Best practices to make your presentations engaging and effective:
- Maximize use of images, diagrams and animations, while minimizing unnecessary text. You want students to process the visuals while listening to your narrative instead of simply reading the slide text.
- Think about how the presentation will be used. Is this for an in-class presentation, or will this be viewed by students online?
- If it is helpful, create an outline document that details your presentation topics before you start creating the presentation. This will help keep you organized and save time.
Popular presentation tools:
Keynote – MAC and iOS based software that makes it simple to create and deliver beautiful presentations. Key strengths include intuitive interface, easy to use visual tools, and built-in high quality transitions.
Display method in Blackboard: Keynote files can be converted to PowerPoint or PDF and then uploaded to Blackboard.
Prezi – Web-based tool for creating and managing rich, dynamic web-based presentations. Key strengths include intuitive interface, easy to use visual tools, built-in dynamic animated transitions, and the ability to add videos and sound.
Display method in Blackboard: In your Prezi account, you can copy a URL link that can be pasted in the Blackboard course to provide access.
Microsoft PowerPoint – Industry standard presentation software with built-in tools for graphics, animations and an array of polished design themes to choose from. Key strengths include include intuitive interface, extensive visual tools, and the ability to add animations, transitions, video and sound.
Display method in Blackboard: Upload the PowerPoint file to your Blackboard course.
Google Slides – Web-based presentation and collaboration tool that allows you to present anywhere, from any device. Key strengths include the ability to collaborate and share presentations with colleagues and students, as well as export the presentation in multiple file types.
Display method in Blackboard: From your Google Slides account, you can copy a URL link that can be pasted in the Blackboard course.
Haiku Deck – Unique web-based tool that provides a library of images and backgrounds based on the text of your presentations. Key strengths include the ability to use a built-in library of images that are automatically generated for you to choose based on the text in your presentation.
Display method in Blackboard: From your Haiku Deck account, you can convert to a PowerPoint file and upload to your Blackboard course.
PowToon – Create your own professional-looking animated explainer videos and animated presentations. Key strengths include an intuitive interface and the ability to use a wide variety of built-in templates, animations, characters, text and graphics on a simple timeline based editor.
Display method in Blackboard: From your PowToon account you can download videos to your computer and then upload them to your Blackboard course.
Zaption – Add images, text, and questions to any online video, creating interactive lessons that meet your learners’ needs. Key strengths include the ability to find videos online and then add interactive features that enhance the student’s learning experience, as well as a built-in analytics that show you how your students view and interact with the presentation.
Display method in Blackboard: From your Zaption account, you can copy a URL link that can be pasted in the Blackboard course.