Presentations

//Beyond PowerPoint//
 * Visual presentations**

** What it is **

A visual presentation is a multimedia or visual aid that can support, supplement and reinforce the narration of a speaker, trainer or facilitator. Interactivity can be incorporated using images, videos and interactive questions. Microsoft PowerPoint is perhaps the most popular presentation software, but other options, such as Prezi (www.prezi.com ) can be very effective.

** When to use it **


 * In meetings.
 * For advocacy purposes.
 * In training activities, when the trainer is on "telling mode", i.e. s/he keeps the floor and controls the contents that are transferred. Since the telling mode is the training technique with a relatively low level of knowledge transfer (participants learn more when they "do" than when they "are told"), a visual aid becomes important to increase levels of retention.
 * In all cases in which the knowledge is concentrated in a person or group, and it is reasonable to assume that listeners are not aware of this knowledge. Visual aids will help them maximising their learning experience.

** What to consider **

Technological considerations
 * Use sans-serif fonts: Arial, Arial Black, Tahoma, Futura ( avoid ** Times New Roman), ** but do not mix too many.
 * Use a lot of **white space.** Contrast is important in design, and without blank space there is no contrast.
 * Keep animations subtle, professional and only use them if they add meaning.
 * ** Avoid PowerPoint Clip Art ** . Instead, u se **high-resolution digital images** or **stock photos** from w eb sites like iStockPhoto or from organizations that provide images free, such as [|NASA], [|Associated Press] and [|LIFE Magazine], or use Flickr’s CreativeCommons . Be aware of copyright issues when using images found on other sites.
 * Use **full bleed images** (full screen) and move excess text to the notes section, keeping only a headline or the main concept.
 * Use **appropriate charts:** pie charts for percentages, vertical bar charts for changes over time, horizontal bar charts to compare quantities and line charts to demonstrate trends (these can be animated).
 * See how you can embed videos or Youtube clips: [].

Alternative to Powerpoint: Prezi
 * Whereas Powerpoint presentations are linear, Prezi is like one giant sheet of paper. It makes presentations more dynamic by allowing navigation, and lets you focus on different objects by moving, zooming and rotating the view, thereby illustrating the relationship of one concept to another. You can download it and use it off-line.
 * Because it is also stored on-line, **multiple users can collaborate on it simultaneously.**
 * Downside: you need to practise navigating, because one click can get you off course and you may have trouble finding your way back. The best way to avoid this problem is to define a path within your prezi presentation.
 * In order to generate a handout you have to link your Prezi presentation path to visible or invisible frames that help focus on a specific section of the canvas.
 * Follow this link to view a sample presentation on the //Share, learn, innovate!// Toolkit created using Prezi: []
 * More info on Prezi and its EduEnjoy license can be found on [|www.prezi.com] and at this at link: []

Methodological considerations
 * Think beyond “transfer of information” when considering the purpose of the visual presentation. What value does it add that handouts, articles and books do not? Why is a visual presentation the best way to address this particular knowledge sharing need? How can you ensure that your audience is involved and active, rather than passive?
 * Reduce text to the absolute minimum. The best slides have no text at all. Example: For a convention or other instrument, write 2 or 3 key words and give the full text as a handout.
 * ** Never read ** the text on your slides.
 * ** One concept per slide ** . The visual should be understood immediately.
 * ** Replace bullet-point lists with images, **** charts or diagrams ** . Use visual tools to show the overall idea of the list, and give the key points of the idea verbally.
 * Keep the **number of slides to a minimum**.
 * Choose images that **evoke emotion.** This will help people to remember the concepts. Emotions stay in our memories longer and we recall them with greater accuracy.
 * ** Add stories ** that support your major points, as well as **audio** and **video** when appropriate (clips from Youtube, movies, [|TED] conferences, etc.) to stimulate different learning styles.
 * ** Do not give handouts of the slides ** . People remember more when they get information in various ways – listening to a lecture, reading a textbook, discussing a subject in a study group, etc. A printout of the slides is not much different from a lecture. Instead, give a link to a **podcast** of the next lecture or a detailed written handout as a takeaway.

** Quote **

Using Prezi was not only very useful for developing visually attractive presentations. It also helped me to think in a non-linear way about what I was going to say, stimulated me in finding more connections in the different ideas that I wanted to share with my audience and finally provided me with an alternative to the traditional slide by slide approach of powerpoint presentations (T. Wambeke, International Training Centre of the ILO)

** Where to learn more **

[] and [] Educause: 7 things you need to know about next generation presentation tools: http://tinyurl.com/yam7gty [|Blog] [|www.presentationzen.com], [|tips]and [|85 example slides]: http://tinyurl.com/6pfzag Nancy Duarte’s blog: [] Educause: 7 things you need to know about data visualization: [] a list of quote resources: [] ** Books: **// Presentation Design // by Garr Reynolds, //Slideology// and //Resonate// by N. Duarte