Develop Effective Slides
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The best place to begin planning your slides is with your speaking outline. Think through which points in your speech might be better explained to your audience with some kind of visual; decide what the content of your slides should be, how many slides you’ll need, and how to arrange them. Ask yourself, “Are some of the points more suited to visual display than others? What features should be used for each slide?” There is no fixed formula for answering these questions, so you must rely on your own creativity and critical thinking.
Checklist: Using PowerPoint Presentations Effectively
Don’t let the technology get in the way of relating to your audience.
Talk to your audience rather than to the screen. Maintain eye contact as much as possible.
Have a backup plan in case of technical errors, and prepare to give the speech without slides.
If you use a pointer (laser or otherwise), turn it off and put it down as soon as you have made your point. Never shine a laser pointer into anyone’s eyes.
Incorporate the aids into your practice sessions until you are confident that they strengthen, rather than detract from, your core message.