Powerpointless?

I struck a nerve with my last post and many colleagues responded with their discontent with the use of PPT templates too - and with the use of PPT in general. 

Dave suggests we not jettison Powerpoint altogether, but instead teach speakers how to use it effectively. Yes, the tool is NOT the problem.  There are lots of examples online on how it has been used effectively - here's one (have patience getting past the intro) and there are lots more over at the Presentation Zen site.

But how do we coach speakers?  What resources and tools can we provide?  I'd love to hear from associations who feel they are doing a good job here.  While I'm sure a knowledge gap exists, as a speaker myself, I know time is often the primary issue.  I often have great intentions of making my visuals have more impact, then the event draws near and I've got a million competing priorities...and unfortunately I often end up with a plain vanilla slide deck.  I know they're better than when I first began presenting over a decade ago, but they've got a long way yet to go.

Dave suggests Cliff Atkinson's book "Beyond Bullet Points."  I would agree it's a good resource.  Garr Reynolds summarizes another book he recommends - "Clear and To The Point" - today on his Presentation Zen blog. I'll be heading over to Amazon later today to order it.  Any interest in a virtual book club to discuss how to apply the concepts within?

Comments

[Lisa Junker]

Another couple of good resources that might be good for the virtual book club: Edward Tufte's The Cognitive Style of PowerPoint (a short monograph) and Seth Godin's Really Bad PowerPoint (and How to Avoid It).

I'd be in for a virtual book club on the Atkinson book or on all three!

[Lindy]

I'm in. I'll be picking up the book this week.

[Dave S.]

A great post and even better idea! I am in on the book club concept. Heading to Amazon right now to grab a copy of Kosslyn's book.

Interesting that you posted again on this topic today. We were reviewing presentation submissions today for an upcoming conference we are holding and I became so frustrated by the lack of good instructional design, content density and overall use of the slides. It only reaffirmed what I said earlier...if we are going to continue using PowerPoint as our presentation medium we need to educate people on how to do it properly.

I am thinking that the time I spend reviewing, revamping and rewriting presentations so they are (ahem) presentable could easily be directed into something much more productive that could potentially save me time, and my sanity, over the long run.

[Kristi Donovan]

Who's doing it? (I mean, coaching speakers?) A few of us are. We hired Jeffrey Cufaude to conduct a Web-based training session for our speakers earlier this month. We had terrific feedback. We've told presenters that we are no longer photocopying slide decks. They get a one-page double-sided handout. (There is a green meeting element to this too... if they have something else of substance, I will consider that of course.) We talked about how to design that handout, effective design of slides and adult learning principles. I know we're not the only ones - will let you know if it helps folks along.