HEY GANG--PAGE 141 OR SO IN THE BOOK OFFERS THIS TIP: Don't just show a visual aid, explain it and weave it into the speech structure, artistically to make it do important things: Support a main point AND add attention getting devices in the body to keep distracted busy listeners engaged! Huh? Did you say something? What? sorry I drifted off...Anyhoo--Props and graphs are a bit more professional than photo-collage type aids if you have to make something yourself because, say, your classroom is actually a broken down trailer with no computer and a bare wall instead of a slide screen. Anyhoo....as we have seen, the overhead transparency is not dead, as previously rumored around the time we lost Michael Jackson, so those are cool too, just cover them up in between points! For powerpoint slides, remember the 8 by 8 rule: Only 8 words per line and 8 lines max per slide: LESS IS MORE when it comes to visual support (Sandra Wheeler Abeyta, 200....well, just now) Be sure to offer citations for visuals you get on-line or in books...Us big simple fonts and save handouts for the end of the speech or they become disruptive! There, I said it...So this week, if you please...let's talk powerpoint. Tell us one thing you feel reaches you as an audience member , like a good use of powerpoint or a good powerpoint technique (ie: Easy to read and sound effects). Then mention a powertpoint practice that bugs you or is distracting. If you want, without using names we can kind of make fun of somebody you know that ""overdoes it"" with powerpoint. Thanks! Happy Halloween!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I couldnt really tell if we needed to blog so i will just tell you what bothers me during prower point presentations. Its lack of memory of which slide is coming next or taling about information that the slide does not reflect.
ReplyDeleteKatrina Harvey
I dislike every single sound in a Power Point slide specially when every single letter is coming one by one such as typewriter sound. It is really annoy. I prefer to see the ideas in one time. Also, I prefer a dark background because i can focus more on the slide.
ReplyDeleteJuliana Diaz
What I like about powerpoint in presentations is when people use it as their aid and not their presentation. They highlight the important facts, show off the important visuals like graphs and photos, but it doesn't display everything word for word. The slides are visually appealing, but not overly fancy or cluttered. I think that because powerpoint offers a lot of creativity people tend to get carried away. Like Juliana said about the letters coming up one by one. That might be cute for the title, but not the entire presentation! Or the font size is too small or maybe the font itself is too fancy or the wrong color, ultimately making it difficult to read. I appreciate the artistic effort but it does detract from the presentation. Probably one of the worst things for me is when people read straight off from their slides (even worse is when they don't even seem to know what they're reading!). The powerpoint has become their presentation instead of just an aid.
ReplyDeleteWhat interest me are pictures that go with the presentation of the powerpoint, some of us are visual learners and it helps to draw out what is being said.
ReplyDeleteWhat distracts me are way too many animations! like say you have the first line swivvel in, 2nd line bounce in, 3rd line skip in....etc... like way too many is distracting to my eyes and kinda bores me.
-frances
I am usually a very hard person to keep entertained and involved which is why audience participation works best with me. power points are a good tool but I can't be trusted to make an effective one. I remember a power point presentation where I thought it would be funny to use completely un related images. I think one slide focused on sweat shops and the image was a cartoon bunny with its thumbs up. less is more is probably the best advice, but if you have power point add like me remember to use appropriate images.
ReplyDeleteThomas McDowell
What's really distracting about PowerPoint presentation is that some people over use animated noises and sound on every slide to every bulletin to every movement of words. There is a borderline. Also if the animated sound is totally off from the actual topic or points of the slide.
ReplyDeleteMary Jo Saelee
What I like about a PowerPoint presentation is it keeps the audience involved and you're able to follow along with the presenter. What I dislike is when a PowerPoint project that is over animated. There are too may sounds affects and awkward movements that is very distracting.
ReplyDeleteWhat I find distracting about PowerPoints sometimes is that people will put too much information on a page. I have a hard time seeing and if there is so much information on one page then I just start zoning out and thinking that there is no point to the slide. I also do not like it when people make their slides too colorful. I get distracted easily, and a bunch of colors is not going to help me focus any better.
ReplyDeleteI like when PowerPoint slides stick to their main point and I do not have to scan all over for the main point. I also like when the slide has a relevant picture or chart.
-Kim T.
If used correctly a power point can be a very effective tool for a speech. However, when not used properly it can be seen as a detriment to the speech. When I look at a power point I want it to look organized. I also want the power point to be clear and easy to read. I don't like power points that I can not read. I feel that it distracts me from the person who is giving the speech.
