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Date of Report: 08/2003
Author: Lucy Bradley-Springer, PhD, RN, ACRN, Director, Mountain Plains AETC
Source: Mountain Plains AETC
Description: The following outline was taken from a PowerPoint presentation.
Effective Visual Aids
 | 35 words or less |
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| Shortcuts:
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 | lean phrases |
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| delete words |
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| abbreviations |
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| Use titles |
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Decreasing Words
| Use symbols: , &, >, <, etc. |
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| Abbreviate: HCV, OB, ART, VL, etc. |
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| Leave out words:
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| "There are several indications for the use of ART in pregnancy" |
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| Alternate: "Indications for ART in pregnancy" |
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Titles
| Give learner focus |
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| Can title take place of some of your content? |
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| Ex: ART in Pregnancy |
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| Divide & conquer -- make multiple slides out of one with a lot of content (repeat title as needed) |
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Effective Visual Aids
| Readable: big font, bold, use whole screen |
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| General rules for font size: 48-54 points for titles, 36-40 points for main points, no smaller than 28 points |
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| Strong color contrast |
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| Minimize details on tables, charts, graphs |
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Effective Visual Aids
| Make it simple: use as outline/organizer |
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| Add interest: pertinent pictures/graphics |
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| Don't believe what you see on the computer screen: project on wall to know for sure |
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How to know . . .
| Print a handout with 6 slides to a page: if you can't read it on printout, they can't read it on the screen |
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| If you have to say, "I know you can't read this, but . . .", don't use it! |
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What if they NEED all that information?
| Give a handout |
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| Give a reference |
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| Refer to information in a slide that follows the rules & ask the audience to follow on the handout |
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Bottom Line(s) . . .
| Don't waste your time/effort |
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| If they can't see it, they won't read it |
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Handout Tips
| Don't print picture slides |
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| Don't print cartoons or slides meant to be surprises -- it decreases the ability of these slides to keep people alert & interested |
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