Comments on: My Powerpoint Advice http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/29/my-powerpoint-advice/ Sat, 20 Mar 2010 17:43:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: Alejandro Rivero http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/29/my-powerpoint-advice/comment-page-1/#comment-10382 Alejandro Rivero Mon, 11 Dec 2006 18:10:10 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/29/my-powerpoint-advice/#comment-10382 Another advice: save your presentation as jpg and then into YOUR DIGITAL CAMERA as a backup. If the computer fails, you can still attach the camera to the projector using its video output, and you have saved the day. Another advice: save your presentation as jpg and then into YOUR DIGITAL CAMERA as a backup. If the computer fails, you can still attach the camera to the projector using its video output, and you have saved the day.

]]> By: Moshe http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/29/my-powerpoint-advice/comment-page-1/#comment-6617 Moshe Thu, 30 Nov 2006 17:28:16 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/29/my-powerpoint-advice/#comment-6617 There are many problems with chalkboard talk beyong what Chad points out, the first of which is the chalk itself (chalk dust everywhere, including one's lungs I suspect). I do agree with the basic point that learning basic things like pacing is done best that way, and then one can move on to more efficient media (like ugly scribbling on tablet PC). There are many problems with chalkboard talk beyong what Chad points out, the first of which is the chalk itself (chalk dust everywhere, including one’s lungs I suspect). I do agree with the basic point that learning basic things like pacing is done best that way, and then one can move on to more efficient media (like ugly scribbling on tablet PC).

]]> By: Chad Orzel http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/29/my-powerpoint-advice/comment-page-1/#comment-6595 Chad Orzel Thu, 30 Nov 2006 12:40:28 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/29/my-powerpoint-advice/#comment-6595 <i>Learn to give a good 55 minute chalkboard (or whiteboard) talk first. Only then learn about how to give a talk with a computer.</i> I hear this a lot, and it's interesting to note that it's nearly always from theorists. I fact, the "nearly" is a hedge-- I don't recall ever having an experimentalist tell me that chalk talks are the way to go, though I'm sure three or four will pop up now. Chalk is just not an adequate medium for presenting graphs of quantitative data. If you're talking about experimental results, there's no substitute for being able to project actual data graphs for the audience. Learn to give a good 55 minute chalkboard (or whiteboard) talk first. Only then learn about how to give a talk with a computer.

I hear this a lot, and it’s interesting to note that it’s nearly always from theorists. I fact, the “nearly” is a hedge– I don’t recall ever having an experimentalist tell me that chalk talks are the way to go, though I’m sure three or four will pop up now.

Chalk is just not an adequate medium for presenting graphs of quantitative data. If you’re talking about experimental results, there’s no substitute for being able to project actual data graphs for the audience.

]]> By: Robert http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/29/my-powerpoint-advice/comment-page-1/#comment-6588 Robert Thu, 30 Nov 2006 10:53:39 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/29/my-powerpoint-advice/#comment-6588 I forgot: Bullet points suck!!! I forgot: Bullet points suck!!!

]]> By: Robert http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/29/my-powerpoint-advice/comment-page-1/#comment-6587 Robert Thu, 30 Nov 2006 10:53:16 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/29/my-powerpoint-advice/#comment-6587 LaTeX beamer.sty rulez! LaTeX beamer.sty rulez!

]]> By: HowTo: prepare PPT presentations « Entertaining Research http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/29/my-powerpoint-advice/comment-page-1/#comment-6559 HowTo: prepare PPT presentations « Entertaining Research Thu, 30 Nov 2006 03:38:22 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/29/my-powerpoint-advice/#comment-6559 [...] I am a LaTeX person; my presentations are all (at least, till now) pdf files generated using Prosper; however, if you are used to making PowerPoint presentations, Clifford has some pointers (though he personally recommends Keynote). [...] [...] I am a LaTeX person; my presentations are all (at least, till now) pdf files generated using Prosper; however, if you are used to making PowerPoint presentations, Clifford has some pointers (though he personally recommends Keynote). [...]

