Summary
Highlights
The video starts by showcasing an impactful three-minute thesis slide by Rosemary Boland, emphasizing its accessibility, relevance to her topic (premature birth), and high visual impact. It highlights that slides don't always need to be this impactful but that clear, supportive visuals are key.
Key design guidlines include: minimal key text on slides (not full sentences or paragraphs), aiming for 5-8 points per slide, and providing handouts for detail. A general rule of thumb for slide-to-time ratio is to have no more slides than minutes for the presentation (e.g., 20 slides for a 20-minute talk).
Recommended text sizes are 18-32 point for body text and 36-40 point for headings. Sans serif fonts (like Arial or Calibri) are preferred for readability. Black-on-white text is highly effective for contrast. The presenter advises against using PowerPoint templates, suggesting starting with a blank slide for simplicity, unless a departmental template is required.
Simple wipe animations are recommended, avoiding 'crazy' animations like twirlygigs or parachutes that can be distracting. To emphasize elements, 'drop shadows' can lift pictures off the page, and transparent boxes can highlight specific areas instead of lasers or underlining. These can be formatted by double-clicking or right-clicking on the object.
When dealing with complex images or datasets, it's advised to break them down. Instead of showing all information at once, introduce parts incrementally over several slides or using animations to maintain audience focus and reduce cognitive overload. De-emphasizing parts of a complex image with semi-transparent gray boxes can also draw attention to specific data points.
Similar to complex images, graphs should also be presented incrementally. The data can be brought in piece by piece, allowing the presenter to talk through each section at their own pace. Multiple parts of a graph can be animated to appear simultaneously by selecting them together using the shift key.
Avoid clipart and stick figures, opting for real photos and acknowledging their source. Do not use slide borders or a picture of yourself. Steer clear of crazy animations and maintaining eye contact with the audience is crucial. Do not over-populate slides or include a 'thank you' slide. Avoid font mixing, fancy fonts like Comic Sans, and keep fonts simple. Focus on sequence, separation, fitting content to time, and reducing unnecessary information. Use large text, keep it simple (KIS not TMI), act positive, and maintain a clear focus or message.
The video concludes by encouraging viewers to practice these tips on their own computers. It directs them to the Academic Skills website for more strategies, tips, workshops, and academic assistance.