A500.8.3.RB_DellElceCamila

A500.8.3.RB – Good Presentation Design   

            As I explained in my discussion board, I have been able to witness different kinds of presentations. Some presentations had a “wow” factor while others were just plain boring. The main idea of having a good presentation is based on presenting intricate information though entertaining your audience. Some people believe that a good presentation is about having animation added to their PowerPoint presentations, or maybe having lengthy textual information but reality is minimalism is the way to go. The term minimalistic does not suggest a lack of data, but it highlights the importance to have simplistic visual aids as you provide the important message through narration. Garr Reynolds in the handout, “Presentation Zen: How to Design & Deliver Presentations Like a Pro,” advices the readers, in this case the presenters, to follow simple steps such as: thinking about the main topics and focusing on it; to have structure and outline your thoughts to connect with the interests of your audience; try to use personal inferences to caught the audience’s attention; think of the audience as customers, they are always the number one priority; less text means more; try to understand what you are trying to display and do not read out of your presentation; and if you believe your presentation lacks on textual information, you can always provide written documents to the audience. In conclusion, do not bored your audience and make it fun.

            Additionally, Mr. Reynolds, supplements elements to essentially have a good presentation like:  been unique with Microsoft templates; again try to stay minimalistic, no clip arts or animated slides; the use of graphs, pictures, and high quality images is key; pace your speech with the transition of the slides and subject matter; focus in one idea per slide to avoid confusion; don’t get nervous; keep the ambient bright to keep audience active; and one of the most important in my point of view, connect with your audience by getting closer to them and making direct eye contact.  The connection with your audience makes it a more personal experience to them and also to the presenter.

            After reading and learning more about this subject with the module and my classmates’ opinions, my idea of a good presentation has shift to a different dimension. Today I can identify a good presentation as a work that can provide information by having an audience understand it effortlessly. Moreover, I have learned that although visual aids are important when presenting challenging data, sometimes not having them could be good as well. In my discussion for this module, one of my classmates asked me why I had liked Dr. Hans Rosling presentation and she went on by adding that her favorite presentation had been Dr. Shenna Lyengar. Dr. Lyengar’s presentation was one of a kind. She is blind and disable yet that did not interrupt the way she presented her information or herself. And after my classmate made that comment, I started to think of other important factors accompanying good presentations. I confirmed that I believe that a good presentation is not only about the visual aids, but also how you carry yourself in front of others. In other words, having personality shows presence and professionalism to my standards. Like wise, another important strategy to a good presentation relies on how you talk. When a presenter is giving their speech, they need to be aware of how they sound, as enunciation will keep the audience alert. Very much like when you go to church, if the priest talks in a low voice without making emphasis in the tone of his voice, then most people get bored and loose tract of what really matters.

            In conclusion, the rules of thumb are keep it simple, structured, and foremost, entertain your audience.

Figure 1

Reynolds, Garr. Presentation Zen: How to Design & Deliver Presentations Like a Pro. Accessed at http://www.garrreynolds.com/Presentation/pdf/presentation_tips.pdf

Rosling, H. (2006, February). The best stats you’ve ever seen [TEDGlobal]. Retrieved from http://www.ted.com/talks/hans_rosling_shows_the_best_stats_you_ve_ever_seen#t-283895