Sociology 489 - Senior Seminar

FALL 2007

POWERPOINT TRAINING

Is PowerPoint new to you? Would you like a refresher course on how to do simple tasks? Do you want to advance your knowledge of PowerPoint? Check out Atomic Learning: Atomic Learning

Atomic Learning is a collection of short, easy-to-view and understand tutorial movies that answer common questions people have when learning and using software. It includes more than 20,000 individual tutorial movies, which cover more than 100 software applications, including PowerPoint 2003.

Microsoft PowerPoint 2003 is the version installed on all the public lab computers and classroom computers on campus. For locations of public labs on campus, please see http://lbis.kenyon.edu/labs

POWERPOINT TIPS
Some Simple Guidelines for Effective Conference Presentations from the IFLA Continuing Professional Development & Workplace Learning Section:
  • Limit the length of your title so that its to a maximum of two lines.
  • Fonts:
    • Use medium or bold type fonts that are not too fancy or too compressed.
    • Stick to widely used fonts such Times, Arial and Palatino. Avoid using non-standard fonts as the computers to be used for presentation may not have those fonts available.
    • Avoid using thin fonts or small font sizes as these can appear rough on the screen. (Typically, no fonts smaller than 16 points should be used.)
    • Do not use more than three different fonts in your presentation.
  • Be short and concise in your wording. Too much information on the screen is hard to read.
  • Be consistent in your layout.
  • Use bullet points instead of paragraphs and use no more than six bulleted items per slide.
  • Keep charts, graphs etc. simple and precise.
  • Do not run type, graphics, or photos too close to the edges of the slide.
  • Keep colours simple and ensure sufficient contrast between the type and the background for maximum readability.
  • Keep special effects to the minimum.
PRESENTATION TIPS
  • Be early. Test your presentation on the computer that you will be using. This test should include making sure the fonts are correct, image files open, and any other technical issues that may arise at the last minute when opening the file on a new computer.
  • Be prepared for the worst -- your saved file will not open or is missing. A suggestion is to have your presentation stored in multiple places, e.g. burn it to a blank cd, save it to flash drive, store it in on your personal network drive (H:).
  • If your PowerPoint presentation does not work, be prepared to give your presentation without the visual background.
  • Handouts can be helpful for the audience. You are giving the audience something tangible to take away (and a place to take notes)
  • Do not read your slides to the audience. Slides should be used to enhance the material within your presentation. For example, a photo or a term definition.
  • Use images and text but don't overwhelm the slide.
  • Practice giving your presentation so you are comfortable with the material.
  • At the very beginning, introduce your topic and your presentation. By giving an introduction, your audience will be better able to follow your presentation.
  • Be confident. You are the expert.
PRESENTATION AND POWERPOINT TIPS FOUND ON BLOGS (and a website)
TECHNOLOGY TIPS
GENERAL TECHNICAL SUPPORT SITES

Microsoft Help and Support

Safare Tech Books Online
Simply type "PowerPoint" in the search box to find books on how to use various versions of this software program. Safare provides electronic versions of software help guides.

For more links on software and technical support, please go to LBIS' List of Technical Support Sites.

GETTING SOFTWARE OR TECHNOLOGY HELP

For individual or small group appointments, contact:

Julia Glynn
Librarian and Technology Consultant
740.427.5834

Technology assistance is also available at HelpLine in the Olin and Chalmers Library (full service) and Gund Commons (limited hours and services). Stop by, call (740-427-5700), or E-mail helpline@kenyon.edu
For more information on HelpLine's hours