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PowerPoint or Transparencies

Can PowerPoint be as flexible as transparencies

Midway through a presentation a question comes up. If only you were still using a trusty overhead projector, you could pull up the relevant slide. Bet you can't do that with PowerPoint on a data projector?

Try this:

Start each of your presentation points at slide number 1, 11, 21, 31 etc. Put blank slides in to fill the space. A blank also comes in handy to turn the projector off when you have finished your point. Keep a list handy so that you have a prompt that (for example) 11 is Forming, 21 is Storming, 31 is Norming, 41 is Performing, 51 is Belbin's model, Perhaps 28 is the activity associated with Forming, 38 the activity associated with norming etc... Now the trick: Type the slide number and then press enter. Whoopee, the presentation is where you want it.

I find this as flexible as transparencies, in fact maybe more so.

The big advantage with respect to flexibility, I can have hundreds of slides in a presentation that may only use a dozen or so.

I always include things like Bloom's taxonomy or Kolb's learning cycle in my presentations, just in case a related issue comes up. I show them about 1 in 10 sessions.

The cost? Much less than transparencies, and because I use the slide master, slide layout and color scheme features, they are always consistent in layout with the session content.

Wear and tear - nil. Transparencies do get tired.

Save PowerPoint for when you want to communicate something more than a brochure turned on its side. It can be a lot more than bullets flying in all directions but few hitting the target.

Also you may like to read my article: What sort of impression are you projecting

John Sleigh has been applying adult learning principles to training design and workplace communication projects since 1988.

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