Effective PowerPoint

1
Effective PowerPoint Presentations for
Biotechnology

• Consider the message
• Consider the audience
• Be professional
• Be concise
• A graphic on each slide
• Text on each slide

2
How to Get Started
ltlt i.e. bad graphic

• Plan time to play around with the PPT you
  have
• Play around with margins, spacing, and importing
• Learn the features of the pull down menus and
  toolbars
• Learn the features of the Toolbox including the
  galleries
• In the Format Menu, play around with
• slide layouts
• backgrounds and themes
• bullets

3
Fonts

• Calibri, Arial, and Helvetica fonts are easy to
  read
• Avoid Times New Roman, Palatino, etc. (difficult
  to read)
• Use no font size smaller than 24 point
• Title each slide with a larger font (35-45 point)
• Use a single font for most of the text
• Use (a few) different colors, sizes and styles
  for impact
• Avoid italicized fonts
• No more than 6-8 words per line
• Use dark text on light background (easier to
  read)
• Avoid light fonts and dark backgrounds
• (difficult for some people to read)
• Do not use all caps except for titles

4
Graphics and Design

• Keep the background consistent and subtle
• Use a minimum amount of text with charts or
  graphs
• Keep the design clean and uncluttered
• Leave empty space around the text and graphics
• Use quality clipart and use it sparingly
• Limit the number of graphics on each slide
• Avoid flashy graphics and noisy animation
• Limit the number of transitions used

5
General Presentation

• Check the spelling and grammar on all slides
• Do not read the presentation
• Practice the presentation
• Give a brief overview at the start
• It is often more effective to have bulleted
  points appear one at a time. Try action button
  effects
• Avoid sound effects
• If the content is complex, pause for audience
  understanding
• Do not turn your back on the audience

6
References and Acknowledgments

• Adapted from http//www.cheney268.com/training/po
  werpoint/powerpointtips.htm
• Bankerd, Kathy. How to Optimize Projection
  Technology Using Fonts, Graphics, and Color to
  Maximize the Effectiveness of Your Presentation.
  Syllabus. November/December 1997.
• Bird, Linda. Avoid the Mistakes of PowerPoint
  Rookies. Smart Computing. January 2001.
• Brown, David G. PowerPoint-Induced Sleep.
  Syllabus. January 2001.
• Daugherty, Ellyn, Biotechnology Science for the
  New Millennium, 2012