouse
Debugger
Function key
Main Storage
Progressive & thus focused
Be Consistent
Be Consistent
• Differences draw attention
• Differences may imply importance
• Use surprises to attract not distract
Be Consistent
• Differences draw attention• Differences may imply importance• Use surprises to attract not distract
This implies importance
Be Consistent
• Differences draw attention• Differences may imply importance• Use surprises to attract not distract
Confusing differences!
Be Consistent
• Differences draw attention• Differences may imply importance• Use surprises to attract not distract
This surprise attracts
Be Consistent
• Differences draw attention• Differences may imply importance• Use surprises to attract not distract
These distract!
When Creating
• Text to support the communication• Pictures to simplify complex concepts• Animations for complex relationships• Visuals to support, not to distract• Sounds only when absolutely necessary• Think about the people in the back of
the room when creating slides
When Presenting…• Speak loudly and clearly • Direct your words to all aspects of the
room• Maintain eye contact with your audience• Ask questions of your audience
– (if applicable)• Don’t read the slides word-for-word, use
them for reference
PRACTICE
• Practice your presentation before a neutral audience (Ask for feedback)
• Print a copy of your presentation for easy reference
• Be particular about the time allotted for presentation
• Leave time for questions
Thank You !