Week 3 Discussion 60 Points

Death by PowerPoint... or Presentation Perfection?

What separates a painful presentation from a powerful one?

Real Talk
We have all been there — trapped in a meeting, squinting at a slide packed with 10 lines of tiny text while someone reads every word aloud. But we have also experienced that rare, electrifying presentation that changes how we think. What's the difference? Let's find out.
Course Objectives: This discussion addresses CO-5 (Microsoft PowerPoint Presentations)

The Setup

You just completed an intensive week learning PowerPoint — from slide fundamentals to multimedia integration and design best practices. You know the CARP principles, the 6x6 rule, and how to make a presentation that actually communicates instead of confuses.

Now it is time to put that knowledge to work by critically analyzing the good, the bad, and the ugly of real presentations.

Death by PowerPoint
Walls of text, clip art chaos, no visual hierarchy
Presentation Perfection
Clean design, purposeful visuals, engaged audience

Quick Reference: CARP Design Principles

Contrast
Make different elements look distinctly different to guide the viewer's eye.
Alignment
Every element should connect visually to something else on the page.
Repetition
Repeat visual elements (colors, fonts, shapes) for consistency and unity.
Proximity
Group related items together; separate unrelated items with space.

Your Three-Part Discussion Prompt

Part 1 — The Bad

Describe the worst presentation you have ever seen (or given!). What went wrong? Think about the CARP design principles and the 6x6 rule. Which of these principles were violated?

Part 2 — The Good

Now describe the best presentation you have experienced. What made it effective? How did the presenter use visuals, design, and delivery to keep you engaged?

Part 3 — Your Turn

You have been asked to create a 10-minute patient education presentation about managing Type 2 Diabetes for a diverse patient population. Describe THREE design decisions you would make and explain WHY each would improve patient understanding.

Healthcare Context

Patient education presentations are used in clinics, hospitals, and community health events. Your audience might include elderly patients, non-English speakers, people with low health literacy, and stressed family members. Good design is not just aesthetic — it is a patient safety issue.

What You Need to Do

Initial Post Due
Wednesday
11:59 PM
Replies Due
Sunday
11:59 PM

Grading Rubric

Criteria Points
Bad presentation analysis with specific CARP/6x6 violations identified 20 pts
Good presentation analysis with explanation of what made it effective 15 pts
Three design decisions for diabetes presentation with clear rationale 15 pts
Two substantive replies (75+ words each) that advance the discussion 10 pts
Total 60 pts
Pro Tips for a Great Post
"Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works."
— Steve Jobs