Do multimedia presentations help you improve your speaking skills explain?

More and more professors are using presentation technologies to bring visual aids into their classroom. More and more students expect a professor to distribute lecture slides to the class, either in hard copy or via the World Wide Web.

Professors deciding to use such slides in their teaching face many questions. What sorts of material should go on the slides? Are there limits to the amount of text one should put on a slide? How does one arrange the material for optimum viewing? Should the slides be distributed before class, after class, or not at all? If one decides to distribute them, should one do that in hard copy or via a course web site?

An instructor’s use of visual aids in teaching, like other elements of the teaching practice, should be congruent with the instructor’s general approach to teaching. However, there are general rules and guidelines that the instructor can follow; we attempt to develop some of these below. On this page we present briefly stated rules and guidelines and also provide some links to other resources for those who would like more information.

  • General guidelines for slide design
  • Suggestions for uses of slides
  • Links to other web-based resources

General Guidelines for Slide Design

Font selection

  • Sans serif fonts are better than serif fonts.
    Serif fonts have small embellishments or lines at the base of each letter. These embellishments make it easier to follow a line of text on the printed page, but they are a distraction on a screen. So select a sans serif font (like Helvetica or Arial) instead of a serif font (like Times New Roman) for your PowerPoint slides.
  • Font size is crucial.
    You can find many rules for determining the proper font size for a particular presentation setting. A good general rule is to use at least 28 point for body text and 38 point for heading text.

Working with colors.

  • Remember that some (perhaps 5 – 10%?) of people are colorblind, so avoid using such color combinations as red text on a green background.
  • Standard advice is to use light text on a dark background in projected presentations, but pay attention to the strength of the image projected by the projector. One graphics person suggested yellow text on an indigo background. (There are some who recommend dark text on a light background if the room is large.) (Note: if you’re using transparencies and an overhead projector, don’t use dark backgrounds.)
  • Pay attention to how different colors go together, and remember that the shades you see on your monitor are not necessarily the ones you’ll see when projecting your presentation.

Text and white space.

  • Blank space on a slide is important – as a general rule, if you find yourself wanting to reduce the font size so that you can get more text on the screen, it’s probably a good idea to consider redesigning the slide so that you have less text on it.
  • The standard limit is either 7 x 7 (seven lines, no more than seven words each) or 5 x 5 (five lines, no more than five words each) on each slide.

Suggestions for Uses of Slides

If you’re using slides to illustrate and/or support a lecture …..

  • Remember that lecture notes on a slide play a different role in a lecture than do lecture notes that only the lecturer can see. If you try to make them play the same role, you’re likely to find students reading your slides instead of listening to you.
  • You can use slides in lecture to
    • List major points of your lecture. Several of the major points might stay on the screen as you develop each of them in turn, providing a way for those listening to the lecture to place each point in the larger context.
    • List important terms. Again, one slide with several terms might remain on the screen for some time, allowing you to refer to each of them as you introduce them in your lecture.
    • Illustrate with images. Sometimes a picture can make words worth much more than they are without the picture.

While instructors tend to think of lectures when they think of using visual aids in teaching, images can also be used to support classroom discussions .

A multimedia presentation is a powerful way to communicate ideas and messages to the audience. This type of presentation uses a variety of different media, such as text, audio, video, and images, to convey information.

Multimedia presentations can be used for various purposes, such as marketing, training, or teaching.

Interested to know more about multimedia presentations? Keep reading! Below, we will take a closer look at the multimedia presentation, its components, uses, and a variety of other things.

An Introduction to Multimedia Presentation

A multimedia presentation is a collection of different types of media that are used to convey information. It can include text, audio, video, and images, as well as animation or other interactive elements.

The term “multimedia” refers to the use of multiple forms in one piece of work. This type of presentation may be created using Microsoft PowerPoint, Google Slides, Keynote, or Prezi. However, it can also be made using various tools, including video editing software and audio recording programs.

Multimedia presentations are often used in corporate settings to communicate ideas to employees or customers. They can also be used for training purposes or to teach new concepts.

