The use of presentational media is very common in public speaking and I
have seen it being used on a variety of occasions. Frequently used media usually
comes in many forms through photographs, audio and video. There are many things
that I have seen that a speaker does to make their presentational media more
effective. I have seen that speakers incorporate the media into their speech,
meaning that they have allotted enough time to not only display the media but
recognize the time it takes to set something up or introduce the media as well.
The presentation media helped with the speech because it gave us the audience
some visual aid along with the speaker’s speech. The media brought the content
to life, which sounds exaggerated but it can make a huge difference. Having
visual aid attached to the message the speaker was trying to convey helped the
audience grasp the concept better. I think the only thing that could have
happened that would have let the media detract from the speech would have been
if the speaker had not included all the time he would’ve needed to present the
media, which he did a great job at.
Is a PowerPoint presentation the best way to work visual aids into your speech? Maybe but we need to use it correctly.
ReplyDeleteSince PowerPoint presentations came on the scene, public speaking classes have changed quite a bit. PowerPoint is a wonderful piece of technology that can help you deliver an effective speech, and college students just love it. Unfortunately, if it's used badly, it can make a speech very difficult to follow. When you use PowerPoint, don't forget the basic points you need to know about how to use a visual aid effectively. And be sure to follow these basic tips about using PowerPoint in a presentation.
Make sure the audience can read each slide easily. This may sound obvious, but it's a common mistake during presentations. Use large fonts with black letters that are easy to read, and avoid using colored backgrounds that are too dark. Keep the background simple.
Make sure each slide looks professional. Remember, when it comes to visual aids, professional does not necessarily mean fancy. What it does mean is neat and organized. Make sure the contents of each slide are neatly organized on each page.
Make sure the information on each slide is spelled correctly and is accurate. Failure to do so can ruin your credibility and embarrass you painfully.
Limit the amount of text on each slide. When it comes to a presentation, written words are a distraction. Your audience will start reading the slide and will stop listening to you. Never include information on a slide that isn't covered in your speech.
Limit the amount of information on each side. Keep it simple. A visual aid should make one point, and that's it.
Use graphics only if they help you emphasize a point in your presentation.
Don't hide behind your PowerPoint slides. PowerPoint slides can create a psychological barrier between the speaker and the audience, which can be great if you have a fear of public speaking. Unfortunately, an effective speaker needs to create a sense of dialog with the audience, and you can't do that if you hide in a corner and let your slides speak for you. Stand in full view of your audience and make eye contact with them throughout the presentation.
Don't read the slides word for word. This is very unprofessional and awkward, and may be confusing to the audience.
Make sure the technology is working.