The main point of a PowerPoint presentation is to verbally share your work with others.  In order to take full advantage of its benefits, there are several things to keep in mind.

 

Tips on Presenting

 

Presenting Information

 

When teaching your students to use PowerPoint, it is important to stress that the students should not be reading the slides to their audience.  They should be very familiar with the information, so that they can maintain eye contact during the presentation and elaborate on their main ideas.  The best way to learn the information is frequent practice.  Students can practice independently or with a peer. 

In addition, the slides should reflect only the main ideas of the presentation.  As each main idea is displayed, the students should expand on the details.  For example, a slide might say:

 

Nucleus
Mitochondria
Cell Membrane
Cell Wall

As each bullet appears, the student should give the appropriate information.  For example,

"The nucleus is the control center of the cell.  It is located in the center and is shaped like a sphere.  Both animal and plant cells contain a nucleus.  Mitochondria provide energy for the cell.  They are rod-shaped organelles that move freely around the cytoplasm.  Both animal and plant cells have a nucleus.  The cell membrane surrounds the cell.  It controls movement in and out of a cell, and is found in both animal and plant cells.  The cell wall is only found in plant cells.  It is a rigid organelle that surrounds the cell, providing shape and support."
 

Special Equipment

 

Using a data projector, Smartboard, and external speakers can all improve your PowerPoint presentation. Click on "Useful Links" for more information on using this equipment. 

 

Color

 

Using different colors can also improve a PowerPoint presentation.  Colors can create contrast, show importance, and spark the audience's interest.