Powerpoint Tips

There really was a lot to learn from all of the links on PowerPoint presentations. The Microsoft Online Tutorial offered explanations for all of the major components of a PowerPoint.

The excerpt from "Really Bad PowerPoint" was very interesting. I liked that it gave a little background on the origins of the PowerPoint presentation. It also stressed to avoid distractions such as dissolving and spinning transitions, or greater than 6 words per slide.

The Top Ten Slides seems to be business oriented but I think that it is relevant to most presentations. It stresses the importance of simplicity while maintaining the quality with captivating graphics and well chosen fonts.

My Top 5 Tips:
1) Do NOT read directly from the slides. It is important to maintain eye contact with your audience.
2) Include audio/video. It really helps hold the interest of the audience. Plus it shows you are experienced with PowerPoint : )
3) Choose a relevant template. The template can really make the presentation. Make sure it is captivating, yet not too overwhelming.
4) Do NOT have too many words. You want your audience to listen to what you are saying, not frantically reading your slides.
5) Be enthusiastic. While enthusiasm can get on some people's nerves, it is much easier to enjoy a presentation from a presenter who enjoying themselves, than from someone who clearly wishes they were somewhere else.