PowerPoint Tips and PowerPoint Tips and TricksTricks

Waking Up From Waking Up From

““PowerPoint-Induced PowerPoint-Induced Sleep:” Effective Use of Sleep:” Effective Use of PowerPoint for TeachingPowerPoint for Teaching

Adapted from a workshop provided at USC, Columbia, by DEIS Instructional Developer, Vera

Polyakova-Norwood

Format/ GeneralFormat/ General Format/ ColorsFormat/ Colors Format/ TextFormat/ Text Type SizesType Sizes FontsFonts EmphasisEmphasis EffectsEffects Graphics/ VisualsGraphics/ Visuals

Table of Contents:

Format/ GeneralFormat/ General

• Avoid overused templatesAvoid overused templates

Format/ GeneralFormat/ General

Place content in the middle of slidesPlace content in the middle of slides

Format/ GeneralFormat/ General

Use bullet points: no complete Use bullet points: no complete sentencessentences

-Start each bullet point with the same -Start each bullet point with the same grammatical pattern to convey a sense grammatical pattern to convey a sense of style and to establish a dynamicof style and to establish a dynamic

Format/ GeneralFormat/ General

Use external and internal linksUse external and internal links

To demonstrate the content of your To demonstrate the content of your presentationpresentation

To break the linearity of PowerPointTo break the linearity of PowerPoint

Format/ GeneralFormat/ General

Include a conclusions slideInclude a conclusions slide

To provide reinforcement through To provide reinforcement through summarysummary

Format/ ColorsFormat/ Colors

Select colors with high contrastSelect colors with high contrast Consider people with color blindness Consider people with color blindness

and low-visionand low-vision

No red on black or vice versaNo red on black or vice versa

Format/ ColorsFormat/ Colors

Light type on dark backgroundLight type on dark background

Format/ ColorsFormat/ Colors

Black type on yellow backgroundBlack type on yellow background

Format/ ColorsFormat/ Colors

Do not use hot colors for backgroundDo not use hot colors for background

Format/ TextFormat/ Text

7 lines per slide (including title)7 lines per slide (including title) 7 words per line7 words per line

Type SizesType Sizes

54 point for titles54 point for titles

32 point for text32 point for text

24 point is difficult to read24 point is difficult to read

16 point is impossible to read and should not be used16 point is impossible to read and should not be used

FontsFonts

Use San Serif Fonts to convey ease of Use San Serif Fonts to convey ease of reading:reading:

Arial Rounded MT BoldArial Rounded MT Bold AvantGarde Md BtAvantGarde Md Bt HelveticaHelvetica Zurich BTZurich BT

Do not use fonts that have “little feet.”Do not use fonts that have “little feet.” Do not use narrow fontsDo not use narrow fonts

FontsFonts

Different computers have different Different computers have different fonts loaded on themfonts loaded on them

This may affect the look of your This may affect the look of your presentationpresentation

EmphasisEmphasis

Avoid ALL CAPSAvoid ALL CAPS Use Use colorcolor to to highlighthighlight Use Use italicsitalics rather than rather than underliningunderlining

Underlining runs into some letters that Underlining runs into some letters that go below the linego below the line

Looks like a hyperlinkLooks like a hyperlink

EffectsEffects

All effects should have a purposeAll effects should have a purpose Do not overuse animation effectsDo not overuse animation effects

Animation creates a secondary focus Animation creates a secondary focus that competes with contentthat competes with content

EffectsEffects

No moving textNo moving text No sound effectsNo sound effects Use appear and dim effects for bullet Use appear and dim effects for bullet

pointspoints

Graphics/ VisualsGraphics/ Visuals

Charts, graphs, tablesCharts, graphs, tables Photos with permission of subjects, Photos with permission of subjects,

copyright holderscopyright holders Royalty free clip artRoyalty free clip art WordArt and pop-outsWordArt and pop-outs Multimedia with permission of copyMultimedia with permission of copy

right holdersright holders Images must relate to content/ teaImages must relate to content/ tea

ching pointsching points

Charts, graphs, tablesCharts, graphs, tables

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

1st Qtr 2nd Qtr 3rd Qtr 4th Qtr

EastWestNorth

1st Qtr2nd Qtr3rd Qtr4th Qtr

JanJan FebFeb

0303 2500025000 3200032000

0404 5000050000 7500075000

Photos with permission of Photos with permission of subjects, copyright holderssubjects, copyright holders

Royalty free clip artRoyalty free clip art

WordArt and WordArt and pop-outspop-outs

Multimedia with permission of Multimedia with permission of copyright holderscopyright holders

Images must relate to content/ Images must relate to content/ teaching pointsteaching points

Red and BlackRed and Black