Using Presentation

Presenting an effective presentation to a group of people requires knowledge of the group, the setting in which is to be held, and key elements to present to stay on topic. Presentations are very intricate and consist of seven key elements and guiding principles for speaking efficiently and effectively. The key elements are the purpose, audience, credibility, logistics, content, organization, and performance. Each of these elements has a directive as follows;

Purpose: Determine the goal for the presentation

Audience: Make a connection with the audience

Credibility: The presentation has to be convincing

Logistics: Familiarize yourself with the location and occasion

Content: Select suitable concepts and material

Organization: Organize the content in a strategic manner

Performance: Plan and rehears the conveyance of the message

Presentation aids are supplementary audio and/or visual materials that help an audience understand and remember the content of a discussion or presentation. Effective presentation aids can make a dull topic interesting, a complex idea understandable, and a long presentation endurable. Studies sponsored by the 3M Corporation found that group "presenters who use visual aids are perceived as better prepared, more professional, more highly credible, and more interesting than those who do not."18 At first, these findings may be difficult to believe. Can something as simple as an overhead transparency make that much difference? The answer is yes--but only if the presentation aid is clear, appropriate, and well designed. pg. 327

Multimedia. Multimedia technology allows you to use words, charts, graphics, sounds, and animation in a single presentation. It is possible to create presentation aids so dazzling that group members remember more about the slide show than about you or your message. Although there are times when animation or sound may enhance understanding, these multimedia components are frequently no more than window dressing that get in the way of the message. The last thing you want is for your audience to leave a presentation wondering how you got the Tyrannosaurus rex to eat the pie chart instead of discussing the data represented in the pie chart. In addition, some effects are so overused that they have become clichés. Beginning a presentation with the theme from Rocky or 2001: A Space Odyssey is not only unnecessary, but old and trite. If you decide to include multimedia effects in a presentation, you should be able to articulate a reason for doing so other than "it's neat."

Pitfalls of PowerPoint

Many presenters use PowerPoint (or other brands of presentation software, such as

Lotus Freelance or Corel Presentations) without thoroughly investigating whether it enhances the listeners' comprehension or helps speakers accomplish their purpose. Some corporations have even banned PowerPoint presentations by employees who have not had extensive training in visual design and its relationship to audience comprehension