PowerPoint Guidelines

1. PowerPoint Guidelines

2. Content • Keep priorities straight when creating: • Content first • “Fun stuff” later CONTENT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING!

3. Word Phrasing • Use phrases whenever possible • Avoid sentences (too wordy)

4. Word Phrasing: Sentences vs.. Phrases “To take advantage of the annual flooding of the Nile, the people built irrigation channels to carry water into the fields. They also built dams to hold back the water for use during droughts.” from Message of Ancient Days textbook p. 188

5. Word Phrasing: Phrases vs.. Sentences • Annual flooding -advantages: Built: • Irrigation canals • Carried water to the fields • Dams • Held back water -use during droughts

6. Style of Font • Choose style that is easy to read • Cute, fancy, etc.: they don’t matter! • Should fit your topic

7. Size of Font • Use as large a font as possible • Suggestion: nothing less than 40!(...and sometimes that’s even too small!)

8. We can’t see! Size of Font • Keep audience in mind • Small group? • Whole class?

9. Font: A Wrong Example “Eagle Flight” An eagle wings gracefully through the sky. On the earth, I stand and watch. My heart flies with it. by Alonzo Lopez

10. Font: A Correct Example “Eagle Flight” An eagle wings gracefully through the sky. On the earth, I stand and watch. My heart flies with it. by Alonzo Lopez

11. Number of Words • Limit yourself to 25 words per slide • Present only “kernel” ideas • Use detail verbally when you present

12. Number of Words • If need more room, make a new slide with additional information! This slide is getting way too crowded, so... …MAKE A NEW SLIDE!!! 2

13. Colors • Create contrast • Use “opposite” colors when layering • Examine carefully to see if pleasing to the eye

14. Backgrounds/Templates • Should “set off” your ideas • Should fit your topic • Should not be a distraction

15. Pictures/Drawings • Must be appropriate to presentation • Must fit time period, topic, etc., of project • Must be large enough to see from distance

16. Pictures/Drawings • Must not distract from text • Give credit for pictures at end of presentation Credits!

17. Leave some empty space! Spacing • Do not “crowd” slide • Leave “white space” so eye can process information on slide

18. Example: A Poor Slide • Notice: • colors don’t compliment each other • background “fights” with words and pictures • picture doesn’t “fit” with topic of slide • slide too crowded

19. Example: A Good Slide • Notice: • colors compliment each other • background does not “fight” with words and pictures • picture “fits” with topic of slide • slide not too crowded

20. Sounds • Use only in limited way • Should not provide any distraction • Useful to signal change of ideas

21. Animation Effects • Should not be a distraction • Consistency! • Should make it easier to process information on slide

22. Animation Timing • Mouse Click vs.. Automatically Timed • Think through how being presented

23. Slide Transitions • Should not be a distraction • Consistency! • Should make it easier to process information • Not too slow; not too fast

24. Consistency • If presentation is short: • All background, transitions, font styles, etc., should be same 1

25. Consistency • If presentation is long: • Maintain consistency within sections of presentation

26. Example: A Poor Slide • Way too many sounds! • Way too many animation effects! • All of the noise and activity distracts from the slide! • ANNOYING!!!

27. Example: A Good Slide • Limited sound • Consistent animation effects • Nothing to distract from content

28. Music • If saved within presentation, uses LOTS of memory

29. Proofreading • EVERYTHING counts: • Spelling • Capitalization • Grammar MAKE SURE THAT YOUR PRESENTATION IS FREE OF ERRORS!

30. Final Thoughts • Content! • Content! • Content!

31. Credits Message of Ancient Days Houghton Mifflin Social Studies: 2001 Chapter 7, Lesson 1, p. 188 Star-Walk Silver, Burdett, & Ginn: 1989 “Eagle Flight” by Alonzo Lopez, p. 331

32. THE END