]]> By: Blake Stacey http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/29/my-powerpoint-advice/comment-page-1/#comment-6543 Blake Stacey Wed, 29 Nov 2006 22:23:57 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/29/my-powerpoint-advice/#comment-6543 @Keynote Rocks: You don't get it — I <i>liked</i> it that way! ;-) Learning how to give a "chalk talk" first is still a very good idea. I have more fun when speaking with chalk and a blackboard (or the slick xylene equivalent) than with any other visual aid. @Keynote Rocks:

You don’t get it — I liked it that way!

;-)

Learning how to give a “chalk talk” first is still a very good idea. I have more fun when speaking with chalk and a blackboard (or the slick xylene equivalent) than with any other visual aid.

]]> By: Jonathan Lubin http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/29/my-powerpoint-advice/comment-page-1/#comment-6537 Jonathan Lubin Wed, 29 Nov 2006 20:55:12 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/29/my-powerpoint-advice/#comment-6537 I gave a Math Colloquium at a liberal arts college in LA County a couple of weeks ago, directed to both undergraduates and faculty, and somebody said afterwards, “You know, almost everybody’s using presentation software nowadays, but the few blackboard talks I’ve gone to recently have been excellent.” What I like most about the blackboard is that it forces the right pacing on you. I gave a Math Colloquium at a liberal arts college in LA County a couple of weeks ago, directed to both undergraduates and faculty, and somebody said afterwards, “You know, almost everybody’s using presentation software nowadays, but the few blackboard talks I’ve gone to recently have been excellent.” What I like most about the blackboard is that it forces the right pacing on you.

]]> By: Moshe http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/29/my-powerpoint-advice/comment-page-1/#comment-6534 Moshe Wed, 29 Nov 2006 20:33:27 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/29/my-powerpoint-advice/#comment-6534 I would like to Clifford, but I am afraid, would I have to get a new mp3 player? a new cell phone? how about a toothbrush? OK, have to run, my breakling is over. I would like to Clifford, but I am afraid, would I have to get a new mp3 player? a new cell phone? how about a toothbrush?

OK, have to run, my breakling is over.

]]> By: Keynote Rocks http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/29/my-powerpoint-advice/comment-page-1/#comment-6533 Keynote Rocks Wed, 29 Nov 2006 20:28:18 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/29/my-powerpoint-advice/#comment-6533 >There was a day when I drew each slide in GIMP, copying my equations from LaTeX output, and then assembling the whole thing into a PDF You must then be using linux, eh? I am always so sorry to hear.... Under Nextstep, the predecessor of Mac OS X, things were done much smoother than that already 10+ years ago....WYSIWYG TeX typesetting right into the slides, etc. Keynote and other "Cocoa" apps under OSX can do this today too, with gadgets like LaTeXIt etc. Adobe products are much less useful in this respect (eg no re-editing of TeX formulas by a mouse click). Something that comes close under Windows (as far this is at all possible under that OS), is a plugin for Powerpoint that also allows re-editing TeX formulas. >There was a day when I drew each slide in GIMP, copying my equations from LaTeX output, and then assembling the whole thing into a PDF

You must then be using linux, eh? I am always so sorry to hear…. Under Nextstep, the predecessor of Mac OS X, things were done much smoother than that already 10+ years ago….WYSIWYG TeX typesetting right into the slides, etc. Keynote and other “Cocoa” apps under OSX can do this today too, with gadgets like LaTeXIt etc. Adobe products are much less useful in this respect (eg no re-editing of TeX formulas by a mouse click). Something that comes close under Windows (as far this is at all possible under that OS), is a plugin for Powerpoint that also allows re-editing TeX formulas.

