Think back to the last presentation that you had to give in front of a group. Maybe it was the last time you did a talk or demonstration for your 4-H club, or maybe it was a class presentation. Did you feel as though your presentation was as interesting and well presented as it could have been? Now picture the same presentation with music, video clips, color, graphics, and charts! Would the presentation have been better and more interesting for your audience? Probably so. This section should help you give your next presentation some real pizzazz.

     For this activity you will need a computer that has a presentation program (such as Lotus Freelance Graphics, or Power Point) installed on it. Additionally, you will need whatever information you will want to include in your presentation.

     "Multi-media" has become a frequently heard buzzword around computers these days. Basically, what this term means is simply using more than one kind of media or technique to get your message across. This could include using video or audio in addition to the usual computer screens. For the purposes of this activity, we will be relying on a presentation program to create a multi-media presentation.

     Create a presentation using a computer presentation program. This presentation could be about your 4-H computer project, or it could be for a class at school. Include a title screen introducing your talk, as well as at least five other screens. Be sure to make use of as many of the features on your presentation program as possible. Consider including graphics that you have scanned-in from other sources, or include a graph or chart that helps illustrate the point you are trying to make. Additionally, some presentation software will allow you to use video files (such as AVI or MPEG) or audio files (WAV).

     When creating your presentation, be sure to consider the needs and interests of your audience. Make sure that the presentation is both informative and interesting for those participating.

     Write down a short description of how you decided on the presentation that you created. Consider each of the decisions you made. Are there any decisions you would have made differently if you were to do this presentation again? What if you were going to give this presentation to a different group?

     After you have given your presentation, consider the reaction of your audience. Did the audience seem to enjoy the presentation? What types of comments did you receive?

     Did you enjoy planning and executing this presentation? Why? What was your favorite feature of the presentation program you used? Have you had experience with other types of presentation programs? Which ones? Which program did you like best? Why?

     Plan another presentation. Try to include elements in this presentation that you did not include in your first presentation. If you haven't tried it yet, use a video or audio file as part of your presentation.

     Investigate using HTML to create Web-based presentations. Visit with someone who creates Web pages as a part of their job. Find out what types of multi-media elements they use. (Video, animation, hypertext, audio files, etc.) For some help, refer to the activity, "Webmaster" on page 90.

     Not all topics work well for multi-media presentations. Because of that, the first step you will need to take will be to consider what topic you would like to present. For your first presentation, select a topic that you already know a great deal about, and one that has a pretty narrow focus. For instance, instead of selecting a topic like "How to Garden", consider a topic like, "Starting Seeds in a Garden." This way your presentation will be more to the point.

     Before you begin, you may want to "story board" your presentation. That means that you would sketch out what each screen should look like when you are done. This will give you an idea of the direction that you need to go, and what information and files that you will need to find.

     Remember that even though you have many tools available to you when you use a multi- media presentation program, you may not want to use all of the options available to you with every screen. Too much of a good thing can be just too much! Use special effects such as audio and video files sparingly for a bigger impact.

     Before unveiling your presentation to your club or class, consider sharing it with one or two individuals to get their response to it. Ask for their honest feedback on what you have done. This will give you an Idea if you are on the right track or not.

     Good sources of information include the documentation that came with the program you are using. Additionally, information can often be found in the computer section of your local bookstore. If the presentation program you are using is Microsoft's Power Point, the Web site may be helpful to you: http://www.microsoft.com/office/powerpoint/default.htm . If you are using a different program, check the Web to see if there is information for your program.

Hints for Effective Computer Presentations:

1. Practice any presentation to stay within reasonable time limits.
2. Keep slides readable by making text at least 36 points in size.
3. Make sure the text and background have sharply contrasting colors.
4. Slides play only a supporting role, so do not put your whole text on slides.
5. Use your slides to remind you of what to say; don't overload them.
6. Build a series of points in sequence; reveal them one-at-a-time.
7. Speak slowly.

Adapted from material developed by Illinois 4-H. Used by permission.

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