presentation tools

presentation tools

The Power of Presentation Tools

1. Introduction to Presentation Tools

PowerPoint is essentially a slide show and has many features to produce and develop the best slide show. A knowledge worker is defined as “someone who is employed because of his or her ability to cope with and apply information in the course of his or her work” (Microsoft) and would be interested in producing the best conceivable slide show without going beyond the call of duty. In this case, it would be advantageous to start from AutoContent Wizard located under the File menu. This takes the user through a sequence of decisions, resulting in a complete presentation. The function of this tool is comparable to Word’s paper wizard. After the sequence is completed, it might be wise to use the Presentation Check located under the File menu and determine if it is now time to present. This feature checks a presentation’s various attributes for common errors in design and content and recommends how to fix any problems found. This may save time because the presentation could be edited onscreen during a practice session. Steps can be rehearsed in an example version of the presentation until the very best consequence is reached.

The objective of this monograph is to assess the administration defaults in PowerPoint and suggest indicative features from scientific literature and personal experience. PowerPoint is a generic tool because it is accessible and simple to use. For this evaluation, a PowerPoint presentation was generated and applied at a job interview. This example was employed because it is commonplace for candidates to be asked to give a presentation at an interview, therefore we have received copious real-life examples. The relevancy of this example to a knowledge worker giving a sales pitch or a multinational to an investor could not be overemphasized. In all cases, it is imperative the message is assembled and developed in the most effective manner.

2. Benefits of Using Presentation Tools

Another benefit of presentation software is that it can turn a potentially dull and boring piece of information into an interesting multimedia experience. By utilizing features such as videos, sound, clip art, and animation, a presentation can cater to both visual and auditory learners and can engage an audience with varying attention spans and/or learning disabilities. For example, an educator may design a PowerPoint for a history lesson that contains sound bites of music from a certain time period, video clips acting out specific historical events, and animated maps to show how borders have changed. This type of media-rich presentation is highly stimulating and provides a deeper understanding of the material than a traditional textbook or verbal lecture.

One of the most significant benefits of using presentation software is that it allows you to organize information in an attractive, interesting format that can be shared or presented orally to an audience. The visual and textual features of programs like PowerPoint or Prezi can break up a lecture or verbal communication, making it more engaging and less monotonous. Visual examples and an organized, formatted structure can clarify any concept or idea, making it easier to understand, absorb, or remember by an audience.

There are numerous benefits inherent in using presentation software. Indeed, the right tool will assist you to clearly, effectively, and interestingly communicate your message to your audience. This is important in today’s environment, where the ability to communicate information in a clear, persuasive, and interesting manner is a critical skill. Whether you are a student, a professional, or an educator, presentation software can be used to take a complex idea or concept and communicate it in a simplified, summarized manner.

3. Choosing the Right Presentation Tool

Flash is defined as an authoring tool that allows the user to create interactive moving content. It can be effective for a story that is meant to be linear but can also be a more interactive experience because of the ability to design your own user interface. Flash is able to support audio, video, and other media formats. Using a flash projector can enable your flash creation to be a stand-alone application which can be effective for a kiosk. This is how KineSophy chose to deliver the story for achievement at Race Across America. Although flash is a great tool for creative interaction and visual stimulus, creating an effective flash can be very time-consuming, especially if you are unfamiliar with the program. Flash has a very high learning curve and could still require outsourcing to a flash professional for best results.

Current technology offers a variety of presentation tools that cater to the diverse range of user skills and preferences. Ultimately, the most effective tool can vary depending on story type, audience, and venue. All these tools enable the user to incorporate visual and/or audio interest that provides an opportunity to more effectively communicate your story as well as create and deliver a more compelling presentation. Here are the most common and effective presentation tools used today.

4. Tips for Creating Engaging Presentations

Engage your audience with a variety of media; variety is the key to keeping audience attention. Spoken word, even from the most articulate of speakers, isn’t enough to keep the attention of a listener for any longer than a couple of minutes. Slides are, of course, the most common presentation media and are versatile, to say the least. Lists, bullet points, and simple statistics are easily conveyed with slides and play a large role in an audience retaining important data. You can also use slides to pose a question to your audience and then, in the same slide, provide the solution in the form of bullet points. Creating expectation then immediate gratification is always an effective way to keep people engaged. Graphs and charts are good for breaking up the monotony of a presentation and are great tools in engaging your audience in discussions. Just about everyone has had occasion to engage in a heated argument about the interpretation of a graph, so it’s best to do it in your presentation.

Create a real benefit from the start – our brains love to place things into structures, so delivering your presentation structure up front, whether that be verbally or using a slide menu that can keep your audience, is going to get them engaged and eager about what’s to come. Try kicking off your presentation with a controversial statement or one that challenges the accepted views of your audience. Without a clear benefit to the audience, you may bore them or lose their attention. Opening the windows of people’s minds with a bit of fresh air is a great way to keep them on their toes.

5. Conclusion: Enhancing Your Presentations with Tools

With technology advancing at a fast rate, it’s safe to say that we are often spoiled for choice where software applications are concerned, presentation tools being no exception. The range of tools available can be a little overwhelming, but presumably there is only a small intersection between the ‘criteria for good presentation software’ and ‘the capabilities of specific software’, thus there will be few tools that are truly suitable. Following the thought that every tool has been created with an intended purpose, it’s sometimes necessary to think outside the box and experiment with a tool that was not specifically designed for presentations, yet has features that can be utilized to great effect. Step outside Microsoft PowerPoint, and you’ll find there’s a variety of software you can use to enhance the quality of your presentation. Adobe Flash might be a good option if you’re looking to create something a little different, and Flash with its unique animation and interactivity tools can be effective in delivering your message. All that’s required is a bit of research with an open mind, take a walk down the software aisle and see what the market has to offer.

We all have an opportunity to meet the challenges of creating effective presentations by using the many software tools available. With training and practice, we develop the skills that enable us to get started with an outline or templates, add and arrange our content, and finally finish with a presentation that is polished and professional. Awareness of good design and techniques plus an understanding of the medium help guide our decision making so we can choose the best software to match our purpose. As we become proficient with single tools, we do reach a comfortable level, but it’s great to know what other tool options are out there and what they might contribute, if only to reaffirm that what we are doing is the best possible. Finally, living in an age of global communication strategies, we must always keep good resource management in mind and maintain awareness of what collaborates best with colleagues and what can be passed off to those who are recipients only, without loss of message en route. With all these considerations in mind, an informed and selective approach to choosing presentation software is our ticket to both personal and professional success.