Creating Effective Slideshow Presentations

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Creating EffectiveSlideshow Presentations
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Purpose of a slide show

• Capture and hold audiences attention.
• You have 8 seconds.
• Convey information and ideas effectively.
• Present yourself in a professional manner.
• Sell, inform, teach, motivate, persuade.

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You must

• Gain their attention.
• Help them to comprehend the message.
• Bring them to agreement.
• Induce them to retain the message.

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General Rules

• Have something to say.
• Say it well.
• Say it like you mean it.
• No amount of technology will help you with Rule
  1.

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Slide show construction

• Plan, plan, plan.
• Put key objectives as titles to slides.
• Remember KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid!)
• 36 words no more than 6 - 8 lines.
• No more than 5 points or bullets per slide.

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• About 7 words per line maximum.
• Use charts to make points pictorially.
• Use quality clipart, and use sparingly.
• More visual, less verbal shorter presentation.
• Dont waste time with unnecessary screens.

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Slide show appearance

• KISS again gaudy is brutal simple is elegant.
• Audience focuses on your message not on the
  presentation.
• Keep show uncluttered.
• Speaker is the focus graphic is the support.

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Colour

• One background colour scheme stick to it.
• Light text on dark background best contrast.
• Limit base colours to 3 or 4 and use
  consistently.
• Graphs/maps should have 5 colours maximum.

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Fonts

• 3 fonts maximum (preferably 1).
• Dont over use emphasis features (bold, italics,
  caps).
• Font size 18pt or larger.
• Headlines 35 - 45 pt or larger.
• Sans serif fonts are easier to read when
  projected.

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Sound

• Keep clips brief.
• Use only good ones.
• Use only appropriate ones.
• Keep volume levels consistent.

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Actual Presentation

• Dont expect inspect test out the
  presentation.
• Stand at 45 degree angle to audience.
• Do not read off screen.
• Speak clearly, dont rush.
• Speak to back of audience.
• Dont compete with audio.

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• Proofread visuals by reading them backwards.
• Avoid nervous movement, fiddling.
• Smile.
• Eye contact.
• Watch hand movement.
• Breathe.

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• Rehearse with a live, but friendly audience.
• Run through 3 times minimum but no more than 6.