]]> By: Clifford http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/29/my-powerpoint-advice/comment-page-1/#comment-6532 Clifford Wed, 29 Nov 2006 20:24:32 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/29/my-powerpoint-advice/#comment-6532 Moshe... but it is such a *wonderful* all! Join us! -cvj Moshe… but it is such a *wonderful* all! Join us!

-cvj

]]> By: spyder http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/29/my-powerpoint-advice/comment-page-1/#comment-6531 spyder Wed, 29 Nov 2006 20:15:15 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/29/my-powerpoint-advice/#comment-6531 One of the other petpeeves that makes your first recommendation so much more relevant: the people who hand out a stapled set of the slides they are showing in their powerpoint (and other format) presentations. I am prone to tuneout during those sessions rather than stay involved and focussed. Learning to present material on a whiteboard (and even after 35 years in classrooms that is not always easy) opens inquiry and dialog with attendees, whereas clicking through to the next window tends to alienate. When i retired four years ago, i was really starting to enjoy working with the interactive/electronic whiteboard technologies (the better of both worlds) One of the other petpeeves that makes your first recommendation so much more relevant: the people who hand out a stapled set of the slides they are showing in their powerpoint (and other format) presentations. I am prone to tuneout during those sessions rather than stay involved and focussed. Learning to present material on a whiteboard (and even after 35 years in classrooms that is not always easy) opens inquiry and dialog with attendees, whereas clicking through to the next window tends to alienate. When i retired four years ago, i was really starting to enjoy working with the interactive/electronic whiteboard technologies (the better of both worlds)

]]> By: Blake Stacey http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/29/my-powerpoint-advice/comment-page-1/#comment-6522 Blake Stacey Wed, 29 Nov 2006 19:18:12 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/29/my-powerpoint-advice/#comment-6522 There was a day when I drew each slide in GIMP, copying my equations from LaTeX output, and then assembling the whole thing into a PDF. I still find that drawing in pencil and scanning in for later GIMP work is the easiest way to make figures beyond box schematics and graphs. There was a day when I drew each slide in GIMP, copying my equations from LaTeX output, and then assembling the whole thing into a PDF. I still find that drawing in pencil and scanning in for later GIMP work is the easiest way to make figures beyond box schematics and graphs.

]]> By: Moshe http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/29/my-powerpoint-advice/comment-page-1/#comment-6519 Moshe Wed, 29 Nov 2006 18:57:09 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/29/my-powerpoint-advice/#comment-6519 My issue with Mac applications is that it is all or nothing, any way I could use Keynote without completely changing my lifestyle? (e.g. on my tablet PC?) My issue with Mac applications is that it is all or nothing, any way I could use Keynote without completely changing my lifestyle? (e.g. on my tablet PC?)

]]> By: Clifford http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/29/my-powerpoint-advice/comment-page-1/#comment-6518 Clifford Wed, 29 Nov 2006 18:53:42 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/29/my-powerpoint-advice/#comment-6518 Ease of layout springs to mind. I want something very visually intuitive when I am preparing something that is primarily visual. I want immediate access to the look and feel of my canvas. So I like a place where I can just drop stuff in and move things around. I find that LaTeX-driven presenations all too often end up looking like you're just reading the person's paper with them.... unless the preparer is very careful to avoid that. But whatever works for you is what you should use. But the primary thing to do is make sure that it follows the principles of a good chalk talk. -cvj Ease of layout springs to mind. I want something very visually intuitive when I am preparing something that is primarily visual. I want immediate access to the look and feel of my canvas. So I like a place where I can just drop stuff in and move things around. I find that LaTeX-driven presenations all too often end up looking like you’re just reading the person’s paper with them…. unless the preparer is very careful to avoid that.

But whatever works for you is what you should use. But the primary thing to do is make sure that it follows the principles of a good chalk talk.

-cvj

]]> By: Georg http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/29/my-powerpoint-advice/comment-page-1/#comment-6516 Georg Wed, 29 Nov 2006 18:37:33 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/29/my-powerpoint-advice/#comment-6516 Why not just use LaTeX with the seminar package to create PDF presentations? Why not just use LaTeX with the seminar package to create PDF presentations?

