Multimedia Tutorial #3
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Last Revised March 19, 2000
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Catching the Students' Eyes, Harry E. Pence, SUNY Oneonta, Oneonta, NY, pencehe@oneonta.edu
(This brief article appeared in the Spring, 2000 issue of the Computers in Chemical Education Newsletter.)
Presentation software packages include various ways to guide the students' eyes. Probably the most important idea to keep in mind, however, is the need to stick to the same process from one frame to the next and to avoid unnecessary distractions. A uniform slide background can provide useful information, but it can also be a constant diversion. Many of the standard backgrounds provided with the software seem to be designed to distract the viewer from the text. During one memorable presentation, every slide was framed with a beach scene, complete with palm trees. Judging from the restlessness of the crowd, the audience kept wondering how this lush background was supposed to be related to the speaker's topic. If the goal was to make them wish that they were somewhere else, it was completely successful. If it had that effect on an interested audience of professionals, what effect would this distraction have on a typical group of students.
A typical software presentation package offers a multitude of background choices. Many of these may be artistically interesting but may also distract the audience from the material. Some presenters create problems by using complex pictures as a background. In either case, it may be so hard to find the text that the frames begin to resemble the child's game, "Where's Waldo." A good piece of advice about writing is that if something seems so cute that it is difficult to leave it out, it should definitely be eliminated. Similarly, the best rule with slide backgrounds is simpler is better.
In general, when a frame appears on the screen, most viewers in our society will begin by either looking at the center or the upper left hand corner of the image. This habit is based on the way that we normally read. It is very helpful to guide the viewer's eye towards that part of the screen which contains the material which is most important in the frame. One way to do this is to make background color a little brighter in the upper left hand corner (as you face the image) and a little darker in the lower right. The brighter image will naturally draw the eye towards that corner. This is called a gradient and is easy to set with the master frame so that it will always occur in a presentation.
To reinforce the importance of the upper-left hand corner,
use a frame transition that will reveal that part of the slide
first. A good example is the wipe right transition. As the new
material becomes visible, the viewer's eye is naturally attracted
to the change. After a few frames, the viewer has become accustomed
to having new material presented in the upper left hand corner
for the frame, and so this is where the eye will enter the frame.
In general, it is a good idea to place the material that is most
important, whether it is text or an image, in the upper-left hand
corner.
Like any consistent practice during a presentation, giving special
status to the upper-left hand corner sets the stage for another
way to emphasize an important point. When the eye expects the
transition to be a simple wipe right, it magnifies the impact
of a different transition, like a box out or a dissolve. The viewer
probably will not consciously recognize what has happened that
was so different, but the change is noticeable. Similarly, placing
an amusing image in the lower-right corner catches the viewer
off guard and can make a mildly amusing picture seem much more
striking.
Once the viewer's attention has been captured in the upper-left hand corner, the build (or animate) function can be used to guide the eye through the frame at a pace that matches the presentation. Exposing all of the text on a frame immediately invites the viewer to ignore the speaker and read through all the text. That is fine if the frame contains all of the material that is to be presented, but if that is the case, why not just hand out a printed copy. The goal of using presentation software is to make the speaker more effective, not to make the speaker redundant!
For many types of presentations, it is reasonable to have the build function eliminate preceding lines. This further helps to keep the audience up with the speaker. Unfortunately, like many capabilities of presentation software, it is not appropriate for a classroom session where students are trying to take notes. It is reasonable to change the color and make the previous points less obvious, but totally eliminating lines with the build process will be quite likely to produce student rebellion.
Most professors spend hours organizing lectures to make them more effective and memorable. The goal is to present material in such a way that it gives the maximum support for student learning. When properly used, presentation software can help to accomplish this purpose.
Go to the Next Presentation Software Unit.