ReplyDeleteIm gonna throw in with Katrina and say my biggest peeve is when people read off their slides. Especially when they do it veeeeerrrryyy ssssllllooowwwllly. It takes two seconds to read a power point slide, don't go over it for twenty minutes. Since I'm clearly not a big fan of powerpoint presentations anyway, I'd say the best way to use slides is sparingly. A slide with a minimum amount of text accompanied by a picture can really accent a good presentation. On that same note, overuse of slides can easily ruin a presentation. The emphasis should be on you as the speaker, with the slides there as a visual aid.
ReplyDeleteI think that Power Points can make your speech better and easier. I am a visual learner, so when I memorize the outline of my speech the pictures give me my mark. I may put main points in the print sections but I’ll knowledgeable to share information other than what’s printed. I believe that slide shows are very similar other than the freeness of not having to change the screen.
ReplyDeleteA good powerpoint technique for me is pictures. one picture per slide cover 75% of the page(picture must be relate to the speech). few word, one word for each explanation. I will say, have a power point is better then with out one. that if ask overdoes, I will say, wordy.(slide over with word.
ReplyDeleteJohnny Zhang
I am going to have to agree with what most of my class mates have said. Power point presentations can be a good tool to get your point across. However, it has to be used effectivly;getting the attention of the audience. I dislike it when a presentation is too long and the message is not clear. I prefer a picture and limited writing to get the point across. I also dislike it when the presentation is too vague. A picture by it self would not have the same special meaning to everyone unless it was explained.
ReplyDeleteJoel Lopez
The most annoying thing I find with powerpoints, is if things are written directly from a source so they end up being too wordy and complicated. Powerpoint slides are meant to be paraphrased and short worded, so it doesn't distract from the speaker. I think an effective powerpoint doesn't take away from the speech but supplements it.
ReplyDelete-Heather B
Power points can be a great supplement to your presentations. I especially like when a speaker will use Power point to highlight bulletpoints in their speech. Its especially usefull when you can control on one slide how many bulletpoints are shown, that way the audience is able to follow along with you instead of reading the entire slide while you're still talking about the first bulletpoint...
ReplyDeletedoes that make any sense?
Anyway, what I don't like is when people read right off their power point and don't offer much else (I think someone already mentioned reading word for word off their PP). Most of us know how to read, we just need you to explain it to us.
Powerpoint presentations can be very helpful, especially, when the presenter is nervous about speaking in public. Last week, the presentation on computer programming by the prodigy and Calculator programmer (I forget his name) was very informative and kept me interested because I was able to follow his main points on his Powerpoint screen. I have issues with paying attention not that I have diagnosed ADHD or ADD. Maybe I do... Initially, the topic of computer programming did not sound so interesting, but as the presenter spoke, followed the powerpoint cues, and elaborated, I found myself more engaged and wanting to listen more attentively to his details following each point. The presentation was well organized.
ReplyDeleteI would like to be more proficient at giving powerpoint presentations someday. This is tool that is so universally used that it can only benefit me knowing how to develop a powerpoint and to use it effectively in a presentation.
Ron
This is embarrassing, but I have NEVER used Powerpoint in a presentation. I tried to use it once and it felt and looked so clunky that I didn't want to continue. That was a long time ago though, so maybe I should give it another chance. In the last batch of speeches it has been used to good effect, but if someone just goes over bulletpoint after bulletpoint it really puts me to sleep.
ReplyDeleteive read some of the earlier comments and agree when people read right off the power point it sucks, because most of the time as a classmate sitting there you have already read it yourself and are like ok i get it. so i would rather have just plain main ponits and have the presenter talk about them so we look at the slide quickly and then listen to what the person has to say. plus the sounds are okay once in awhile just not 10 on one slide.
ReplyDeleteAlex Drumheller
i like using PowerPoint because it makes me less nervous since the audience will be looking at the presentation not me... and also the charts and graphs will help me sell the idea easier.
ReplyDeletebut some times animations and crazy backgrounds can distract people from the actual information.
Ali
Again agreeing with the class, powerpoints can be overly wordy. If I use one, I try to just use one or two-word phrases to remind myself or the audience what's being covered. Then it makes it easier to present the material without reading directly from the slides.
ReplyDeleteRyan Takao