Powerpoint Presentation

The original Crowsnest Fires powerpoint was in obvious need of improvement. The instant I opened the file, I knew that it could never be used in an actual presentation. Many improvements needed to made, ranging from aesthetic changes to significant editorial decisions. Here are some of the improvements I made:

1. Make it look nicer. My first impression upon trying to read the original slides was that it was nearly impossible to read the content. The color of the text on the backgrounds in slides 2 and 3 did not make for a pleasant reading experience. To remedy this, I selected a basic template with writing that is easy to read.
   
2. Trim the information! Way too much information was put on way too many slides, so changes definitely needed to be made. I cut out a large amount of detail that was put on the original slides, knowing that the presenter would be able to talk about the more specific information. Along with this, the information that stayed on my slides needed to be written in shorter, simpler text.
   
3. Unclutter the slides. The original slides tried to say too much at once, covering a wide range of topics. I split up the original subject matter over a number of slides, so each slide focused on one area of information.
4. Add some valuable images. Students learn better when text is accompanied by pictures, so I added a few I thought were appropriate. I added a title slide to set the stage for the presentation, and a picture of a forest fire on another to create a mental image in my audience. Also, I added two pictures at the end of the presentation to show the ecological impact of a forest fire.
5. Say something worth saying. I decided that one key point of the original presentation, aside from the information about the fire, was the fact that while forest fires can be destructive, they can also have a positive impact on the ecology of the area. I created one slide to explain how this is the case, and I added two more slides to show what that means in the real world. The aftermath of a forest fire may look scarred and dead, but it eventually gives way to new, green, vibrant plant life.

While the original powerpoint was only three slides long, it ultimately needed to be simplified. By subtracting details the presenter can tell the audience, and by focusing on one topic per slide, I tried to break up the information into easily digested points that will stand out more in the minds of my audience. I also tried to emphasize what I saw as the final message of the presentation a bit more by illustrating the ecological impact with pictures.