💬 Principle 1: limit the number of messages you convey
Faced with time constraints, educators often feel the need to "maximise" time by cramming as many messages as possible into their presentation. The result? A frantic pace, slides rushing past, and no room for pauses or questions. Learners become overwhelmed or, worse, disengaged.
This common issue stems from a lack of prioritisation. Do you really need to list all 15 principles of Totology (and its 5 exceptions)? Is it feasible to cover shapes, proportions, lighting, colours, and perspective in a 10-minute presentation? Without clear priorities, your messages compete for space in your learners’ memory, and the most important ones may get lost.
The solution lies in preparation:
Focus on what the learner can realistically absorb, not just what you want to convey.
Consider who your learner is, their current level, and the change you want to achieve by the end of your session.
Factor in the time available and set realistic goals.
Prioritise a few key messages and provide additional details in supplementary materials learners can access later.
🎯 Principle 2: reduce the information density in your materials
If the total content you aim to deliver must be concise, your visual materials should be even more so. A golden rule for slide-based presentations is: one slide = one key message.
Common justifications for overloaded slides:
“I might forget what to say.” Prepare a separate set of personal notes instead of overloading your slides. Reading from slides can confuse your message rather than reinforcing it (Clark & Mayer, 2016).
“I need to limit the number of slides.” More concise slides are better than fewer, overcrowded ones. It's easier for learners to process short, punchy slides.
“I have too much to say.” Summarise your points. Take inspiration from Ernest Hemingway's six-word story: "For sale: baby shoes, never worn."
🏞️ Principle 3: add images strategically
Visuals can greatly enhance understanding. For instance, explaining how a lightbulb works (“The filament heats up as electricity passes through, dissipating energy as light”) is clearer with a visual showing the filament glowing. This principle applies equally to abstract concepts like legal frameworks or workflow processes.
How to make visuals effective:
Use images that complement your explanation rather than purely decorative visuals. Avoid distractions like unrelated photos or background music.
Prefer schematic representations over realistic ones. For instance, surgeons-in-training learn heart anatomy better from diagrams than photos, as the latter demand unnecessary effort to identify relevant details.
Place captions close to their corresponding visuals to minimise the learner's cognitive load.
If a diagram is complex, reveal its components progressively rather than all at once.
💡 Did you know? Combining images with audio (your voice) is more effective than combining images with text. This avoids overloading the visual channel and makes better use of auditory processing.
✨ Summary: a balanced approach to presentations
Highlight essential points through strategic use of visuals.
Make your materials visually appealing to create a positive learning experience.
Prioritise simplicity to reduce cognitive overload.
Keywords: recommendations, tips, presentations, structure, visuals, learning materials
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