]]> By: LeisureGuy http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/29/my-powerpoint-advice/comment-page-1/#comment-6515 LeisureGuy Wed, 29 Nov 2006 18:36:35 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/29/my-powerpoint-advice/#comment-6515 If you are going to do presentations, <a href="http://leisureguy.wordpress.com/2006/10/17/if-you-have-to-do-presentations-2/" rel="nofollow"><b>I recommend</b></a> looking at "Presentation Zen" and reading "Beyond Bulletpoints." Just a thought. If you are going to do presentations, I recommend looking at “Presentation Zen” and reading “Beyond Bulletpoints.” Just a thought.

]]> By: Clifford http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/29/my-powerpoint-advice/comment-page-1/#comment-6509 Clifford Wed, 29 Nov 2006 18:11:44 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/29/my-powerpoint-advice/#comment-6509 Hi Amara... I consider it all "Evil" too! This is the root of my first piece of advice, which I consider paramount:- If someone can't give a good talk.... a computer just makes things worse. Keynote is a great tool for preparing stuff simply that later gets exported (beautifully) to Acrobat. These days, I typically walk to class with nothing but my keys, which contain a pdf file of my lecture. (When I want to do more elaborate things (multilayered builds, etc.. more often in public lectures or colloquiua) then I keep the full Keynote functionality.) Cheers! -cvj Hi Amara…

I consider it all “Evil” too! This is the root of my first piece of advice, which I consider paramount:- If someone can’t give a good talk…. a computer just makes things worse.

Keynote is a great tool for preparing stuff simply that later gets exported (beautifully) to Acrobat. These days, I typically walk to class with nothing but my keys, which contain a pdf file of my lecture. (When I want to do more elaborate things (multilayered builds, etc.. more often in public lectures or colloquiua) then I keep the full Keynote functionality.)

Cheers!

-cvj

]]> By: Amara http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/29/my-powerpoint-advice/comment-page-1/#comment-6508 Amara Wed, 29 Nov 2006 18:02:52 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/29/my-powerpoint-advice/#comment-6508 Hi Clifford, I see a non-trivial number of people today giving their presentations in Acrobat, which has advantages in that the Reader is available freely, everywhere, and the math typesetting looks gorgeous. I know some people who object to the idea of being bound to buggy and expensive software (Microsoft) or software that is fixed to one operating system (Apple). I'm not obsessive about presentation software, but since I buy most of my work software out of my own pocket, I don't like to spend very much... Generally for portability and exchangeability of presentations and cost, Acrobat does a good job. A related comment about PowerPoint (yes, you know I use it too), comes from Edward Tufte, who calls it <a href="http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/11.09/ppt2_pr.html" rel="nofollow"> 'Evil'</a>.. ! His arguments against using it are generally that it elevates format over content, encouraging a poor writing style and a poor integrity of data presentation. Tufte has written extensively about the "Cognitive Style of Powerpoint" in his latest two books. So then, another perspective. Hi Clifford, I see a non-trivial number of people today giving their presentations in Acrobat, which has advantages in that the Reader is available freely, everywhere, and the math typesetting looks gorgeous. I know some people who object to the idea of being bound to buggy and expensive software (Microsoft) or software that is fixed to one operating system (Apple). I’m not obsessive about presentation software, but since I buy most of my work software out of my own pocket, I don’t like to spend very much… Generally for portability and exchangeability of presentations and cost, Acrobat does a good job.

A related comment about PowerPoint (yes, you know I use it too), comes from Edward Tufte, who calls it ‘Evil’.. ! His arguments against using it are generally that it elevates format over content, encouraging a poor writing style and a poor integrity of data presentation. Tufte has written extensively about the “Cognitive Style of Powerpoint” in his latest two books. So then, another perspective.

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