#31492
The 10/20/30 Rule of PowerPoint
I am trying to evangelize the 10/20/30 Rule of PowerPoint. It’s quite simple: a PowerPoint presentation should have ten slides, last no more than twenty minutes, and contain no font smaller than thirty points. While I’m in the venture capital business, this rule is applicable for any presentation to reach agreement: for example, raising capital, making a sale, forming a partnership, etc.
Kawasaki, Guy. How to Change the World (2005). Articles>Presentations>Information Design>Typography
#28065
Before there were presentations, there were conversations, which were a little like presentations but used fewer bullet points, and no one had to dim the lights. A woman we can call Sarah Wyndham, a defense-industry consultant living in Alexandria, Virginia, recently began to feel that her two daughters weren't listening when she asked them to clean their bedrooms and do their chores. So, one morning, she sat down at her computer, opened Microsoft's PowerPoint program, and used it.
Parker, Ian. Ohio State University, The. Articles>Presentations>Software>Microsoft PowerPoint
#26208
Academic Training for Independent Contractors and Consultants 
We need academic, along with, professional training, defining 'academic training' as conceptual and theoretical, future-oriented and speculative.
Farkas, David K. STC Orange County (1998). Presentations>Education>Consulting
#13100
The Academy/Industry Binary: The Effect of Distance Education on the Debate
The academy/industry debate usually centers on whether instruction should be education-based or experience-based, and on whether instructors should have more academic or industrial experience. Distance education can change both of these debates, lessening the difference between the workplace and the academy. The academy can be relocated within the workplace through dedicated classrooms and online courses performed on workplace computers, and by making classes asynchronous so that practitioners can fit them into their structured schedules. The debate over instructor training is changed because of the additional industry-based expertise needed to produce a distance education class and because distance education technology facilitates participation of practitioners.
Eaton, Angela. STC Proceedings (2001). Presentations>Education>Industry and Academy
#13950
When the opportunity arose in 1990, I purchased a franchise from the Success Motivation Institute and presented literally hundreds of workshops on goal setting. I was overjoyed at the opportunity to finally achieve all my dreams through a business such as this. I learned about goal setting and Paul Meyer's Million Dollar Personal Success Plan. I loved the idea of teaching people how to help themselves become self-motivated and achieve their goals. But, there was a problem in my dream world. In order to run a business you must sell your products or services, and I simply hated being in sales! I just wouldn't get out and ask people to buy the goal setting plan. It wasn't that I didn't believe in it, because I do! When I finally started listening to myself as I taught others how to achieve happiness, I actually used goal setting to make the decision to give up that business and go back to technical writing.
Laurent, J. Suzanna. Prodigy (2002). Presentations>Slideshows>Technical Writing>Business Communication
#14542
ACT NOW: A Six-Step Crisis Communication Strategy 
Because a crisis by nature catches people unprepared, every organization must have a crisis communication strategy firmly in place to guide those involved through the rough, uncharted waters. An effective strategy is a what I call A-C-T N-O-W: (1) Anticipate disaster before a crisis, using risk management techniques. (2) Care about people affected. (3) Tell what you know immediately. (4) Note your next steps. (5) Offer help to reinforcements. (5) Write press kits and other pieces of public information. Since crisis mismanagement can lead to the end of the company, effective preparation for a crisis may well save your company’s life.
Reimold, Cheryl. STC Proceedings (1995). Presentations>Management>Risk Communication>Crisis Communication
#26222
Adapting Traditional Editing Practices for Online Documentation
Developing a process and using guidelines for editing online documents, both rooted in traditional editing practices.
Fink, Bonnie L., Carol E. Gasser, Jennifer L. Giordano and Beth A. Williams. STC Orange County (1998). Presentations>Documentation>Editing
#18221
Advanced Issues in Usability: A Progression
In this progression, respected usability specialists will moderate tables on subjects of interest to colleagues who have been working in the usability field for some time. These topics will focus on usability test design, data analysis and presentation, and marketing of data. Attendees should plan to contribute their own experiences. This progression addresses the frequently expressed request by Usability PIC members for more sessions on advanced topics in usability.
Wilson, Chauncey E. and Stephanie L. Rosenbaum. STC Proceedings (1996). Presentations>Usability
#18220
Advanced Issues in Usability: Balancing User Preference and Performance Data Collection
The purpose of this paper is to provide a little background on my position for the progression on usability issues. I’ll present what measures I typically collect, and the differences between performance and preference data. Having this as a starting place may help us to have a useful progression discussion.
Rauch, Thyra L. STC Proceedings (1996). Presentations>Usability>Methods
#29513
Advice on Designing Scientific Posters
A scientific poster is a large document that can communicate your research at a scientific meeting, and is composed of a short title, an introduction to your burning question, an overview of your trendy experimental approach, your amazing results, some insightful discussion of aforementioned results, a listing of previously published articles that are important to your research, and some brief acknowledgement of the tremendous assistance and financial support conned from others. If all text is kept to a minimum, a person could fully read your poster in under 10 minutes.
Purrington, Colin. Swarthmore College (2007). Design>Presentations>Posters>Scientific Communication
#20526
Afraid of Freezing During a Presentation? Some Thoughts on Why We
In a memorable scene from the movie “8 Mile” the character played by rapper Eminem enters a competition and gets on stage to prove his prowess in front of a rowdy crowd. Using rhyme and rap, he must show his skill at cleverly putting down the reigning champion. Winning the contest could mean fame, fortune and a way out of his grimy, dead-end life. We know he’s up to it. In the preceding scenes he’s brilliant in front of his friends and the bathroom mirror. But when he faces the jeering crowd on the big night he freezes and is unable to speak. As the crowd chants “Choke! Choke!” he leaves the stage in shame. Freezing in front of an audience is every speaker’s worst nightmare. Eminem was clearly facing a hostile crowd. But why do some speakers freeze even when they are in front of an audience that is friendly and receptive?
