Organize: Start with the
goals of your presentation. What do you want your audience
to learn or what actions do you want them to take after
your presentation?
Next compile a list of the topics and questions you'll
need to cover to achieve your goals. Organize them
in a logical order and add sketches of illustrations
or charts that will re-enforce each point you want
to make. This will give you an illustrated outline.
Add brief notes to include your thoughts about how
and what to present for each item on your outline.
Make it Interesting: As you start to flesh out
your presentation, use techniques in your visuals that
will help hold the audiences' attention. You probably
already know many ways to do this. (Please tell us about
them).
One technique is to build questions into your visuals.
As you show each new visual everyone's attention will
go to that visual. Design your visuals to present
information in two steps. The first might show something
that creates the question, "How can this be?"
The second visual answers the question.
Other techniques include using a variety of approaches
and throwing a surprise or two into your presentation.
Simplify: Create sketches for each of your visuals
and simplify them. You can't include everything on your
visuals. Don't fill the page to the edges with text
and graphics. Don't use more than two or three fonts
on a visual. And be sure they can be read by everyone
in the room. |
 |
Make just one point on a visual. Keep it simple.
Use the visual to support what you are saying not
to present everything you are going to say.
|
Use Graphics: We've all heard that a "picture
is worth a 1,000 words." It's true. You can focus
attention and make your point quicker, and in a way
that will be retained better, by including pictures
on your visuals.
Clip Art on the web or CD-ROM are great places to find simple
images to make your point.
|
 |
Use Color: Color emphasises the points you want
to make. It makes your visuals more dynamic and helps
increase comprehension.
You can use a
color
poster printer, or color your visuals with markers
or colored pencils. Use a
label
printer to add color lettering. Use different color
paper for different parts of your presentation. Paste
on pictures from magazines. But, don't over do it. Don't
overwhelm with color. Use color to highlight and draw
attention to the points you want to make.
