narrating powerpoint presentations

narrating powerpoint presentations

Mastering the Art of Narrating Powerpoint Presentations

1. Introduction to Narration in Powerpoint Presentations

A PowerPoint presentation is a great way to inform and captivate an audience. As such, most of us take the time to patiently elaborate on each slide, fervently flipping from one slide to the next. However, we rarely make use of the ‘narrate slide’ option when preparing a presentation in PowerPoint. This option really is a missed gem in the world of presentation making. Good narration makes the difference between a classic tale and a boring diary entry, just as a presentation without narration is lifeless. This article is a guide on how to capitalize on the narration of PowerPoint presentations effectively.

Though the theoretical underpinnings of narration can be dated back to proxemics, a concept popularized by geographer Edward Hall, it has been implemented in communication settings for many years. Proxemics is defined as the general science of ‘spatial communication between people.’ It relates to the ways in which we use and communicate with space and is of particular value for those developing PowerPoint presentations. Proxemics concepts have also been used in administration, counseling, therapy, acting, occupational therapy, and nursing, among other contexts, as a means of improved communication and understanding. This shows that in distanced forms of communication, developing and rehearsing PowerPoint narration is essential.

2. Effective Techniques for Engaging Narration

Setting the right tone at the outset paves the way for maintaining engagement. As Prof. Hannah Garcia observes, the objective of narrating a talk or a seminar is to “create a conversation, an intimacy” to ensure that the points covered “stick in the audience’s head”. Used in the right doses and at the right moments, humor and wit can lighten an otherwise heavy topic. Nick Morgan, in an article in the Harvard Business Review, submits that “a great presentation is a chain of experiences, especially emotional ones, that we go on with an audience with the hope—usually the intent—that they will take something away from the experience they didn’t have before”. In a nutshell, narration in PowerPoint could be a set of accompanying or transitory handcuffs that will smoothly slide down the arm when not required and effortlessly slip back into place at just the right moment.

To be effective, explaining concepts or making points through a narrative must first catch the audience’s attention. As Dr. Larson observes, “telling a story in a presentation connects the audience to the true meaning of the message”. And indeed, we as humans seem hardwired to appreciate stories due to the way our minds work. It has been found from fMRIs (i.e., functional magnetic resonance imaging tests) that when someone tells us a story, not only are the language processing parts of our brain activated (i.e., the Broca area and Wernicke area, which are central to our communicating and understanding of words) but also other areas in our brains are engaged, such as those connected to our motor, sensory, and emotional parts. This may lead us to a further question: What happens when we are absorbed in a story that we are telling?

3. The Role of Voice and Tone in Captivating Audiences

Voice quality is pertinent in Bharatanatyam, as well as in PowerPoint presentations. Instead of animated images that are not authentic, the presenter’s narrative voice can capture and sustain audience attention. The tone and timbre of the speaker’s voice are powerful tools of influence. Your voice and its pitch or volume can wake up your listeners or make them more sleepy. Subjects understanding and the way the audience listens to us depends on our voice. To maximize voice projection and sound audibility in various venues, your tone and vocal dynamics will likely have to be versatile, so keep this as a consideration of the intended setting: small conference room, large handle, noisy environment, etc.

The harmonics of a smooth voice of the speaker puppet at the conference are likely examples of clear articulation. Knowing there are technical meanings, e.g. “clarsach”, “melisma”, which require treatment. Clarity of speech is important when a presenter delivers a verbal message, especially when the public may not be familiar with the terminology included in the message. Before choosing the tone and style of a presentation, remember that the listener’s feelings and energy inform their thoughts. If your audience includes children and adults eating hamburgers or absorbed in internet watches, experiment with the degree to which the presenter’s leanness and or mood can effectively bring them back to you.

4. Practical Tips for Recording and Editing Narration

Recording a narration for a presentation requires the use of proper equipment. Scriptwriters should acquire a sturdy USB microphone with a windscreen. A pop filter may be necessary if there is no windscreen included with the microphone. The recording environment requires ample breathing space between the presenter and the microphone to keep one’s mouth at least 18 inches away, however, one still has to speak loud enough into the mic. After creating a clear and consistent procedure on how to record a narration, scriptwriters can start recording. For uninterrupted playbacks, scriptwriters may record multiple takes of the presentation to allow for errors in acting. Additionally, recording in shorter spurts allows for vocal variety. Adobe Audition and GarageBand are among the preferred software choices for relatively easy editing.

Creating a completed narration requires a recording, pragmatic post-production work, and a fine blending of sound with slides, the process of which is also important enough to be documented. A few slides after editing usually ‘bleed out’ just off the screen when the slide advances. It is also necessary to test the audio in the training room and make sure to record it properly before a live presentation. Most narrations have lower audio levels than the presenter recorder needs. When writing, it’s best to write the script with audio cues. If initially capturing the press of a mouse, try using keyboard commands to record takes in rapid succession. Audio includes every little error. Written podcasts abstractly make audience errors sound interesting or professional accents distinct, but desktop screen casts and presentations benefit from a rapid confluence of slides and voice.

5. Conclusion: Elevating Your Presentation Skills through Engaging Narration

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Mastering the Art of Narrating PowerPoint Presentations Overview: Modern presentations require more than ornamental slideshows. The art of animation is most effective when it complements enthralling narration that guides the audience into bringing your slideshows to life. Illustrations and outcomes of real-life presentations show how engaging narration, in tandem with creative animations, improves presentation reception and retention. Commercial uses of this skill include sales demonstrations and client content deliveries. Using narrated presentations for educational purposes provides all parties social, cognitive, and metacognitive benefits. The brief foray into the “fourth wall” of narrating PowerPoint presentations gives a more complete understanding of how this technique elevates public speaking to a higher level.

Conclusion: Everyone learns better when they laugh; everyone can enjoy a good story. Storytelling combines the fun of informal speaking with the satisfaction of delivering facts. Insight is only a story away. The last take-away is the pivotal importance of narration. In the introduction, some of the basics of narrating any oral history were covered; the narrator explained what was taking place when and to whom, why it mattered, and what it could teach the world. It is the same with presentations. Spoken slideshows are not simply vehicles for an audience to read along on their own or maybe have a larger image of what is on their handout. Enter the narrative world of narrating with your next presentation. Your personal story will be one worth telling.