1. Teacher’s Guide to Creating
a Powerful Presentation
by: Naomi Jacobs

2. Before You Create
• Research your topic
• The more you know, the more comfortable you
will feel.
• Expect questions to be asked. You have to
know the answers.
• Trust in yourself and your presentation, and
your students will trust in you.
• Mistakes are easily recognizable by
students, and they know when teachers are
not prepared.

3. Before You Create
• Imagine, Plan, Create, Practice
• Start with an end in mind
• Outline your presentation
• Use narrative: beginning, middle, and end
• Create a captivating introduction and a
conclusion that leaves a lasting impression
• Practice your presentation to ensure nothing is
left behind
• Plan to incorporate audiovisuals to enhance
your presentation (what is available)

4. Choices, Choices, Choices
What will grab your students’ attention?
Non-projected Visuals Projected Visuals
• These are not high-tech • Advances in technology
options, but they are still allow a visual to be
widely used. enlarged for all students
• Posters to view.
• Charts and graphs • Over-head projectors
• Maps • Document Cameras
• Models and exhibits • Digital Projectors
• Photos
• Texts and handouts
• Flipcharts and feltboards

5. And More Choices
• You can involve your learners by adding interactive
activities related to the topic on chalk boards, traditional
white boards, and interactive white boards.
• You can incorporate video into your presentation through
the internet and broadcast or recorded television
(VHS, DVD).
• This can break-up the oral presentation, which will help
create an attentive learning atmosphere.
• This can also help stress the main ideas of the
presentation through example and repetition.

6. Visual Aid Guidelines
• Use minimal text
• Use 18 point font or larger
• Restrict your font choices to three or less
• Only use graphics that are relevant and enhance
message
• Complex or irrelevant images can create confusion
and hinder retention
• Create slides with dark colored backgrounds and light
contrasting text
• Makes for reader-friendly presentation
• Helps keep students’ interest

7. During Your Presentation
• Be conscious of your body language
• Maintain eye contact with your students
• Speak loudly and clearly; do not mumble or shout
• Try not to twidle your thumbs, tap your feet, etc.
• Engage your students as much as possible through
visuals, audio, questions, etc.

8. Helpful Websites
• Guide to font selection and size
http://www.communicateusingtechnology.com/articles/sel
ect_and_use_fonts.htm
• Photo options
www.http://images.google.com
• Color selection
http://www.colormatters.com/color-and-design/basic-
color-theory

9. References
• Lever-Duffy, Judy and Jean B. McDonald. Teaching and
Learning with Technology. Boston: Pearson, 2011. Print.
• Jukes, Ian. Bringing Down the House: Creating
Sensational Knock-Your-Socks-Off Presentations: How to
Deliver Your Message with Power and Pizzazz., The
InfoSavvy Group, 2005. Web. 10 February 2012.