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Subject:Re: 25 Years of PowerPoint From:Chris Morton <salt -dot- morton -at- gmail -dot- com> To:techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com Date:Wed, 19 Aug 2009 09:55:49 -0700
Have 3-up handouts of the PPT, distributed at the beginning of the
presentation, for your audience to use for notetaking while they are
intently focused and listening to YOU.
Rehearse.
As already suggested here, the PPT is nothing more of an outline. Remove all
small words so that each point reads like a single resume entry.
Rehearse.
Use a remote and have each slide build as you're speaking. If there are
three bullet points on one slide, have them appear one at a time.
Rehearse.
Only three major bullet points per slide, ever! If you need to spill to a
second slide for more points, that's fine. Consider having a little
"Continued" graphic element (like a page being turned) in the lower right
corner of the first slide so that it's clear to all that the points on the
second slide are linked with those on the first.
Rehearse.
Use animation and sound effects judiciously (not the stock stuff), and then
only when they serve a very clear purpose. Occasionally waking up your
audience or emphasizing a key point—done with good taste—can be effective.
Rehearse.
Include section header slides throughout the PPT so that everyone knows when
you're swiyching to a new subtopic.
Rehearse.
Always end on a blank slide.
Now rehearse the presentation in the actual rooom with the actual gear. If
you can't get the room, at least try to rehearse with the gear. (This will
get you a surprising number of times!)
*NEVER* talk to the slide. Try not to even glance at the screen. Instead,
use a video monitor and *know* that the same image is being projected. If it
isn't, your audience will let you know soon enough.
> Chris
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Free Software Documentation Project Web Cast: Covers developing Table of
Contents, Context IDs, and Index, as well as Doc-To-Help
2009 tips, tricks, and best practices. http://www.doctohelp.com/SuperPages/Webcasts/
Help & Manual 5: The complete help authoring tool for individual
authors and teams. Professional power, intuitive interface. Write
once, publish to 8 formats. Multi-user authoring and version control! http://www.helpandmanual.com/
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