In my final installment for PowerPoint, I want to take some time to share some tips for creating a good, quality presentation. There are some simple tips that you can follow that will transform your regular presentation into something people will stand up and take notice of.
Less is More
When creating your slides, be careful you are not including too much information onto each slide. Less is definitely more when presenting to a group. Putting too much information on one page just confuses the audience and makes it extremely difficult for them to follow. Only include bullet points, not the entire idea. If you have to include a lot of information, spread it out over multiple pages. Keep the slides clean and easy to follow.
Color and Contrast are Key
We have to keep in mind that many people in this world are colorblind. Be sure to include a great contrast in colors when putting your presentation together. Even if someone is colorblind, the great contrast can help them in reading the material.
You don’t have to be a designer to choose good color combinations…Powerpoint already does it for you. Just choose from the templates and color palettes they have available under the Design tab.
Font…It’s Kind of a Big Deal
When choosing your font, look for something that is easy to read. The harder the font is to read, the more effort goes into trying to decipher it rather than reading for understanding. Make sure it is simple and large enough to be read easily.
Try to keep from having your text constantly moving with different animations. You want the audience focused on the content, not whether the font will be swirling, dancing, etc. Keep it simple.
That being said, having your text appear at different times is great for keeping the audience on task and with you. A simple “appear” action is all you need. Timing can be everything.
Final thought for text/font: replace a long hyperlink with text that relates to the site or location in which you are sending them. It will have a more meaningful effect on the audience to understand what the link is for.
The Accessibility Checker- It’s a Real Thing
Something I ran across recently, thanks to the Microsoft Educator Community, is the accessibility checker option that is available in most of the Microsoft Suite. The accessibility checker will look over you entire works and let you know of any possible issues your audience may have when viewing your presentation. The checker warns of an issue and offers a solution. It looks for many things. You still have the option to change your slides or leave them, but it is a good way to have another set of eyes on your presentation.
To access this option, select the Review tab > Check Accessibility. A window will display on the right and walk you through the suggestions.
