Oral presentations will be 12 minutes in length followed by 3 minutes for questions.
Click here to learn how to give a Good Talk (pdf)
Slide Presentations are unique in that many pictures may be used to convey an idea. This said; make information larger and use more pictures (panels, frames, etc.). Highlighted bullets on successive frames are very effective tools to get the point across.
Slide Presentations utilize a horizontal format - wider than they are tall. If a vertical slide is used in a presentation, the entire presentation will need to be reduced down in order to fit on to the projection screen. Avoid vertical format slides whenever possible.
Slide trays considered the industry standard fit KODAK Ektagraphic slide projectors. These slide trays come in two sizes: One holding 140 slides or a tray that holds 80 slides. A slide tray that holds 60 more slides in the same area as an 80 place tray has considerably smaller spaces to hold slides. These 140 place trays tend to jam more often due to the close tolerances. A bent corner on a slide, or even tilting the slide projector slightly is enough to cause one of these trays to jam the mechanism. Often this is a minor inconvenience, but it stops the flow of the presentation and could ruin the slides themselves. Avoid 140 place slide trays at all costs, even spreading the presentation across two 80 places trays if necessary.
(Could an 80 slide presentation be too long, anyway?)
Slide trays come with a locking ring or lid that hold the slides in place. Anyone who has flipped a loaded slide tray over without the locking ring or lid has discovered the consequences. Please use the locking ring or lid.
Avoid busy, confusing backgrounds.
Use a font large enough to be seen from the back of the room. Use a color for the wording that has a very high contrast to the background. A gradated background that transitions from dark to light can make words difficult to read as the contrast changes. Keep the background simple and get the message across.
Bar graphs, pie charts and line graphs are effective tools to show trends and statistics. Use contrasting, bright colors to delineate between categories. Simplify the graphs or show more of them. Use a font large enough for audiences to see the categories. Handouts of the presentation are easily printed from PowerPoint and can include minute details or explanations.
Never use typed text as a slide. (Literally typed on a typewriter!) This is a very ineffective use of the medium and always looks bad. Create the slide in a graphics program and take these slides to a graphic or presentation company to be created.
Computer presentations using PowerPoint can also utilize the same backgrounds, however, just a simple white with dark lettering or dark with light lettering is very effective.
If you are planning on using PowerPoint for a presentation it is a good idea to bring the presentation on at least two types of media. No ZIP or 3.5" floppy disks will be supported.
1. PC formatted CD's will also be supported.
2. USB Flash Drives
In addition, anyone planning a Power Point presentation should bring a backup of the presentation on slides or transparencies. This will ensure maximum compatibility with the AV equipment available for your presentation.
- Use 2 type faces. (fonts)
- 4 colors max on a slide
- Hold the slide at arms length, if you can read it, the slide will be legible throughout the room.
- Standing 9 feet away from a 15" monitor has the same effect as holding a slide at arms length.