Wednesday, April 24, 2019

Presentation Tools in Libraries by Brigitte Foisy


Let's admit it...who wants to sit through a boring presentation? No color, no special effects, all text... is it just me or does everyone feel like this during a boring presentation...


This is not how we as library staff want to present to our patrons! We want them to be excited to learn, eager to grasp the technical concepts we are presenting. In order to do this, we need to do more than just tell them how fun it can be...we need to show them! Whether our patrons are students in school, or citizens accessing the public library, it is our job to teach them how to use these tools to further their education, career, or just their plain old curiosity. 

"As the Chinese proverb declares, a picture is worth a thousand words. We like visual presentations. Presentation software can make even a dull subject come to life with colorful text, videos, and hyperlinks."(Safransky & Burmeister, 2009).

In order to teach them, it is helpful to have a few great presentation tools that we can utilize to make for a fun and interactive lesson that will hold their attention. What we want is an audience that looks more like this:


How can we do that? First off, we need to stay current with the latest and greatest presentation tools available, using guides and resources such as the AASL's Best Website ListAdditionally, we can't be afraid of the unknown. It is not uncommon for people to fear technology advancement, worried that a lack of skill may cause embarrassment or insecurity. We owe it to ourselves and to our patrons to jump in feet first and familiarize ourselves so that in return we are able to lead, instruct, and encourage those who come to us for help. It is our job to be the ones that our patrons can turn to when they need a comfortable place to become acquainted with these skills.

Our team of bloggers has also provided multiple links to presentation tools, tips, and guides. Check out the links tab to the right for more information on PowerPoint, Prezi, Visme, & Powtoon!

Resources:

Safransky, Robert J., and Marsha L. Burmeister. “Put Power into Your Presentations: Using Presentation Software Effectively.” School Business Affairs, vol. 75, no. 4, Apr. 2009, pp. 18–19. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&AN=EJ918600&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

No comments:

Post a Comment