From complexity to clarity?

Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler. -  Einstein

 

Like many of us going to ALA and NECC this coming week, I am working on the presentations and workshops I'll be giving. While I take pride in all learning events in which I participate, these two summer conferences are ones for which I really take special care. The creme de la creme of the library and educational technology fields will be in Anaheim and San Antonio. Stanards and expectations are high. I don't really want to come off as a big doofus. And that takes work!

 

Following the wisdom of Presentation Zen master, Garr Reynolds, I've been working to de-wordify [my term] my slides and find visual images that will make a bigger impact. I don't know that I've reached presentation nirvana yet, but I'm getting better.

 

I've recently added my thoughts about the difference between entertainment and engagement to one of my workshops. And I've noticed a path along how these ideas evolve.

 

A workshop comment, reading or news item triggers some reflection which spurs a blog entry.

 

The blog entry becomes a column.

 

The idea becomes a bad slide. (Too bad that this is the final step for too many presenters.)

 

The slide gets better: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally the slide gets a visual designed to create an emotional connection and a "catch phrase" hook:

 

As slides become more visual, less textual, they have less value without the oral commentary that accompanies them. I've never been one to readily share my slides anyway, preferring good handouts, and now giving them to others makes even less sense.

 

Oh, and like my writing, I find endless amusement in tweaking presentation slides. Does this mean I need to get a life?

 

What are your rules for creating a great presentation slide?  

Comments

[Jane]

Ha ha, "get a life?" If you did that we wouldn't have the B.S.B. I look forward to seeign what you share of NECC and ALA. Bon voyage! And I haven't forgotten your request tossed out to us apparently lazy souls. I'm still thinking about it and plan to answer.

[Lesley Edwards]

What are your rules for creating a great presentation slide?
Create cognitive dissonance for the viewer.
Lead by example.
I know what you mean about sharing your slide presentations; they really are almost meaningless without the dialogue. I'm not much on handouts either but love the wiki I use to support my workshops. I'm always tweaking my presentations so thanks for giving me some further food for thought.

[Doug Johnson]

Hi Leslie,

Cognitive dissonance? Is this the same as "leaving attendees confused at a higher level?" If so, we are on the same track!

Appreciate the comment - thanks!

Doug

[Mary Woodard]

I used the Beyond Bullet Points process for creating the last presentation I did. It took a LOT more time, but the presentation was very effective. In BBP, the author recommends that you type in the narrative for your slides in the Notes area, then print out the Notes pages for the handout. This makes sense to me if you are going to post the presentation on the web for others who were not at the presentation.

[High School English Teacher]

As a high school teacher, I sit through MANY Power Points, and I HATE when the presenter just reads from the slide, and what is the point of sound effects?
Personally, when I make a presentation, I make sure that the bullets merely sum up the points and a narrative should be oral only, as one of the others noted.
Truthfully, I throw every handout they give me--what's the point? If you were listening, and the presenter was interesting, it's just a waste of paper...

[Doug Johnson]

@ Mary,

I often use the notes feature to record some details I might otherwise forget. I also use it to remember the source of the information on the slide.

As High School English teacher comments, perhaps we need to revaluate the need for handouts - at least those distributed on paper.

Thanks for the comment!

Doug

@ High School English Teacher

Now that you mention it, I guess my handouts have changed as well. These once ran dozens of pages with entire articles I'd written included. (Pity the poor trees.) Now my handouts are one-page double-siders that include links to my relevant articles online and an activity or two that is actually completed during the workshop of presentation. I am finding wikis a better way to provide additional information as well, and eventually all my materials will go this direction, I suppose. Part of it is that everything needs revision so often.

All the best,

Doug