Berkley, Susan. Presenters University (2003). Articles>Presentations>Rhetoric
#27570
Agile Project Management - Reliable Innovation
This webinar discusses how Agile Project Management (APM) excels on projects in which new, risky technologies are incorporated; requirements are volatile and evolve; time-to-market is critical; and high quality must be maintained.
Highsmith, Jim. Rally Software Development (2005). Presentations>Project Management>Agile
#28605
The Agile/Waterfall Cooperative 
In this tutorial, attendees will learn to factor their company's business needs into their existing Agile procedures, and management will learn how to begin the investigative work of determining how to streamline these requirements and activities so that they don't hamper the project.
Sliger, Michele. Rally Software Development (2006). Presentations>Project Management>Agile
#29534
A look at how to quantify or measure the benefits of a better user interface built with Ajax.
Charland, Andre. SlideShare (2006). Presentations>Web Design>Usability>Ajax
#14377
Animation as Documentation: A Replication with Reinterpretation
Animated demonstrations are replacing text as the vehicle for documentation, help, and training on new software systems. An animated demonstration is a demonstration of a particular feature or features by a ghost user. The demonstration executes the procedure for performing a task, on-screen, as the user passively watches. Whereas research into the effectiveness of animated demonstrations has produced mixed results, certain patterns of behavior are emerging. The current study replicates the learning advantage offered by animated demonstration and shows that retention is equal to that of a group instructed by text after a one week retention interval. Implications for development of on-line training materials are discussed.
Lipps, Audrey W., J. Gregory Trafton and Wayne D. Gray. STC Proceedings (1997). Presentations>Documentation>Interactive
#27069
Animations Combination: Exploding Effect
In this presentation, you will learn how to create an explode effect on pictures.
Tohlz, Shawn. PowerPoint Heaven (2005). Resources>Presentations>Software>Microsoft PowerPoint
#27070
Animations Combination: Leaf Motion Effect
In this tutorial, you will learn how to make the motion of a leaf moving in the wind. It can be easily done with the combinations of Motion Path, Spin and Swivel Effects.
Tohlz, Shawn. PowerPoint Heaven (2005). Resources>Presentations>Software>Microsoft PowerPoint
#13101
Application of Theory: Minimalism and User Centered Design
In the discipline of software and information development, minimalist design is not just doing with less (less features, words, widgets). It is selectively choosing what to include or eliminate with the purpose of making it easier for the user to quickly learn about a product in a natural and painless way and to start using it to do real work. User centered design fits well with minimalist theory because it incorporates user feedback throughout the development cycle. It is the best way to find out what customers actually do with your product and learn first-hand how you can help them with their goals. My team applied both these theories to our task of designing and building a set of samples for a Web development product. This paper shares our struggles and successes.
Lou, Mary Mazzara. STC Proceedings (2001). Presentations>Usability>User Centered Design>Theory
#14344
Applying Research to Practice: Helping Users Find What They Need
Have you wondered why some documents succeed when others don’t? Have you been curious about the research behind the guidelines that you use? Are you ready for some new challenges and new ways of thinking about organizing documents for your audiences? Come participate in this demonstration/workshop on applying research to practice. We’ll concentrate on issues about how to help users find what they need in documents, interfaces, and just in time training materials.
Redish, Janice C. 'Ginny'. STC Proceedings (1997). Presentations>Usability>Help
#14378
Applying Software Development Methodology to Developing Help Systems
Help systems have become an important part of the Technical Communicator’s repertoire. If we as communicators approach developing help systems in the same way we approach writing paper documentation, we miss the advantages of using software development methodology.
Nurczyk, Susan V. STC Proceedings (1997). Presentations>Documentation>Workflow
#13096
Technical communication is usually seen as a practical profession -- one that emphasizes products, process and results -- rather than one that emphasizes theory and broad, generalized application of research results.
Grice, Roger A. STC Proceedings (2001). Presentations>TC>Workplace>Theory
#20533
Are There Vultures Among Us? Is The Recent Re-Emergence of Videoconferencing Suspect?
What are the reasons videoconferencing seems to be flourishing when so many other technologies are being challenged? The following will be the world according to Max and five reasons why I think videoconferencing is having its heyday.
Kopsho, Max. Presenters University (2002). Articles>Presentations>Videoconferencing
#18858
It's getting more tempting to infringe on copyright when creating presentations, thanks to many new scanning and duplicating technologies as well as proliferating Web content. But writers, designers, artists and copyright owners are becoming more aggressive, using new tactics and technologies to enforce their rights. If you don't know the rules, you could end up on the wrong side of a lawsuit.
Zielinski, Dave. 3M (2002). Presentations>Intellectual Property>Copyright
#20518
Are You A Presentation Master Chef Or A Short Order Cook?
Have you ever attended a successful dinner party? Do you remember what it was that made it so enjoyable? Was it the great food, the company, the entertainment? Chances are it was all these things. You can use these same ingredients to create and deliver an unforgettable presentation.
Shaw, Glenna Raye. Presenters University. Articles>Presentations>Rhetoric>Microsoft PowerPoint
#27064
This blog will share with you guys about The Art of PowerPoint-ing, creating advanced and amazing animations, and many more!
PowerPoint Heaven (2005). Resources>Presentations>Software>Blogs
