Effective PowerPoint
Adapted from Teaching Technology Made Easy: How to Effectively Use PowerPoint Without Giving
It All Away, Rachel Saury, ASCIT, 2004.

Things to Consider about the Information:

• Choose a consistent slide layout and design for the slide's particular purpose. For instance, the following categories would be common:
  • Slides with key bulleted information in keyword format
  • Slides with images which underscore or illustrate specific points
    
  • Slides with key questions
    
  • Slides with quotes from other sources which drive home important ideas or information
    
  • Slides with data (statistics, lists of events or examples, test results, etc.)
    
• Minimize text to key words and phrases. Use your voice to add the words that are not on the slide itself. Have more detailed notes on separate paper if needed for your own use.
  
• Make sure syntax is parallel between bulleted points.
  
• Use images whenever possible; use the power of metaphor and symbol in images to emphasize key concepts and points.
  
• Use graphs and diagrams whenever possible to illustrate points.
  
• Repeat images/phrases throughout the talk to spiral back into and integrate old material with new material without having to verbally or textually reiterate it.
  
• Avoid information overload from presenting too many slides too fast. The rule of thumb is one slide per 1-2 minutes.
  
• Provide a concise overview and summary slide.

Things to Consider about the Appearance:

• Keep your background simple and uncluttered so that focus is on the content, not on the design. Typically a black or white background is the most effective and easiest to read.
• Keep slides simple in layout and design—do not put too much information on one slide. If you need to visually illustrate a lot of information, present it over several different slides.
• Only use color for specific purposes (indicating the title, highlighting important points, etc.) rather than to "jazz up" the presentation. (Note: Stick to primary colors; light colors such as yellow are hard to read. Avoid a lot of red as many people, particular males, are red/green colorblind.)
  
• Choose a simple font (san serif fonts [no finishing lines on the letters], such as Helvetica and Arial, are easiest to read) which is 18point or larger. Use bold face, italics, etc. for emphasis.
  
• Proofread each slide carefully. After all, it be will up for everyone to critique for a long time.
  
• Keep the slide transitions simple and consistent; do not "layer" slides unless it aids comprehension of the material.
• Do not pre-time slide transitions—everyone speaks slower when live.
  
• Most of all, be consistent and pay attention to the details—your audience will! For example, make sure all of the titles (and subtitles) are the same size/color and in the same general location.