The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly: PowerPoint Basics

Joanne Gilden, PBGR Coordinator

POWERPOINT CAN HIDE THE ABSENCE OF

THINKING

We all have seen a bad PPT

Avoid:• too much text• too many bullets• crazy animations and transitions• poor contrast in colors

This is a real slide from a Professor

It has some ISSUES. Try to list them!!

Response to Intervention

• RTI allows for differentiation in teaching strategy, which is important in order to properly and effectively address diverse learners in an inclusive academic supportive environment.

• RTI requires evidence-based change in instruction necessary for proper implementation of a program.

• Instructors must monitor progress frequently through various assessments and data assembly.

• Instructor and RTI specialist can establish three tiers: tier one: universal tier two: targeted group tier three: individualAssignment for 12/22: Read Chisholm 43-52, 78-91, 101-103 RTI Quiz for 12/23

So, what are the problems?

• on your laptop, you can read the yellow text• on a screen, it disappears . . . • too much text• animation and color change distracting• assignment is 11 font – you can read it now,

but not on a screen!

and some have poor choice of font color.

A bright color on a dark background is often better

Than a dark color on a light background

AND THIS JUST HURTS TOO MUCH –DO NOT USE IT!

The background of the next slide . . . .

• more interesting than subject matter• words cut off• the background is not the star• and it really is not connected to project, so

distracting

Of course . . . This is . . .• Use your favorite colors because it shows

your character• Any color will look great in every room for

every presentation• Colors add to the excitement• Honestly, how many people are colorblind?

GOOD BAD UGLY

FONT is . . . FONT is important

FONT is importantFONT is important

FONT is important (32)FONT is important (24)

FONT is important (18)Font is important (12)

Stick with simple! No script. 32 font like this.

But, Fonts MUST be legible!

What font should you use?

SIMPLE is best!

AVOID the dramatic!

Helvetica works wellNeutral and simple

Easy to read if non-bold

Who uses it?

Staples, Jeep, Toyota, American Airlines

Gill SansClean and readable

Rockwellpowerful and boldgood for headlines

Arial

simply simple

UPS likes it!

COLOR OF FONT

Color of FontCololColorCo

Use a contrasting color

Use color to highlight an important point - but it has to be important

Avoid changing all of your colors or styles!!!

TEXT

SO . . .A lot of people when they present are very nervous, so it is great to write down as much as you can on your slide so if you forget, you can read it off of the slide. It also gives you the opportunity to show off your vocabulary as you now have a “plethora” of words to use. Of course, you must make sure that you make sense in whatever you say on a slide as judges can get very confused very quickly.Of course, you might also get confused too . . . And this can happen if the bells ring during your presentation. So it is important to make sure you know where you are and a slide with all the info on it is the right way to go. . . Just in case. . . You never know. . . Whatever, it is up to you!Remember pictures are really nice. You know the saying of . . . Who was it? “A picture is worth a thousand words???” Do I need to cite that??? Oops, bell just rang. Hey I am running out of space I better change the font size.

DO NOT FILL A SLIDE WITH TEXT!

• BORING

• HARD TO READ

• AUDIENCE READING NOT LISTENING TO YOU!!

• YOU ARE IMPORTANT

USE CONSISTENT BULLET POINTS

And please,

• Pay attention to spacing after the bullet

• keep your text in line

• And keep your first letter small or cap it – but have all text start the same!

ANIMATION

WAIT, I AM NOT DONE . . .

ANIMATION

ANIMATION IS FUN, BUT NOT APPROPRIATE FOR

YOUR AUDIENCE

WHAT TO CONSIDER?

• Use consistent transition (simple fade is fine)

• Keep transitions short

• Avoid sound – no need for it here

• Do not have to use transition at all

What did you think about

that?

DO NOT DO it, PLEASE . . . SAVE YOUR AUDIENCE!

Thoughts?

• second graph better

• make sure audience can read it

Does color add to the chart? sometimes

l

Category 1 Category 2 Category 3 Category 40

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

Series 3Series 2Series 1

Spelling and Grammar

PROOF slides! speling mistakes use of repeated words boring Grammer errorsBelieve it or not, some people spell their names wrong on the intro slide!

READ SLIDES OUT LOUD WHEN PROOFING!

Effective use of your slides

• PPT a visual aid, not a product

• do not read – bullet info

• use pictures when you can

• use consistent format

• how many? time yourself

Sources or Citations

Cite sources used at the end of presentation

GOOD BAD UGLYhttp://lib1.uwec.edu/TILT/module3/images/citing.GIF

Please watch the following You tube video.

What not to do in a PPT!

Now, you have all done PPTs before

BUT, I still see complete sentences. PPTs should NEVER have complete sentences, unless you are using a quote. And for SP, you really should not be using quotes. This is an oral exhibition, not a reading or writing exhibition.

So,

When you finish a first draft PPT, put it away for a week.

Then, start practicing with PPT, and you will see ways to cut it down.

HAVE FUN! This is the easy part.