HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL RESEARCH ON HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL RESEARCH ON

INFORMATION RETENTION INFORMATION RETENTION

Approximately 80% was said.60% was heard.

VERBAL

15% was remembered after 3days.

0-5 % was remembered after 3months.

40% was remembered after 3hours.

VERBAL + VISUAL

Approximately

60% was remembered after 3days.

40-50% was remembered after 3 months.

Approximately

80% was remembered after 3days.

+ +

60-70 % was remembered after 3months.

VERBAL + VISUAL + NOTES

Your SlidesYour Slides

TitlesBulletsGraphsFontsColors

TitlesTitles

Appear on every pageAttention-gettingShortForceful

BulletsBullets

Don’t list exactly what you plan to sayOutlines are bestNo more than 5 lines per frame

◦ Use bullets/numbers to organize ideasNo more than 6 words per lineUse the same verb tense, cases and

number (s or p)

Graphs - GoodGraphs - Good

Use graphs rather than just charts and words◦ Data in graphs is easier to comprehend & retain than is raw data

◦ Trends are easier to visualize in graph form

Always title your graphs

Graphs - BadGraphs - Bad

January February March AprilBlue Balls 20.4 27.4 90 20.4Red Balls 30.6 38.6 34.6 31.6

Graphs - GoodGraphs - Good

Items Sold in First Quarter of 2002

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

January February March April

Blue Balls

Red Balls

Graphs - BadGraphs - Bad

20.4

27.4

90

20.4

30.6

38.6

34.631.6

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

January February March April

Blue Balls

Red Balls

Graphs - BadGraphs - Bad

Minor gridlines are unnecessaryFont is too smallColours are illogicalTitle is missingShading is distracting

M&E Program WorkshopsM&E Program Workshops

Budapest Wash DC Entebbe Mae Sot

Participants 14 32 38 44

Projects 4 10 10 10

Headquarters 6 6 6 7

Topic Causal pathway

RHRC Conference/

EpiInfo

HIV/AIDS/Excel

GBV/PowerPoint

Evaluation Results

Excellent Excellent Excellent ?????

This table might be OK in a report, but it is much too detailed for an oral presentation.

See next slide for a better suggestion.

Number of M&E Program Number of M&E Program Workshop ParticipantsWorkshop Participants

14

3238

44

05

101520253035404550

Budapest Wash DC Ent ebbe Mae Sot

Charts are often easier to understand than tables. Keep the chart simple.

Rules for TextRules for Text

Avoid using all caps for large blocks of type◦ISN’T THIS HARD TO READ?

Rules for TextRules for Text

Use boldface type instead of underlining to add emphasis

Rules for TextRules for Text

Limit your fonts to 1 or 2 belowRecommended minimum size is 18 points

◦Sizes Sizes ◦Weights Weights

Fonts - GoodFonts - Good

Use at least an 18-point fontUse different size fonts for main points

and secondary points◦ this font is 24-point, the main point font is 28-point, and the title font is 36-point

Use a standard font like Times New Roman or Arial

Fonts - BadFonts - Bad

If you use a small font, your audience won’t be able to read what you have written

CAPITALIZE ONLY WHEN NECESSARY. IT IS DIFFICULT TO READ

Don’t use a complicated font

Colour - GoodColour - Good

Use a colour of font that contrasts sharply with the background◦ Ex: blue font on white background

Use colour to reinforce the logic of your structure◦ Ex: light blue title and dark blue text

Use colour to emphasize a point◦ But only use this occasionally

Colour - BadColour - Bad

Using a font colour that does not contrast with the background colour is hard to read

Using colour for decoration is distracting and annoying.

Using a different colour for each point is unnecessary◦ Using a different colour for secondary points is also unnecessary

Trying to be creative can also be bad

Background - GoodBackground - Good

Use backgrounds such as this one that are attractive but simple

Use backgrounds which are light

Use the same background consistently throughout your presentation

Background – BadBackground – Bad

Avoid backgrounds that are distracting or difficult to read from

Always be consistent with the background that you use

Slide Structure – GoodSlide Structure – Good

Show one point at a time:◦ Will help audience concentrate on what you are saying

◦ Will prevent audience from reading ahead◦ Will help you keep your presentation focused

Slide Structure - BadSlide Structure - Bad

Do not use distracting animation

Be consistent with the animation that you use

Rules for GraphicsRules for Graphics

Avoid superimposing words over graphics

Rules for MarginsRules for Margins

Use adequate margins for each frameLeave equal margins at top and sidesLeave slightly larger margin at the bottom

Avoid superimposing words over graphics.

Colors per slide…Colors per slide…

Colors per slideColors per slide

No more than four colors per slideToo busy if use moreViewers don’t know why you are using

colorThe viewers don’t know what is important

and highlighted if you use lots of colors

Colors to useColors to use

Light yellow on a blue backgroundWhite on a black backgroundBlack on a light yellow backgroundBlack on a white background may be too bright

Controlling Your SlidesControlling Your Slides

Turn your Screen BLACKand back again...

oror . .

Controlling Your SlidesControlling Your Slides

Turn your Screen WHITEand back again...

or or ,,

Controlling Your SlidesControlling Your Slides

To end your show

ESCESC or or CTRL+BreakCTRL+Break or or

MinusMinus or or END END

Controlling Your SlidesControlling Your Slides

To advance to next slide

Mouse ClickMouse Click or or SpacebarSpacebar or or

N N or or Right ArrowRight Arrow or or Down ArrowDown Arrow or or

Page Down Page Down

Controlling Your SlidesControlling Your Slides

To return to previous slide

BackspaceBackspace or or P P or or

Left ArrowLeft Arrow or or Up ArrowUp Arrow or or

Page Up Page Up

Controlling Your SlidesControlling Your Slides

To go directly to a specific slide

<Number> ENTER<Number> ENTER