They snooze, you lose, Ch.1

They snooze, you lose: Chapter 1

Chapter one of “They snooze, you lose” is an exposition on the current practices in educational Powerpoint presentations. Due to heavy reuse of templates and overuse of words, many modern Powerpoint presentations reduce influential presentations to the mundane. The problem is not with Powerpoint itself, but with the proper use of the tool. A myriad of adjustments prevail to enhance existing presentations to boost their usefulness as a learning tool. The proper choice of templates defines the overall quality of the presentation and the must complement the content and not conflict with it. We read from left to right in English, so the work must accommodate this flow.

Because color enhances learning and retention, it is essential that the presenter have a grounded understanding of color theory. Yellow, for instance draws attention the fastest and is valuable for overall text and highlighting key points. A background color must not reduce the readability and visual contrast of the material. Generally, blues and greens have a calming effect, and are prime choices for the background color and provide good contrast with white or yellow text.

The writer should carefully consider not going overboard on font types. Two fonts, one serif and one non-serif with widely spaced character kerning are ideal such as Times New Roman and Arial. The presenter must consider a work that has fewer than 40 words per slide and is readable in less than 3 seconds, such as a billboard. Font size dictates legibility at the back of the room and interacts with the number of words available. Using fewer than 40 words allows an adequate font size.

I have been a witness to way too many of these boring presentations. My biggest disagreement is using 12 point font and showing an Excel graph of company progress. My second biggest complaint is having the presenter reading the slide, which I can do just fine myself. I long ago discovered the value of color. It is more than amazing in that in can capture and actually create a mood. Choosing wisely puts the audience in a mood of receptiveness. When I first learned what a font was, I embarked upon a mission of amassing as many as I could. After gathering many hundreds of them, I realized that it looks silly and cartoonish to use many fonts in one work. The idea of making a slide as readable as a billboard is a new concept to me. I find it quite compelling and a challenge to implement.

References

Burmark, L. (2011). Creating slides and handouts. In They snooze, you lose: The educator’s guide to successful presentations (pp. 25-41). San Francisco, CA: Josey Bass.

Newell, L, (2012). Week 3 - Blogging and Boxing (Sp2012) Retrieved from: http://butleratutb.pbworks.com/w/page/50304232/Week%203%20-%20Blogging%20and%20Boxing%20%28Sp2012%29