Presented to Guiding Ohio Online program participants.

1. The Pedagogy of
PowerPoint
Matthew Dyer
Training Academy Program Director

2. Hi.

3. types of people in the room
3

4. You

5. You
have been

6. You
have been
are

7. You
have been
are
will be

8. You
have been
are
will be
changing the world.

15. you may love it.

16. you may hate it.

17. you may love to hate it.

18. powerpoint
can
be
confusing

19. presentations
can be
boring

21. (it doesn’t have to stink)

22. my name is matthew dyer.
matthew.dyer@obm.ohio.gov

23. i work here.

24. (i used to work here)

25. i work here.

27. intentions.
Adapted from: “You are a Natural Born (Visual) Storyteller” by Nancy Duarte

28. document
creation.
Adapted from: “You are a Natural Born (Visual) Storyteller” by Nancy Duarte

29. document
creation.
Adapted from: “You are a Natural Born (Visual) Storyteller” by Nancy Duarte

30. How many of you have attended presentations
where the leader of the discussion reads, word
for word, exactly what is written on the slide?
How many of you found this to be stimulating?
How many of you found this to stretch your
thinking and hold your attention span? How
many of you would rather eat dry, three-day old
toast?
teleprompting.
Adapted from: “You are a Natural Born (Visual) Storyteller” by Nancy Duarte

31. How many of you have attended presentations
where the leader of the discussion reads, word
for word, exactly what is written on the slide?
How many of you found this to be stimulating?
How many of you found this to stretch your
thinking and hold your attention span? How
many of you would rather eat dry, three-day old
toast?
teleprompting.
Adapted from: “You are a Natural Born (Visual) Storyteller” by Nancy Duarte

32. intentions.
Adapted from: “You are a Natural Born (Visual) Storyteller” by Nancy Duarte

33. intentions.
Adapted from: “You are a Natural Born (Visual) Storyteller” by Nancy Duarte

34. intentions.
Adapted from: “You are a Natural Born (Visual) Storyteller” by Nancy Duarte

35. presentations.
Adapted from: “You are a Natural Born (Visual) Storyteller” by Nancy Duarte

36. put the power back
into powerpoint.

37. how?
it’s easier than you think.

38. matthew’smethods*.
*Rarely, if ever, is a method presented actually Matthew’s,
but he did go through the trouble of compiling them for
you, so please don’t hold that against him. He’s a nice guy.

40. matthew’smethods.
1

41. bullet points kill
presentations.

42. Bullet Points
• This is a Bullet Point
• It’s boring
– And linear and hierarchical which some people might
need (or think they need).
• Very often bullet points are way too long and are
written in passive voice and complete sentences.
• Reading (300 WPM) is usually faster than talking
(120 WPM to 200 WPM)
– That’s why you’re already here
– I’m probably not
From: “PR agencies are obsessed with bullet points” by Tim Dyson

43. Bullet Points
• This is a Bullet Point
• It’s boring
– And linear and hierarchical which some people might
need (or think they need).
• Very often bullet points are way too long and are
written in passive voice and complete sentences.
• Reading (300 WPM) is usually faster than talking
(120 WPM to 200 WPM)
– That’s why you’re already here
– I’m probably not
From: “PR agencies are obsessed with bullet points” by Tim Dyson

44. how effective is this presentation?
Image via Flickr user niallkennedy
Adapted from: “You are a Natural Born (Visual) Storyteller” by Nancy Duarte

45. Image via Flickr user cogdogblog

46. (the takeaway tweet.)
bullet points are
soooo Windows
95

47. matthew’smethods.
2

48. less is more.

50. keep
it
short &
simple.
Image via eNR Services, Inc.

51. Yawning, and smearing my eyes with my fingers, I walked bleary eyed into the
kitchen and grabbed the kettle, unhooking it from the cord. I turned the tap and
drew fresh water, checking with my hands to make sure it was cold enough (the
best tea comes from the coldest water!). I filled the kettle as I glanced outside
for a minute across the city mist. I could almost taste the grey. The kettle was
half full, so I switched the tap off and returned it to its socket. I flicked the power
switch on and sifted through the cupboards, looking for biscuits. Anything above
loose crumbs would do. Thankfully I found some fusty digestives. For some
reason, biscuits are nicer always nicer when they're they've gone a bit dry and
stale. I reached over and opened the fridge, retrieving the milk. I poured a little
into a mug at the same time as grabbing the mug from the cupboard and
placing it on the surface. This is a technique I made that doesn't really save any
time, but makes me feel clever. The kettle began grumbling fiercely so I took it
from the cord, threw a teabag into my cup and poured boiling water onto it. I
watched brown swirls rise up and through the muted white of milky water. A few
minutes passed. I removed and squeezed the teabag, then flicked it into the
bin. I picked up my mug and left the kitchen with a nice, hot cup of strong tea.
Adapted from: “Telescopic Text” by Joe Davis

52. Yawning, and smearing my eyes with my fingers, I walked bleary eyed into the
kitchen and grabbed the kettle, unhooking it from the cord. I turned the tap and
drew fresh water, checking with my hands to make sure it was cold enough (the
best tea comes from the coldest water!). I filled the kettle as I glanced outside
for a minute across the city mist. I could almost taste the grey. The kettle was
half full, so I switched the tap off and returned it to its socket. I flicked the power
switch on and sifted through the cupboards, looking for biscuits. Anything above
loose crumbs would do. Thankfully I found some fusty digestives. For some
reason, biscuits are nicer always nicer when they're they've gone a bit dry and
stale. I reached over and opened the fridge, retrieving the milk. I poured a little
into a mug at the same time as grabbing the mug from the cupboard and
placing it on the surface. This is a technique I made that doesn't really save any
time, but makes me feel clever. The kettle began grumbling fiercely so I took it
from the cord, threw a teabag into my cup and poured boiling water onto it. I
watched brown swirls rise up and through the muted white of milky water. A few
minutes passed. I removed and squeezed the teabag, then flicked it into the
bin. I picked up my mug and left the kitchen with a nice, hot cup of strong tea.
Adapted from: “Telescopic Text” by Joe Davis

53. Adapted from: “Telescopic Text” by Joe Davis

54. i made tea.

