Improving Existing Overheads
What makes an overhead effective?
Obviously, students first must be able to clearly see the words or images upon it. To insure this, it is a good idea to follow the these guidelines, no matter how you produce your overheads:
- Use large, bold text for headings: 36pt for titles, 32-34 pt for major bullets and 30pt basic text.
- Test your materials in the room in which you will be teaching. Sit at the back of the room. Can you read everything clearly? If not, enlarge.
- Limit the amount of information on each overhead. Create a slide/overhead that can be read quickly, by following the "Rule of Six"--no more than six lines per slide, no more than 6 words per line.
- Keep visuals simple, clean (lots of empty space), organized and conveying only the absolute essence of your message.
- Convey only one idea per visual.
- Use a simple, easy-to-read serif font (Times) for text and a straightforward sans serif font for headings and subheads (Geneva). Do not use more than two different fonts.
Use of Graphics (Photos, Slides, Cartoons, Clip Art)
Images are useful when they help to reinforce the material you are trying to convey. Do not simply use them as window dressing. This can be distracting. Visual metaphors can be very helpful in anchoring difficult concepts and aiding retention of content. Many presenters have found that cartoons often capture the essence of a point and add humor. � |
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So How Can Technology Help?
Currently, many teachers use word processors to compose and format their transparencies. But there is an easier, more powerful, more efficient kind of software for this purpose. Presentation software packages like Microsoft Powerpoint or Apple Keynote have libraries of format templates, images and background patterns to solidify your overhead into a powerful piece of visual communication. Compared to other kinds of software, presentation packages are usually quite easy to learn and can shorten your prep time considerably.
Many teachers use these software packages to put together a set of lecture slides, then print those slides onto paper and copy them onto transparency film for use on standard overhead projectors. In this case, the benefits to using presentation software are to be found mostly in the ease and speed with which high-quality presentations can be assembled, while the final presentation experience for the teacher does not differ that much from previous methods.
Two Additional Advantages of Using Presentation Software
Once you use presentation software to create your overheads, you then have the ability to archive all your overheads on your course website. This way, students can review and check their own notes against the exact overheads you used in class. Students often comment upon how useful it is to have this resource.
Furthermore, with presentation software you can present directly from a computer, allowing you to exploit the visual channels of color and animation, as well as sound. This has already become the preferred lecturing format for many teachers, although it does require that you have access to a laptop and a computer projector--both of which are available on campus for you to reserve.
Address questions or comments about
TEP or this site to:
Georgeanne Cooper, Program Director,
64 PLC
Phone: 541-346-2177 Fax: 541-346-2184
© Copyright 2000-2006 Teaching Effectiveness Program, University of Oregon.
Last Modified:
10/26/07
