Research Guides: Presentations: Guide

Presentation Resources

New presentation apps and resources are being created all the time, but this list includes some of the more popular current ones that you can use to make your presentation memorable.

Animoto
This site is for educators.
Google Presentations
A cloud-based tool very similar to PowerPoint.
Haiku Deck
Another option for slide presentations.
Issuu
For online magazines and publications.
Keynote
For iOS, it lets you create presentation using your fingers.

Piktochart
Create impressive infographics.

Prezi
A web-based resource that lets you design presentations with zoom.
Projeqt
Let's you incorporate material from multiple sources.
Slideshare
Lets you upload and share your PowerPoint slideshows, images and other presentations. A great source of inspiration, too.

How to Listen

We talk a lot about being great speakers. But what about being great listeners? Whether you're in the classroom or watching a film or communicating one-on-one, listening is important in the exchange of information and ideas. Here are some links with tips for helping you hear:

Julian Treasure: 5 ways to listen better
from TEDTalk
Have You Mastered the Art of Listening?
By Margaret Heffernan, published by CBS News MoneyWatch, June 12, 2013
The Art of Listening
By Hennnig Mankell, published in The New York Times, Dec. 10, 2011

Be a More Confident Public Speaker

From WatchWellCast

What Makes a Great Talk Great?

From TED Talks

How to Give Good Talks

How to Give a Killer Presentation
This article from Harvard Business Review tells the story of how a shy young Masai boy gave an awesome presentation to an audience of 1,400. Notice that "preparation" is the key. When you're prepared, your confidence increases, and you can knock 'em dead!
How to Give the Best Presentation You Possibly Can
Karl Gude is an instructor at Michigan State University and a former InfoGraphics Director at Newsweek and The Associated Press. He talks about the preparation needed to give an awesome presentation in this article published in the Huffington Post.
Nancy Duarte: How to Make a Powerful Call-to-Action
Nancy Duarte's TEDTalk helps you deliver a presentation that shares your idea in a way that moves and transforms your audience.
9 Public-Speaking Lessons From The World's Greatest TED Talks
This Forbes story is part of a series of articles based on Carmine Gallo's book, "Talk Like TED: The 9 Public-Speaking Secrets of the World’s Top Minds" (St. Martin’s Press).

Planning Tools

One of the challenges of group presentation planning is communication. These tools will help you share information from a distance.

Doodle.com
A quick and easy tool to help you find a meeting time for multiple people.
Dropbox
Share and access documents and photos from anywhere.
Google Docs
Share documents and collaborate.
OneNote
Share notes, documents, images, and more with your group. The information travels with you on your various devices.

Wikis
Use a Wiki to share and edit documents. There are many sites that let you create Wikis.

Presentation Ideas

During your presentation, use one or more of these tools to engage your audience.

Animated Stopwatch
This animated stopwatch can be embedded in a PowerPoint presentation. There are other sites that offer similar features, so shop around.
Filmstrip Countdown
This is a fun element to add to your PowerPoint presentation.
Poll Everywhere
This tool lets you poll participants using smartphones. Use it to plan meeting times and places, or use it during your presentation to take the pulse of your audience. It's a great way to open a presentation by asking participants what they know about your topic. Close the presentation with a poll asking for feedback.