Effective Presentations

Tips for Creating and Giving Presentations

Effective Presentations:

Tips for Creating and Giving PresentationsBy Donna Boling

Creating your Slideshow

Presentation Software: The Choices

• Powerpoint- over 20 years old!

• Flash-requires high degree of proficiency

• Keynote- Mac users only

• Open Office Impress- free/opensource

Online Presentation Tools

• Google docs: Presentation

• Zoho Show

• Thinkfree (requires a download)QuickTime™ and a

decompressorare needed to see this picture.

Presentation Tips: The Document

• Text color and background

• Text font choice-serif or not serif

• Text size-heading vs. text

• Avoid using too much text

• In most case, use bullets rather than sentences

Text Tips

Text tips

Beyond the Text

• Limit the number of slides

• Keep the look consistent from slide to slide

• Don’t use busy or distracting backgrounds

• Use animations and transitions sparingly

Beyond the Text

• Avoid distractions-not too many graphics

• Use high quality graphics

• Use “white space”

• Let a picture or graphic tell a story

Your Turn

• Create one or two slides using the previous presentation creation tips

• Topic: 5 tips when giving (not creating) your presentation

Giving your Presentation

Tips for Giving Presentations: Opening

• Know your topic thoroughly

• Use the opening to catch the interest of the audience

• Summarize your topic before beginning the actual presentation

Tips for Giving Presentations:Speaking

• Speak at a natural, moderate rate

• Project your voice• Don’t read your slides aloud-

your audience can read faster than you can speak!

• Use pauses between slides• Remember the “B” key

Tips for Giving Presentations:Body Language

• Keep your eyes on the audience

• Use natural gestures

• Don’t turn your back on the audience

• Don’t hide behind the computer

• Use notes as a reference

• Move around for effect

Tips for Giving Presentations:

• Show enthusiasm

• Practice, practice, practice!!!