PowerPoint Tips and Tricks

PowerPoint Tips and TricksWaking Up From PowerPoint-Induced Sleep: Effective Use of PowerPoint for TeachingAdapted from a workshop provided at USC, Columbia, by DEIS Instructional Developer, Vera Polyakova-Norwood

Format/ GeneralFormat/ ColorsFormat/ TextType SizesFontsEmphasisEffectsGraphics/ Visuals

Table of Contents:

Format/ General

Avoid overused templates

Format/ General

Place content in the middle of slides

Format/ General

Use bullet points: no complete sentences

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

Format/ General

Use external and internal links

To demonstrate the content of your presentationTo break the linearity of PowerPoint

Format/ General

Include a conclusions slide

To provide reinforcement through summary

Format/ Colors

Select colors with high contrastConsider people with color blindness and low-vision

No red on black or vice versa

Format/ Colors

Light type on dark background

Format/ Colors

Black type on yellow background

Format/ Colors

Do not use hot colors for background

Format/ Text

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

Type Sizes

54 point for titles

32 point for text

24 point is difficult to read

16 point is impossible to read and should not be used

Fonts

Use San Serif Fonts to convey ease of reading:

Arial Rounded MT BoldAvantGarde Md BtHelveticaZurich BT

Do not use fonts that have little feet.Do not use narrow fonts

Fonts

Different computers have different fonts loaded on them

This may affect the look of your presentation

EmphasisAvoid ALL CAPSUse color to highlightUse italics rather than underliningUnderlining runs into some letters that go below the lineLooks like a hyperlink

EffectsAll effects should have a purposeDo not overuse animation effects

Animation creates a secondary focus that competes with content

EffectsNo moving textNo sound effectsUse appear and dim effects for bullet points

Graphics/ VisualsCharts, graphs, tablesPhotos with permission of subjects, copyright holdersRoyalty free clip artWordArt and pop-outsMultimedia with permission of copyright holdersImages must relate to content/ teaching points

Charts, graphs, tables

JanFeb032500032000045000075000

Photos with permission of subjects, copyright holders

Royalty free clip art

WordArt and pop-outsWordArt

Multimedia with permission of copyright holders

Images must relate to content/ teaching points

Red and Black