Presentations for Librarians - Coming Soon!

After months of writing and more months of editing, adjusting images, and working hard to make everything as best it can be, my book, Presentations for Librarians, is soon on its way to the printers and then to a store/website/library near you!

Unlike the usual how-to-do-a-presentation book, I have attempted to give you some background into how people learn, and how to use that information to craft more effective, learner-centered presentations. The book brings together aspects of cognitive information processing (CIP) theory, cognitive load theory, Mayer's theory of multimedia learning, and instructional design theory into a theory-based approach to creating and delivering presentations. View the table of contents or visit my website for more presentation ideas.

Lee

Are your presentations "sticky?"

Readers of the new book by the Heath brothers, Made to Stick, will know what I mean by a "sticky" idea: one that people remember. Think of all the advertising slogans and urban legends you hear/see once and never forget.

Ask yourself the same question:
Was my presentation "sticky?" Will people who attended my presentation remember what I told/showed them?

Are you sure about that?

Food for thought on a Friday afternoon...

Peace out,

Lee

Visual Selling, by LeRoux and Corwin

Scanned an interesting book this past week: Visual Selling: Capture the Eye and the Customer Will Follow by Paul LeRoux and Peg Corwin.

I especially enjoyed reading Chapter 3, "Q&A: Thinking Visually and Verbally in Non-Pitch Situations" as it deals with a difficult topic for presenters: how to elegantly handle the Q&A portion of the presentation. It provides a wealth of details and strategies for a successful conversation with the audience post-presentation.

The recommendations found in Chapter 5, "Eliminating Decks and Delaying Handouts," echo the multimedia principles developed by Dr. Richard Mayer on multimedia learning, and the research on cognitive load conducted by Dr. John Sweller.* While the focus is on business situations, the principles easily fit many common instructional presentation situations.

The book provides ample images demonstrating effective use of visuals and includes some sample presentation scenarios to help you more readily see how their recommendations can be incorporated into your own presentations.

Visual Selling, LeRoux and Corwin
ISBN-10: 0471793612
ISBN-13: 978-0471793618

Best,

Lee

I Love My Presentation Remote

If you are in the market for a presentation remote, I suggest Logitech's Presenter model. It has a built-in LCD screen and timer functions to keep you on track (set a reminder for yourself at 10 minutes before your time is up), a laser pointer (sigh - don't use it - they're annoying), and a button that does the equivalent of the B key function when running a slide show (i.e., darkening the screen).

Its USB receiver fits neatly into a slot on the back of the remote itself, and it all fits into a nice carrying case. In informal tests in the classroom where I teach most, the range was about 30-40 feet, good enough for most small- to mid-sized presentation venues. No software installation is required, and it worked without intervention from our IT staff - a bonus.

It only works with Windows, but Mac users needn't be jealous - they can use their Apple Remotes to control Keynote presentations.

In today's earlier post, I raved about a presentation I attended. The only minor drawback (not their fault at all) was that the presenter needed to stay close to the podium to advance their slides - with a remote, they would have been completely untethered and free to roam about the room during the presentation.

If you're going on multiple job interviews where you will have to present, why not invest in a presentation remote? If spending a few bucks on a remote helps you make a better impression and land the job, isn't it worth it? Plus you can use it when you deliver presentations at conferences, workshops and in training sessions.

And if you must point at the screen, consider a telescoping pointer. They're cheap, effective, and don't usually annoy your audience.

Now go practice your presentation.

~Lee

Color, Color, Everywhere!

Today's post is all about color.

Color Symbolism

One way that you can subtly enhance the message of your presentation is through the judicious and intentional use of color. To promote the "feeling" of growth, for example, you might use a green color scheme, since it is representative of nature. For a more serious presentation, you might use grey or navy blue, since they are often found in offices everywhere (look around at the colors of the suits of the men working near you) and it evokes a feeling of seriousness and business confidence.

Every color carries a message; be sure the colors you use in your presentation are reinforcing the message you want to convey and not distracting from it. On my website, you will find a PDF listing some of the most common Western cultural connotations of different colors.

Selecting Harmonious Color Schemes

Do you have trouble creating color schemes? PowerPoint 2007 has many new options for selecting foolproof color schemes, and Adobe has created kuler, which is a nifty, Javascript- and Flash-based application for creating color schemes. Kuler members can download posted color schemes and upload their own for others to use. Schemes can be saved and used in the new CS3 versions of Photoshop, InDesign and the other Creative Suite products. Best of all, it's totally free!

Good Sources of Information

For more information and resources on color, visit the following sites:

http://www.colourlovers.com/ (Learn more about colors and swap and share color palettes)

http://www.mariaclaudiacortes.com/ (Awesome, Flash-based presentation on color symbolism)

http://www.colormatters.com/ (Another excellent resource for color selection)

Have a great day!

Design Inspiration for Your Slides

I am no artist; that's for sure. I can draw stick figures pretty well, and have managed to draw the same doodle (a vase with some flowers) for about 20 years now, but that's about it as far as my natural drawing talent.

But over the years, looking at design magazines has helped me hone my "design vision," and as I look at billboards and advertisements and other magazines, I get ideas that I can then go and use in my own presentation slides.

The title cards from the trailer for the movie Inside Man, for example, use a black and blue color combination that I really liked and which could be used as a good color combination for slides. Company annual reports are also good sources for slide layout inspiration. Looking at magazines you wouldn't normally pick up, especially ones your audience might be reading, can give you some ideas on how to lay out information on your slides.

My point is that inspiration for spectacular slides is all around you. Don't be afraid to "open" your eyes and see what inspires you and what techniques you can adapt for your own presentations.

A new blog I stumbled upon might also provide you with some graphic inspiration: http://www.beadesigngroup.com/.

Have a great day!

Lee

Can't Wait to Get My Hands On...

Electric Rain's StandOut presentation software (http://www.erain.com/products/standout/).

This new software, available soon (I hope) for Windows Vista, makes my inner geek shine. From what I've read and the videos I've seen on their website, it will blow regular PowerPoint presentations away.

Waiting with anticipation...

Lee