Academic Presentation Design

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Academic Presentation Design
Academic Presentation Design

• Creating an Effective Tool for Communicating Your
  Topic

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Key Concepts

• Purpose of slideshow
• Choosing content
• Developing slide layout and design
• Special effects and transitions
• How to present
• Biome Project guidelines

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Purpose

• Communicates a message
• Addresses the target issue(s)
• Guides your audience
• Keeps speaker on track
• Provides visual reference for ideas presented

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Content

• Factual information from reliable sources (cited,
  of course)
• Hypotheses and opinions based on your
  interpretation of the data
• Visual elements that illustrate your topics or
  reinforce your position
• Multimedia elements that evoke appropriate
  emotion or set a specific tone

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Slide Layout and Design

• Text key words/phrases, short quotes, 4-6 lines
  of text per slide (besides title)
• Fonts easy to read, large (28)
• Backgrounds consistent, subtle
• Colors high contrast, not distracting,
  appropriate for tone of presentation
• Graphics or media relevant, necessary, good
  quality
• Sound evoke emotion or set tone

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Effects and Transitions

• Keep it subtle and simple (KISS)
• Effects consistent choose a family and
  alternate for variety
• E.g., Stretch (from top, bottom, left, right,
  across)
• Transitions consistent (see above)
• Transition Sound only if has a purpose and is
  appropriate OR if adds QUALITY to your show

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How to Present

• Orally explain/expand upon the key words/phrases
  viewed on each slide
• Speak clearly (enunciate), project your voice to
  back of room
• Speak at appropriate pace (slower than you
  usually would)
• Face your audience use note cards as reference
  rather than turning your back to look at screen

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Biome Project Guidelines

• Title slide with identifying info.
• Slide for each paragraph
• 1 relevant graphic per slide
• 3-4 bullet points per slide
• Consistent background
• Choose a Design Template for group
• Citation slide if used for newsletter

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Additional Online Resources

• PowerPoint Design Tips
• http//www.kristofcreative.com/services/multimedia
  /powerpoint_tips.shtml
• College of Education Technology PPT Tips
• http//ed.uwyo.edu/Tech/tutorials/powerpoint_desig
  n.htm
• Creating Electronic Presentations
• http//www.evms.edu/acc/tips-present.html
• Its Showtime!!!
• http//fsc.fsonline.com/fsj/archive/120198kaye.htm
  l