Slide template
Care should be taken over the selection of a slide template,
as this can either enhance or downgrade a presentation. Elaborate templates may
be distracting and can also decrease the visibility of the text (see figure).
A plain background allows the audience to concentrate on the
text and not the pattern behind it.
Fonts
Fonts should be chosen for their ease of reading and clarity
at a distance. The size of the font should be large enough to ensure those at
the back of the room can still clearly read the text.
Slide Content
The content of your slides is of vital importance and
although the usual format would include an introduction, content and summary,
you may choose to start with something which is likely to arouse the interest
of the audience. It can be useful to have a slide towards the beginning of the
talk that indicates the structure of the presentation (i.e. a list of
subheadings or sections) and to then use these subheadings during the talk to
help the audience to keep ‘on track’.
A common fault of presentations is the use of too much text
per slide (see figure).
The ‘rule of six’ has been suggested as a guide, which
indicates a maximum of six lines per slide and six words per line. The
information on the slide should convey only the main points or key words,
without the use of complete sentences or punctuation. The text should provide
some detail which is then expanded by the speaker. This allows the audience to
listen to what is being said without trying to read a section of detailed text
simultaneously. Each slide should generally be limited to one idea or concept,
and use predominantly lower-case letters for ease of reading.
Pure text slides should be kept to a minimum. The use of
tables, diagrams or graphs help break up a presentation and can be useful to
allow explanations in a different format. Any figures should be clearly labeled
and the speaker should take the audience through the slide or table
highlighting the key elements. Images are also an important part of the
educational content of a presentation and can dramatically enhance its
effectiveness. Images should be of good quality to ensure that they project
clearly. Images should only be used if they are relevant, but can add humor to
the presentation. Videos can also be used in the same ways. When using videos,
care must be taken to ensure the quality of the video clip and that the volume
is suitable for the room in which the presentation will take place.
Now, watch this illustrative video to understand better.
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