Death by Death by PowerPointPowerPoint

Frazier SmithFrazier Smith

This present

ation is

available on

line at:

Slideshare.

Font SizeFont SizeToo small Too small

(32 or (32 or less)less)

Your font size should be large enough for the entire class Your font size should be large enough for the entire class to read, this means that at bare minimum you should have a to read, this means that at bare minimum you should have a font size of 36. Anything smaller tends to get lost on font size of 36. Anything smaller tends to get lost on

the power point, and you end up putting too much the power point, and you end up putting too much information on the slide. If you put too much information information on the slide. If you put too much information on the slide, then your audience will get lost, and not on the slide, then your audience will get lost, and not

care about whatcare about what’’s on the power point. Blah, blah, blah…oh s on the power point. Blah, blah, blah…oh look, something shiny. You see, Ilook, something shiny. You see, I’’ll bet most people donll bet most people don’’t t even know whateven know what’’s written at this point, I probably lost s written at this point, I probably lost most people after the first two lines. I could write most people after the first two lines. I could write anything here. Potato. Llama. Alright, I think Ianything here. Potato. Llama. Alright, I think I’’ve ve

made my point. Again, this is way too small of font size, made my point. Again, this is way too small of font size, make sure itmake sure it’’s big enough, at least 32.s big enough, at least 32.

Stop using Stop using Comic Sans!Comic Sans!

Information not organized Information not organized in bullet points.in bullet points.

DonDon’’t type information in t type information in paragraphs on your paragraphs on your slides. Bullet points slides. Bullet points are much easier to are much easier to follow and understand. follow and understand. We wonWe won’’t read t read paragraphs, or if we do paragraphs, or if we do we will get distracted, we will get distracted, and they are hard to and they are hard to understand, and we our understand, and we our attention spans are attention spans are short enough as…oh short enough as…oh look, something shiny!look, something shiny!

Too many Bullet PointsToo many Bullet Points You should have 5 or lessYou should have 5 or less 6…is too many6…is too many More than 5, information More than 5, information overloadoverload

More than 5, no one caresMore than 5, no one cares More than 5, People stop More than 5, People stop paying attentionpaying attention

Albuquerque…strudel…Albuquerque…strudel… Have I made my point Have I made my point yet???yet???

Just one more for good Just one more for good measuremeasure

I lied…this really is the I lied…this really is the last one.last one.

ColorsColorsOr should we say, Or should we say, lack of colors. lack of colors.

Black and white is Black and white is not effective.not effective.

Use colors.Use colors.

ColorsColorsToo bright or distracting

Not enough contrast from the background

BackgroundBackground

YouYouBackground

Too colorful or

distracting.

FFOONNTTSSDo not switchDo not switch back and back and forthforth between fontsbetween fonts

Your font can be creative, but Your font can be creative, but should not be distracting or should not be distracting or hard to read.hard to read.

UseUse CAPS, CAPS, bold,bold, andand underlinesunderlines onlyonly forfor emphasisemphasis, do , do NOTNOT highlight every highlight every thirdthird word. word. WeWe LOSELOSE understandingunderstanding..

AnimationAnimationUse animation at your own riskUse animation at your own riskDonDon’’t wait for it to appear, t wait for it to appear, talk over it.talk over it.

Animation shouldnAnimation shouldn’’t distract t distract from your speech.from your speech.

You should know whatYou should know what’’s coming s coming next, donnext, don’’t be surprised.t be surprised.

DonDon’’t look back at the screen t look back at the screen to find out whatto find out what’’s there.s there.

Information OverloadInformation Overload

DonDon’’t read directly off the t read directly off the slideslide

The slide should not have The slide should not have everything youeverything you’’re going to say.re going to say.

We should not understand your We should not understand your speech just by reading your speech just by reading your slide.slide.

A slide is a visual aid, not A slide is a visual aid, not the entire speech!the entire speech!

Effective PowerPointEffective PowerPoint

Starts with an introductory Starts with an introductory slide, with your name and topic.slide, with your name and topic.

At least 5 slides total, all of At least 5 slides total, all of your slides contain pictures.your slides contain pictures.

Basic color schemes and fonts, Basic color schemes and fonts, not distracting.not distracting.

Easy to read and understand, at Easy to read and understand, at least 32 point font.least 32 point font.

An aid in understanding your An aid in understanding your speech.speech.

When using photos…When using photos…

Relevant Relevant photos with photos with a nice frame a nice frame (available (available in Office in Office 2007+) add a 2007+) add a nice touch nice touch to most to most presentationpresentations. s.

Ask for help, from your teacher Ask for help, from your teacher or media specialistor media specialist

DonDon’’t drive yourself crazy over t drive yourself crazy over this, most of the grade comes this, most of the grade comes from the speech itself.from the speech itself.

Be familiar with the Be familiar with the PowerPoint, donPowerPoint, don’’t be surprised. t be surprised.

Rehearse the speech, practice, Rehearse the speech, practice, practice, practice.practice, practice.

Frazier Smith, MCP

NC FBLA Board of DirectorsNC FBLA Board of Directors

Music Department Technology SpecialistMusic Department Technology Specialist

Wingate UniversityWingate University (wingate.edu) (wingate.edu)Wingate, NC Wingate, NC

(e) frazier@outlook.com(e) frazier@outlook.com(tw) @justfrazierit(tw) @justfrazierit