Using Microsoft PowerPoint or another program, prepare a presentation on “How to Prepare an Effective Slide Presentation.” Assume that your audience is familiar with presentation software, but has no formal training.

What will be an ideal response?

Students should be able create an effective presentation of the material in Toolkit A.4. Remind students that preparing an effective slide presentation requires considerable time and effort. Also remind them that the first step (and perhaps the most important) is to prepare an overall outline that will be the foundation of the presentation. It is essential to focus on the content and structure of your presentation before you consider visual issues. Other guidelines include the following:
• Remember that a fine line exists between providing too little information and too much.
• Display one topic per slide, and try to follow the rule often called the 7 by 7 rule: no more than seven items per slide, and no more than seven words per item. Some presenters believe that a 6 by 6 rule is even more effective.
• When displaying a list of items, consider using a series of slides to add each point dependently, especially if you want to focus attention on the item being discussed.
• Use bullets rather than numbers, unless you are showing a specific sequence or order.
• Choose easily readable fonts. Use sans serif styles, such as Arial, for all body text. If you do use a serif style (such as Times Roman) apply it only in titles.
• Use appropriate point sizes for titles and body text. Your goal is to prepare slides that are readable and visually attractive. Although point size selection depends on individual judgment and experience, here are some suggestions to get you started: for titles, try either 36- or 40-point fonts; for body text, 32- or 24-point fonts usually work well.
• Select special effects carefully — too many graphics, colors, sounds, or other special effects will distract your audience.
• You can include tables or graphics, but keep them simple and easy to understand. Also, you can use a special effect, such as bold, italics, underlining, or a different color, to highlight an important word or phrase.
• Strive for a consistent look and feel among your slides, and position visual elements in the same place on each slide. You should use a master template to assure uniformity. Choose colors carefully, and keep them consistent. Light letters on a dark background are easiest to read.
• Be sure to check spelling and grammar!
• During the presentation, do not read your slides to the audience. They can read the slides on their own. Your slide presentation is an outline that provides structure and emphasis — it is not the presentation itself.