Avoiding PowerPointlessness

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AvoidingPowerPointlessness

• Dr. Robin Schraft
• Professor and Chair, Theatre
• Director of Academic Computing

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Avoiding PowerPointlessness

• Dr. Robin Schraft
• Professor and Chair, Theatre
• Director of Academic Computing

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What is PowerPointlessness?
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PowerPoint Karaoke

• PowerPoint Karaoke is characterized by the
  presenter placing all text on the slide and then
  proceeding to read it to you.
• Most typically this practice also has the speaker
  turn his or her back on the audience and read an
  endless collection of slides to the audience.
• At this point the audience does not know whether
  or not to read, listen or attempt to do both.
• In its worst case this also involves reading
  almost everything on the slide forcing the
  audience into trying to both read and listen
  simultaneously.

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PowerPoint Karaoke

• All text is placed on the slide
• Contents are read to you
• Speaker with back on the audience
• Do you read, listen or attempt to do both?
• Reading almost everything on the slide

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Reverse Karaoke

• Reverse PowerPoint Karaoke is characterized by
  the presenter placing different text on the slide
  and then proceeding to read something else to
  you. Most typically this practice also has the
  speaker turn his or her back on the audience and
  read an endless collection of slides to the
  audience. At this point the audience does not
  know whether or not to read, listen or attempt to
  do both. In its worst case this also involves
  reading almost everything on the slide forcing
  the audience into trying to both read and listen
  simultaneously.

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Bells and Whistles

• Giving in to the need to use way too many fonts
  or colors.
• Overuse of transitions.
• Like this
• Or this!!!!!!
• Trying to impress the audience with whiz-bang.

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Bells and Whistles

• Giving in to the need to use way too many fonts
  or colors.
• Overuse of transitions.
• Like this
• Or this!!!!!!
• Trying to impress the audience with whiz-bang.

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Use Appropriate TypeSize and Font (34 point)

• 45 point
• 40 point
• 35 Point
• 30 point
• 20 point
• 15 point
• 10 point
• 5 point

• (26 point)
• Type Font
• Type Font
• Type Font
• Type Font
• Type Font
• Type Font

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Sound

• It may sound cool the first time
• But
• After that it can really get on your nerves.
• Picture this for an entire presentation.
• In general
• DONT

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Clip Art
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Backgrounds
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Most important Consider the intended audience

• How can PowerPoint enhance my message?
• How can it restrict or constrain my presentation?
• Is my message linear in nature?
• Will images assist in what I am doing or are they
  simply window dressing?
• How can text help focus the audience on my
  message?

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Examples
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Measure/Scale
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Measure/Scale
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Measure/Scale
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Creation of Fresnel Lens
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Off-Stage Position
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Thank you

• Robin J. Schraft
• Drury University
• 417-873-7326
• rschraft_at_drury.edu

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