PowerPointlessness

Cathy Rodriguez Sarah Silva

Rebecca Gould

iTAC 509 Hale Library

532-4918

Overview

¡  Examples: How to ruin a presentation

¡  Instruction and Presentation Tips ¡  Technical Tips ¡  Questions and Answers

Instruction and Presentation Tips

¡  Stick to the basics ¡  Focus on the main point(s) ¡  Simplify, simplify, simplify ¡  Divide content into chunks ¡  Eliminate distractions ¡  Make it interesting & interactive

Stick to the basics…

Basics about fonts

¡  AVOID ALL CAPITAL LETTERS ¡  Use upper and lower case letters ¡  Sans-serif fonts are easier to read ¡  Italics are difficult to read ¡  Use normal or bold fonts ¡  Avoid overuse of underlines

Basics about fonts

S Serif

S Sans-serif

Basics about fonts ¡  This is Verdana 12

¡  This is Verdana 18

¡  This is Verdana 24

¡  This is Verdana 32 ¡ This is Verdana 36

¡ This is Verdana 44

¡ This is Verdana 56

Basics about color

¡  Use eye-pleasing colors ¡  Use high contrast ¡  Use a complementary

color scheme

Focus on the main point(s)…

Computers and Mistakes ¡  Computers rarely make mistakes. Most

computer mistakes are the result of l  No procedures/directions. l  Inappropriate processing instructions. l  Inaccurate l  Glitches/bugs/errors in the program code. l  Poor systems design.

Types of computer-

related mistakes

Too Busy

Common computer errors

¡  No procedures/directions ¡  Inappropriate processing

instructions ¡  Inaccurate ¡  Glitches/bugs/errors in the

program code ¡  Poor systems design

Focused

Types of computer mistakes

¡  Data entry or capture errors ¡  Errors in computer programs ¡  Handling files ¡  Inadequate control of output ¡  Inadequate control of environmental

conditions

Focused

Simplify…

Simplify

¡  Use few colors

¡  Use limited fonts and styles ¡  Use numbers for lists with sequence ¡  Use few transitions ¡  Limit the use of sound ¡  Design your own template or edit

one

Simple exponential smoothing St = ά At + (1-ά)St-1 ά =judgment factor (.1-.3) St = new forecast At = last demand St-1 = last forecast New forecast = judgment factor (last

year’s actual) +(1-judgement factor) (last year’s budget)

Simple exponential smoothing St = ά At + (1-ά)St-1 ά =judgment factor (.1-.3) St = new forecast At = last demand St-1 = last forecast

Use simple graphs and tables

0102030405060708090

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

North

80-9070-8060-7050-6040-5030-4020-3010-200-10

Figure 1. Quarterly percent earnings by region

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

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

EastWestNorth

Figure 1. Quarterly percent earnings by region

Divide content into chunks…

Learning Styles

The analytical learning style tends to view information as bounded, objective, and isolated. The relational learning style views information as embedded in a larger context and as inherently unbounded and subjective.

Cohen, 1969

Two Learning Styles

The analytical learning style tends to view information as bounded, objective, and isolated.

The relational learning style views

information as embedded in a larger context and as inherently unbounded and subjective.

Cohen, 1969

Learning Styles Analytical Focus on detail. Impersonal materials. Abstract ideas. Relevance unnecessary. Independent opinion. Sequential/structured. Persistent regardless

of interest.

Relational Focus on global. Social contexts. Verbal presentation. Relevance important. Consider other opinions. Improvisational/intuitive. Need stimulating work.

Learning Styles

•  Analytical - Focus on detail •  Relational – Total picture

Eliminate distractions…

TO SUMMARIZE

¡  How we view information: l  This view of information is how we view

the world and its contents and then what we do about that information.

l  The logical view of information focuses on how we need to arrange information in the physical world and the virtual world.

¡  This is a collection of information about the world and its surroundings.

¡  The dictionary provides the structure by which we organize material and make sense of the world around us.

Make it interesting & interactive…

Technical Tips

● Making a master slide ● Adding transitions, animation, and

sound ● Adding interactivity

--the blank slide --annotating a slide ● Printing ● and more…

Where to go for help?

In summary…

¡  Remember the basics – font, color ¡  Use techniques to focus attention ¡  Keep it simple ¡  Organize information in chunks ¡  Get rid of distractions ¡  Keep the material interesting and

include interactivity