Please follow the Capella Guidelines for Effective PowerPoint Presentations [PPTX]. If you need technical information on using PowerPoint, refer to Capella University Library: PowerPoint Presentations.
Be sure that your plan addresses the following, which corresponds to the grading criteria in the scoring guide. Please study the scoring guide carefully so you understand what is needed for a distinguished score.
- Explain an organizational or patient issue for which a collaborative interdisciplinary team approach would help achieve a specific improvement goal.
- Summarize an evidence-based interdisciplinary plan to address an organizational or patient issue.
- Explain how the interdisciplinary plan could be implemented and how the human and financial resources would be managed.
- Propose evidence-based criteria that could be used to evaluate the degree to which the project was successful in achieving the improvement goal.
- Communicate the PowerPoint presentation of the interdisciplinary improvement plan to stakeholders in a professional manner, with writing that is clear, logically organized, and respectful with correct grammar and spelling using current APA style.
There are various ways to structure your presentation; following is one example:
- Part 1: Organizational or Patient Issue.
- What is the issue that you are trying to solve or improve?
- Why should the audience care about solving it?
- Part 2: Relevance of an Interdisciplinary Team Approach.
- Why is using an interdisciplinary team relevant, or the best approach, to addressing the issue?
- How will it help to achieve improved outcomes or reach a goal?
- Part 3: Interdisciplinary Plan Summary.
- What is the objective?
- How likely is it to work?
- What will the interdisciplinary team do?
- Part 4: Implementation and Resource Management.
- How could the plan be implemented to ensure effective use of resources?
- How could the plan be managed to ensure that resources were not wasted?
- How does the plan justify the resource expenditure?
- Part 5: Evaluation.
- What would a successful outcome of the project look like?
- What are the criteria that could be used to measure that success?
- How could this be used to show the degree of success?
Again, keep in mind that your audience for this presentation is a specific group (or groups) at your interviewee's organization and tailor your language and messaging accordingly. Remember, also, that another person will ultimately be giving the presentation. Include thorough speaker’s notes that flesh out the bullet points on each slide.
- Number of slides: Plan on using one or two slides for each part of your presentation as needed, so the content of your presentation will be 8–12 slides in length. Remember that slides should contain concise talking points, and you will use presenter's notes to go into detail. Be sure to include a reference slide as the last slide of your presentation.
- Number of references: Cite a minimum of 3 sources of scholarly or professional evidence that support your central ideas. Resources should be no more than five years old.
- APA formatting: Make sure that in-text citations on your slides and in your notes pages and reference slide reflect current APA Style and Format.
Guidelines for Effective PowerPoint Presentations
Introduction
One concern about visual presentations is that the technology used to create them can be used in such a way that it actually detracts from the message rather than enhances it. To help you consider carefully how your message is presented so that it reflects care, quality, and professionalism, consider the information provided in the remaining slides.
NOTE: This presentation serves as an example in itself, by utilizing all of the guidelines mentioned.
Outline
Writing
Organization
Audience
Design
Images
Bullets
Tables
Font
Speaker Notes
The following topics will be covered:
Writing
Present ideas succinctly with lean prose.
Use short sentences.
Use active, rather than passive voice.
Avoid negative statements, if possible.
Avoid double negative entirely.
Check spelling and grammar.
Use consistent capitalization rules.
Organization
Develop a clear, strategic introduction to provide context for the presentation.
Develop an agenda or outline slide to provide a roadmap for the presentation.
Group relevant pieces of information together.
Integrate legends and keys with charts and tables.
Organize slides in logical order.
Present one concept or idea per slide.
Use only one conclusion slide to recap main ideas.
Audience
Present information at language level of intended audience.
Do not use jargon or field-specific language.
Follow the 70% rule—If it does not apply to 70% of your audience, present it to individuals at a different time.
Design
Use a consistent design throughout the presentation.
Keep layout and other features consistent.
Use the master slide design feature to ensure consistency.
Use consistent horizontal and vertical alignment of slide elements throughout the presentation.
Leave ample space around images and text.
Images
When applicable, enhance text-only slide content by developing relevant images for your presentation.
Do not use gratuitous graphics on each slide.
Use animations only when needed to enhance meaning. If selected, use them sparingly and consistently.
Bullets
Use bullets unless showing rank or sequence of items.
If possible, use no more than five bullet points and eight lines of text total per slide.
Tables
Use simple tables to show numbers, with no more than 4 rows x 4 columns.
Reserve more detailed tables for a written summary.
Font
Keep font size at 24 point or above for slide titles.
Keep font size at 18 or above for headings and explanatory text.
Use sans serif fonts such as Arial or Verdana.
Use ample contrast between backgrounds and text.
Speaker Notes
Summarize key information.
Provide explanation.
Discuss application and implication to the field, discipline or work setting.
Document the narration you would use with each slide.