55. Reading Comprehension = 300 WPM
Via Kirstin Krumsee

56. Image Comprehension = 13
milliseconds
Via Kirstin Krumsee

57. Less words on
the screen?

58. Matthew, I’m
not convinced.

60. Classified in the division Magnoliophyta, class Magnoliopsida, order
Sapindales, family Rutaceaenative. Native to China and Indochina. Its
physical characteristics (especially the rich citric acid and vitamin
content) and history of cultivation are similar to those of the other types
of citrus fruits. Among the commercially important species are C.
sinensis, which furnishes most of the varieties for commercial growing,
including the Baiá; the C. aurantium, which is grown in the United States
chiefly as understock on which to bud sweet varieties; the C. reticulata or
nobilis, or the "kid glove," group. They hybridize freely. Flowers and fruits
in all stages of development are on the tree throughout the year, although
a large portion of the fruits ripen at one time. It is is attacked by many
insects and fungus diseases and is quite sensitive to frost. If the fruits are
picked when still "green" (though fully mature), they must undergo a
bleaching or degreening process to bring out the color in their rinds.
Some are artificially colored and waxed before marketing. Some varieties
yield essential oils used in perfume. The flower is a favorite for bridal
decoration. The yellow wood, which is hard and close-grained, is
manufactured into small articles.

64. (the takeaway tweet.)
less is more;
shorter is
sweeter

65. matthew’smethods.
3

66. clipart is
cliché .
Adapted from: “You are a Natural Born (Visual) Storyteller” by Nancy Duarte

67. idea
Adapted from: “You are a Natural Born (Visual) Storyteller” by Nancy Duarte

68. idea
Adapted from: “You are a Natural Born (Visual) Storyteller” by Nancy Duarte

69. teamwork
Adapted from: “You are a Natural Born (Visual) Storyteller” by Nancy Duarte

70. teamwork
Adapted from: “You are a Natural Born (Visual) Storyteller” by Nancy Duarte

71. questions
Adapted from: “You are a Natural Born (Visual) Storyteller” by Nancy Duarte

72. questions
Adapted from: “You are a Natural Born (Visual) Storyteller” by Nancy Duarte

73. “If you feel tempted to use a
picture of two hands shaking in
front of a globe, put the pencil
down, step away from the desk,
and think about taking a
vacation or investigating
aromatherapy.”
-Nancy Duarte, in Presentation Zen by Garr Reynolds

76. also cliché

78. still cliché

80. très cliché

84. (the takeaway tweet.)
clipart is caca,
stock photos
can be no-nos

85. matthew’smethods.
4

86. don’t be
afraid of
white space

87. …or blue space.

88. how effective is this presentation?
Image via Flickr user mathoov
Adapted from: “Gates, Jobs & the Zen aesthetic” by Garr Reynolds

89. (the takeaway tweet.)
white space is
a fine frontier

90. matthew’smethods.
5

91. Adapted from: “You are a Natural Born (Visual) Storyteller” by Nancy Duarte

92. Image via Orange Barrel Media

93. Image via Orange Barrel Media

94. Image via Orange Barrel Media

104. Reasons Garfield Hates Mondays
• They start with “M”.
• They aren’t Fridays.
• They sneak up on you.
• They have a bad reputation.
• They crush the human spirit.
• They crush the feline spirit.
• They don’t crush the canines.

105. Reasons Garfield Hates Mondays
• They start with “M”.
• They aren’t Fridays.
• They sneak up on you.
• They have a bad reputation.
• They crush the human spirit.
• They crush the feline spirit.
• They don’t crush the canines.

107. (the takeaway tweet.)
presentation
inspiration ain’t
a source of
perspiration

108. matthew’smethods.
6

109. state the headline
(not the obvious).
Adapted from: “Writing for the Web” by Laura Solomon

110. Good: The library has storytime
Adapted from: “Writing for the Web” by Laura Solomon

111. Good: The library has storytime
Better: Why your child needs
storytime
Adapted from: “Writing for the Web” by Laura Solomon

112. Good: The library has storytime
Better: Why your child needs
storytime
Best: How to increase your child’s
literacy
Adapted from: “Writing for the Web” by Laura Solomon

113. This Slide Is About Our Library
• The library has books
• The library has internet
• The library has classes
• The library has databases
• The library has storytime
• The library serves people
• The library serves a LOT of people
Adapted from: “Writing for the Web” by Laura Solomon

114. This Slide Is About Our Library
• The library has books
• The library has internet
• The library has classes
• The library has databases
• The library has storytime
• The library serves people
• The library serves a LOT of people
Adapted from: “Writing for the Web” by Laura Solomon

115. Our Library Increases Literacy

116. [headline]

117. tea time is me time

118. (the takeaway tweet.)
headlines sell
better than
flatlines

119. matthew’smethods.
7

120. it’s okay to take
shortcuts.

121. your
has some listed.

122. they look like this

123. and save
lots of
this

124. (the takeaway tweet.)
use shortcuts;
every second
counts

125. matthew’smethods.

126. matthew’smethods.

127. matthew’stattoo.

128. http://bit.ly/PSe25O

129. Before

130. Before After

131. You are changing the world.

132. trash the default.

133. start with a blank canvas.

134. read.

136. keep
this

137. from
turning
into this

138. because this

139. deserves all of this