Tips & tricks

There are many different methods that can be used to improve the success of a presentation. Some of those include: 

        1. Keep it simple

Don't overcrowd the slide! Stick to dot points and simple sentences when creating a slide. People don't want to read an essay during a presentation and if the presenter refers to the slide when talking, it will help the audience to understand. 

        2. Contrasting colours 

Using light colours on a dark background or vice versa will mean that people won't struggle to read the text on screen. Using a black and white combination is simple and effective, but trying colours like light blue on dark grey for example, is another combination that is just as effective. 

        3. Make it engaging

As said in point 1, people don't want to read large chunks of text on a PowerPoint. Instead include pictures that relate to the topic, short videos, animations or interactive graphs to make the presentation dynamic. It isn't necessary to make every second slide different, but it does help to include a variating slides.

        4. Be confident 

Being sure and confident during a presentation will show the audience that the presenter understands and can effectively explain the topic of the presentation. Speaking clearly, making eye contact and standing straight are all signs of confidence and will -------.

        5. Hyperlinks 

Including hyperlinks in a presentation is most effective when an electronic copy of the presentation is given to the audience. It's a useful way to direct people to extra resources and allows them an extra opportunity to explore the topic of the presentation. 

        6. Include audio and visuals

Breaking up text with audio or visuals is a great way to cater for the needs of different learner types of the VARK system. It can also lead to discussions about what has been seen, which is useful because it draws attention to the viewer and helps the presenter to determine whether or not people are understanding the topic.