Components of Multimedia Presentation

Multimedia presentations can be divided into four main categories: text, audio, video, and images.

Text

Text is one of the essential components of a multimedia presentation. This could include headlines, body text, or captions. It is crucial to use concise and easy-to-read text when creating a multimedia presentation.

Audio

Audio can be used to add depth and dimension to a presentation. It can be used to provide background information or to narrate the slides. Good audio can help keep the audience engaged and make your presentation more memorable.

Video

Video is an increasingly popular component of multimedia presentations. It can be used to show demonstrations, explain concepts, or tell a story. Video can be a very effective way to engage the audience and make your presentation memorable.

Images

Images are another essential component of multimedia presentations. They can be used to add visual interest, illustrate points, or create charts and graphs. Images should be high-quality and relevant to the topic of the presentation.

Others

Note that there are a lot of other elements that can be included in your multimedia presentation. These include animations, music, charts, infographics, and sound effects. You can even consider incorporating interactive features such as buttons or links to make the experience more engaging for viewers.

Where are Multimedia Presentations Used?

Multimedia presentations can be used for diverse purposes as they can effectively share a message or idea.

In corporate settings, multimedia presentations are often used to communicate ideas to employees or consumers. You can also use multimedia presentations in board meetings, investor pitches, and other business-related contexts.

In academic settings, multimedia presentations are used to explain complex topics and concepts. They can be shown in classrooms or during lectures to help students learn more effectively.

Multimedia presentations can be adapted to meet the needs of any audience, which makes them suitable for both formal and informal occasions. Depending on your needs, you can choose to include more or less information. You can also choose to use different media to convey your message.

How to Prepare a Multimedia Presentation?

Now that you know a little more about multimedia presentations let’s look at how to prepare one.

Step 1

The first step is to develop a topic or idea for your presentation. Once you have this, you can begin to gather supporting materials. This could include text, images, audio clips, and videos.

You should also think about how you want to structure your presentation. You might want to use a standard outline or create something more complex, such as an interactive timeline.

Step 2

The next step is choosing the software you will be using to create your multimedia presentation. As we said above, there are many options available, including Microsoft PowerPoint, Google Slides, etc. Some software is more suitable for beginners, while others are better for experienced users.

Step 3

Once you have chosen your software, it’s time to start designing your presentation! You can begin by selecting a template to save time or create something from scratch using your own design skills. Next, add your text, images, audio clips, and videos to the slides following your outline.

You should also add any other elements such as animations or sound effects that you want to include in your presentation.

Step 4

Finally, it’s time for the finishing touches! Check your spelling and grammar, making sure that everything is correct. You can also add a title slide at this point if you haven’t already done so. Once your presentation looks good, make sure to save it. That’s it; your multimedia presentation is ready now.

Tips for Creating Effective Multimedia Presentations

Now that you know what multimedia presentations are and some of the best tips for creating them, it’s time to start putting your ideas into action! With these tools and suggestions, we hope you can create outstanding presentations that will impress your viewers.

How is multimedia presentation helpful?

A multimedia presentation is effective because it uses different types of media to engage an audience and ultimately communicates. Whether it's a lesson, a pitch, a complex idea, or even a data set, multimedia presentations are an effective way to capture and maintain the attention of your target audience.

How can I improve my speaking and presentation skills?

10 Tips to Improve Public Speaking Skills.
Know your audience before preparing your speech. ... .
Practice, practice, practice. ... .
Use constructive criticism to your advantage. ... .
Make it your own. ... .
Connect with your audience with a personal story. ... .
Make eye contact and avoid reading from a script. ... .
Use the stage to your advantage..

How does multimedia presentation help students?

Not only can educators use multimedia to engage students visually, but they can also stimulate active learning by embedding interactive content in the presentations (videos, images, polls, scenarios, etc.).

Why presentation techniques are important to improve communication skills?

Presentation skills help create innovative ideas when students come up with creative and interesting slides to illustrate their talk. The use of presentation aids makes for a much more interesting talk, and the creation of such aids can help develop students' confidence.