Panel description:
Is there a way out of the oppressive PowerPoint culture that surrounds us? Yes: skip the fonts and graphics talk, and explore how the human mind learns. When you accept what the research says about the brain, you’ll have no choice but to present a clear and compelling multimedia story.
Panelist(s) Jared Goralnick (Productivity Evangelist, AwayFind), Cliff Atkinson (BBP Media), Craig Ball (Pres, Craig D Ball PC), Kathy Sierra (CreatingPassionateUsers)
Read the tweet stream for this presentation at: http://search.twitter.com/search?q=brain
My notes from the presentation:
3 things happen when give presentation: no learning, fragmented learning or meaningful learning
Three types of memory:
Sensory memory
Long term memory
Working memory
We have to respect the limits of the mind to process information.
We can only hold 3 - 4 pieces of information in our mind at any time.
Treat your website as a presentation. Beginning, middle, end.
Your brain is like a spam filter that was written by someone a long, long, time ago.
Legacy brain cares about anything:
+ unusual,
+ novel,
+ weird,
+scary,
+ thrilling/exciting
+ innocent but may need help
+ joy
+ faces
Brains love to resolve things. Mystery…what’s the story, etc.
The brain does not care about:
+ Code
Talk to the brain. Not the mind.
Improve your presentations with the tools you already have. (Lawyer dude showing KICK ASS Powerpoint tricks.)
Other tips discussed:
+ Focus too much on the tool - rather than what the person wants to do with it.
+ Don’t use screen as speaker notes. Use screen as visual cues, better use of powerpoint.
As presenter, ask yourself: Can I help make you a little more entertaining or engaging at your next dinner party?
“Don’t make a better presentation on X, make a better [user of X]”
Questions:
When is it appropriate to use bullet points?
+ They force your brain to make a choice.
+ Would you put a bullet point in a film?
+ Ask: is a bulletpoint the best way to anchor an idea in the brain? if yse, great..if not, do something else
+ If the bullet point wraps to next line, it’s too long. Is the bullet point the best mnemonic you can find to anchor the point?
Do social networking tools add or detract from presentations?
+”I know I’ve failed them when they go into Blackberry prayer mode.”
+ “I trust in the audience. However you have to take notes, tweet, etc. I’m ok with that.”
Final tips to take advantage of:
+ PowerPoint is a lousy word processor.
+ Never, ever, ever use a template or a theme
+ Tap into popular culture. Get into their emotions.
+ Puppies
+ Doese every slide have a pulse?
