Doctor's Orders: "Burn Your PowerPoint Presentations"

I recently picked up Brain Rules by John Medina again, and was inspired by one of his chapter-summarizing ideas – to burn your current PowerPoint presentations and start over. I decided to let him help me say more...

Burn Your PowerPoints

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You can also view an animated version here: BrainSlides on Vimeo

Makeover: Steven Baugh, Honored Alumni Lecturer

Every year, each college at BYU selects an Honored Alumni to return and speak to current students and faculty. Last fall I was privileged to work with Dr. Steven Baugh in preparing his presentation as Honored Alumnus of the College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences. Dr. Baugh is director of the CITES department of the McKay School of Education, and has taught math for a number of years. His interest with mathematics began with his father, who was also an accomplished mathematician and high school teacher. Working with Dr. Baugh was easy from the beginning, not only for his humility and willingness to accept suggestions, but also for what he provided me with as an outline. Unlike most presenters, Steven had not not yet created a set of slides. Instead he had simply typed up an outline of the things he wished to discuss. This made it very easy for us brainstorm the most effective presentation and create slides that best illustrated his message.

I have included a selection of slides as well as an animated version for you to view below.

Steven Baugh Honored Alumnus Lecture

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Slides Don't Speak, You Do!

In a recent lecture I attended, I heard the professor say the following as he advanced to the next slide in his PowerPoint, "So what this slide talks about is..."I thought nothing of it for a moment. I've heard people make the same comment many times in lectures, pitches, etc. As I looked at the slide, I thought if this slide could speak it would sound like a lot like a socially-inept scientist with an agile mind and free tongue! In other words: utterly incomprehensible. I sat patiently and hoped that the professor would translate the slide into English. If you have to explain what a slide 'says' then something is wrong with the way it is designed.

Slides do not talk. You do. Slides cannot teach, they can only help you teach.

Design your slides to follow what you would naturally say and to help illustrate complex or abstract ideas. Don't use slides as your lecture notes. Take advantage of (but don't overuse) slide transitions and animations to show the main idea and then progressively reveal the details as you talk about them.

William the [African] Conqueror: Of Windmills and Presenting

After a short TED Talk 'fast', I've started devouring these amazing talks again, and this 5 minute appetizer was sensational.

William Kamkwaba is a young African man who harnessed the power of wind to help feed his family and transform his small village. In this short presentation he shares his inspirational story.

What fascinates me is that William was able to give an engaging and motivational talk without having so much as a high school education. Most people who are inexperienced presenters tend to use the same crutches: default PowerPoint themes, bullet points, notes, few pictures. But not William. Notice the simplicity of his slides. Many of them are full-bleed photographs. He doesn't use bullet points and he speaks in a natural, conversational tone. Most importantly, his message comes from the heart. Building windmills, and engineering in general, is something that he loves.

William shows that you do not need to be a trained and experienced public speaker to present well. If you are a teacher or university professor, there are a few simple things that you can do to improve your presentations or lectures.

Enjoy the talk.

One Slide is Enough

As I've worked with teachers to redesign their lecture slides and presentations, I've come to the realization that, a lot of the time, slides aren't necessary. At least, not for every point that you want to make. This idea was validated when I watched a talk given by Sir Ken Robinson at the Apple Higher Education Leadership Summit.

In his traditional conversational style, he gave an entertaining speech on the role of Information Systems in the university. He discussed the concept of creativity and how many people believe they just aren't creative. Then, he told a story about a rare season of rain in Death Valley and the flowerful spring that followed and referenced the one and only slide from his talk, which contained a photograph of Death Valley covered in wild flowers. He explained that, just as life was dormant in "Death" Valley, everyone is creative whether they have discovered their creative ability or not.

I was floored. What a way to emphasize a point. Moreover, what an incredible talk that utilized only one slide at the opportune moment.

Watch the full talk here.

YouTube - How NOT to use PowerPoint!

YouTube - How NOT to use PowerPoint!

I just came across this video that I watched quite a while ago. It's a humorous take on the very serious problem of PowerPoint misuse. I like it because, personally, I am so passionate about the need to rethink slides that I think others may be taken aback at first.

Humor helps people relax. They become less defensive and allow themselves to be a little more vulnerable. This, in turn, helps them to be more open to change.

Watch the video and see how easy it is to agree with Don.

According to Don McMillan, here is a humorous & yet insightful viewpoint on how people (teachers included) should not be using PowerPoint.