From Idea to Presentation: Fire Up Your Presentations with Google Slides (A FREE Online Software)

From Idea to Presentation: Fire Up Your Presentation with Google Slides (A FREE Online Software) Overview PDF Download

This isn't your fifth-grade history teacher droning on in monotone. We're going to dive in deep to turn your ideas into an effective presentation.

Section One: Defining Your Brand & Your Purpose

• Visualize the purpose of your presentation so that you get excited.
• Questions to ask to determine your purpose:
  • What kind of speech do I want to create?
  • What is it about this topic that excites me?
  • What do I hope to gain from my presentation?
    (Set a specific goal)

Section Two: Defining Your Audience’s Needs

• If you aren’t inherently giving your audience something of value, they aren’t going to be interested.
• Who is your audience? Consider:
  • Gender
  • Age group
  • Income
  • Living situation
  • Problems they struggle with
  • Gaps in resources/knowledge
• Most importantly: How can you help?
• It’s more important to connect than to impress.

Section Three: Selecting Your Template & Themes

• Browse through templates and themes at slides.google.com.
• Find other themes at:
  slidescarnival.com
  slidesgala.com
  elements.envato.com (paid subscription)

Section Four: Writing Content that Connects

• Process:
  • Write ALL ideas down on a bubble map or freewrite.
  • Sections: Categorize your points into 3-5 main focus points.
  • Slides: Select subpoints to turn into individual slides.
  • Bullets: Present clear details to explain your subpoints.
• What tone do you want to set in your speech?
  Consider the preference of your audience, but try to keep your tone natural to maintain authenticity.
• Tools of engagement:
  • Create a character the audience can relate to.
  • Present a multi-dimensional character as concisely as possible.
  • Show a conflict that presents a problem your audience can understand.
  • Ultimately lead to how the character resolves their problem.
  • Keep your tone light
  • Subverting your audience’s expectations with a punchline can be effective if not overused.
  • Assign your audience a mini-task at the beginning of your presentation.
  • Ask questions throughout your presentation.
  • Give a small quiz or assignment check at the end.
  • Story
  • Humor
  • Assignments
• Avoid audience overwhelm:
  • Be concise!
  • Stay relevant to your topic
  • No more than four phrases in a bulleted list
  • If focusing on a quote or entire sentence, have it be the only element on the slide.
• After completing main slides and subpoints with supporting details, create an introduction slide to introduce main points.
  Create a conclusion slide with a summary of main points and a CLEAR call to action.
• Post content writing:
  • Create a works cited slide.
  • Take a break!
  • Edit slides for grammar, relevance, and brevity.
  • Have a friend point out any issues in your slides.

Section Five: Basics of Google Slides

• Functions and Tools:
  • Menu Bar (File and insert)
  • Toolbar (Text and image bars)
  • Slide Presentation Pane (Duplicate, delete, and move slides)
  • Speaker Notes (Type or dictate notes for each slide)
  • Important Buttons (Share, present, and view comments)

Section Six: Present with Confidence and Purpose

• Important steps before presenting:
  • Have multiple copies of your powerpoint and readable notes
  • Voice & tone: practice enunciation, inflection, and speed
  • Engage with smiles and eye contact
  • Posture and stance: relax shoulders and, if you must fidget, move your toes!
  • Allow room for mistakes; forget perfection, focus on purpose.