Rethinking the Designof Presentation Slides

Michael AlleyCollege of Engineering

Melissa MarshallDepartment of Communication

Arts & Sciences

Water from the jet engine’s exhaust creates contrails that float in the atmosphere

[Encyclopedia of Global Environmental Change, 2002]

[Hamaker, 2009]

The defaults of PowerPoint are not based on researchin communication or cognitive psychology

[Gomes, 2007]

Our research has found that most slides are heavily influenced by these defaults

[Garner et al., 2009]

Our Decision Do not reprocess in the United States Do not send spent fuel to France for

reprocessing. Wait for GNEP and new reprocessing

methods to be developed.Less chance for the proliferation of nuclear

weapons.New technology uses recycled fuel more

efficiently.

3

Micro-compression

• MTS Nano Indenter XP– Modified Berkovich Indenter– Load applied with coil/magnet

assembly• Load Resolution 50nN

– Displacement measured with capacitance gauge• Sub nm displacement resolution

• Specimen – 300 nm to 20 μm diameter– fixed base

Our research has found that most slides are heavily influenced by these defaults

[Garner et al., 2009]

The past few years, this common practice of PowerPoint has received harsh criticism

[Tufte, 2003][Schwartz, 2003]

[Keller, 2003]

January 16, 2003 February 1, 2003January 24, 2003

3

Several recent texts have challenged the defaults of PowerPoint

2003 2005 2008

Xenon headlights illuminate signs better than halogen headlights do

[Sylvania, 2008 ]

Xenon Headlight

Halogen Headlight

SilverStar Ultra TM

Standard Halogen

Xenon

We advocate an assertion–evidence slide structure that is grounded in communication research

[Fishbone, 2008]

Xenon headlights illuminate signs better than halogen headlights do

[Sylvania, 2008 ]

Xenon Headlight

Halogen Headlight

SilverStar Ultra TM

Standard Halogen

Xenon

[Sawarynski, 2009]

The structure calls for a succinct sentence headline that states the main assertion of the slide

[Toulmin, 2002][Alley et al., 2006]

The small size of the mouse brain makes locating specific areas extremely difficult

52 [Welker, 2008]

The small size of the mouse brain makes locating specific areas extremely difficult

[Welker, 2008]

The structure also calls for supporting that sentence-assertion headline with visual evidence

[Mayer, 2001][Paivio, 1986]

During growth, cells secrete waste products and macromolecules into their environment

Waste

Macromolecules

Cells

[Miller, 2008]

During growth, cells secrete waste products and macromolecules into their environment

Waste

Macromolecules

Cells

The Chesapeake Bay, which is the country’s largest estuary, has only two places for traffic to cross

[landsat.gsfc.nasa.gov]

Dover

Washington D.C

Richmond

Annapolis

sha.state.md.us

[roadtraffic-technology.com]

In the past 25 years, traffic has significantly increased on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge

1961Traffic 1.5 million

[Maryland Transportation Authority, 2007]

1952Traffic: 1.1 million

2007Traffic: 27 Million

Water from the jet engine’s exhaust creates contrails that float in the atmosphere

[Encyclopedia of Global Environmental Change, 2002]

In summary, assertion-evidence slides are more effective than the common practice of PowerPoint

[Hamaker, 2009]