In this section, we'll explore different interactive tools to help you create lively, interesting presentations that go beyond the typical one-way style of lecturing with slides.
[Title slide is a white background with a few geometrical shapes in Sheridan’s branded colours. The title reads: Why should you create an interactive presentation? The slide deck includes a title slide and two additional slides.]
[Slide two shows three images evenly spaced apart with three subtitles and three interactive buttons. Image alt-text will be included with the text below.]
[A woman is holding a laptop and standing in front of a presentation screen with three hard-to-read pie charts depicted. She is presenting to three of her colleagues who are taking notes and sitting at a boardroom table.]
Interactive presentations facilitate real-time interaction and feedback between you and your audience members.
For example, you can create natural spaces in your presentation where audience members can ask questions. You could also use interactive quizzes to measure you audience’s learning and make adjustments based on where listeners are having difficulties understanding new content.
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Interactive presentations can better accommodate diverse learning styles and support accessibility needs of audience members.
For example, including interactive polls or quizzes invite participation from audience members who might not be comfortable adding to a discussion. Adding video content could help illustrate ideas for audience members who need visuals to reinforce learning, etc.
[A student sits at a desk, reading intently from a book. He has a stack of books to his left on the desk, which suggests he’s studying.]
Interactive presentations create a memorable experience for your audience that helps them build connections between ideas to boost their learning.
For example, sharing a personal story as an ice breaker can help your audience connect with you as a presenter and understand how your ideas could impact their lives too.
[Slide three shows three images evenly spaced apart with three subtitles and three interactive buttons. Image alt-text will be included with the text below.]
[A college lecture hall. A professor has opened the floor to a question-and-answer period, and five students are eagerly raising their hands to share ideas or ask questions.]
Interactive presentations capture your audience’s attention and encourage active participation.
For example, asking your audience to share their thoughts or ask questions during your presentations enriches everyone’s experience—both you and your audience can learn more from each other!
[A casual venue where a speaker sits on a chair in front of a crowd. The speaker sits in front of a blank screen and appears to be answering an audience question.]
Interactive presentations allow you to easily customize and adapt your session for different audiences.
For example, starting your session with an interactive quiz to check your audience’s familiarity with your topic can help you adjust you language, tone, and examples to meet your audience’s level of expertise.
[A laptop showing a webpage that includes a pie chart, a bar graph, and a data table that cannot be clearly read. Beside the laptop is a tablet with a white screen.]
Interactive presentations can also provide valuable insights into audience behaviours, preferences, and more.
For example, you could use an interactive poll to learn more about your audience’s views on your topic before you present. You could also end your presentation with a short reflection activity to gain insights on what your audience learned and what they want to explore next.
Start your presentation with an intriguing and thought-provoking question or a fun ice breaker game!
Ice breakers are designed to pique your audience's curiosity and encourage everyone to think about your topic before you start your presentation—as a result, you can create an immediate connection with your audience and set the stage for a more engage and attentive group.
Watch the video below to learn more about how to open your presentation with simple, attention-grabbing questions:
Live polls or surveys are fun, simple tools you can use to collect real-time feedback, opinions, and insights from your audience. Live polling or surveys also encourage active participation and involvement from your audience, which can make your presentation feel like a collaborative, interactive experience.
Watch the video below to learn more about creating these tools using a popular web app! Below the video, you'll find a few apps you can use to start creating polls for your next presentation:
Add some excitement to your next presentation with an interactive quiz, puzzle, or challenge related to your content!
Gamification—or the process of adding game-like elements to your session—adds an element of fun and competition, which can motivate your audience to participate actively and boost their learning experience.
Watch the video below to see an example of a teacher using an app to create a fun, interactive quiz to test her students. Below the video, you'll find a few apps you can use to start creating games for your next presentation:
Data visualizations helps you to tell stories by curating data into a form that's easier to understand in a single glance—from a practical standpoint, data visualizations also help you to highlight key information for your audience while also directing everyone's attention to the specific data you're using to build your argument.
Watch the video below to learn some basic tips on how to present visual data. Below the video, you'll find a few apps you can use to start creating data visualizations for your next presentation:
[Infographic show six images with six titles and six information buttons users can click to learn more. A subtitle directs students to “Click the (plus sign) buttons for more info”.]
[Two desktop computer screens. One screen shows a grid layout of various images and work in a style similar to a Padlet board. The other screen shows a collection of images stored in a file structure, and the user is either editing an image or choosing an image to add to the board featured on the other screen.]
[Interactive elements can encourage active audience participation during your presentation—but it’s possible to have too much of a good thing!
Aim for a balanced approach that enhances engagement without overwhelming your listeners.
For example, in a 20-minute presentation, you might include 1 ice breaker question at the start and include a 5-minute activity in the middle.
[A woman sits at a laptop. Her facial expression is a mix of confusion and annoyance. She rests her elbows on the desk, but her hands are opened beside her in a frustrated shrug.]
Adding an interactive element that has no relevance to your audience can lead to confusion and disconnection.
Make sure to tailor you interactive elements to your audience’s interest and preferences.
For example, starting your presentation with difficult quiz questions could lead to audience frustration. Instead, you could start with a live poll where your audience could tell you about their current knowledge about your topic.
[A bird’s eye view of a woman sitting at a desk with her head in her hands in desperation. She has a laptop open in front of her and a notebook off to her left while an opened eyeglasses case sits to her right.]
You should never use interactive elements for the first time when you’re standing in front of your class. Technical glitches can happen at any time!
Avoid tech problems by testing all of your interactive elements before your presentation—aim to practice these tools with a friend so you can find problems before they happen during your presentation!
Check out the Preparing & Testing Technology section of this module to learn more.
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Timing is everything, especially when it comes to interactive activities.
Aim for seamless integration by planning your key points and your interactive elements carefully.
For more help with timing and pacing, check out the Writing a Presentation Script section of this module.
[A man stands in a downtown city core. He’s holding a cellphone in one hand, as if he’s navigating with a GPS system, but he’s holding the back of his head in a way that indicates he’s lost or confused on where to go next.]
Every interactive element should have a purpose and contribute to your presentation’s objectives.
Don’t add interactive elements for the sake of it—make sure they add value and align with your message.
For example, adding an ice breaker question at the start of your presentation—but not giving your audience enough time to think and respond—communicates that you don’t really want your listeners to interact with you or you session.
[A group of people sit around a table, each with a laptop in front of them. Everyone appears to be focused on their own work and are not interacting with each other.
While interactive elements are powerful tools for your presentation, your content is still the most important part of your session!
Combine you interactive features with compelling storytelling and valuable insights to create an immersive presentation that leaves a lasting impression on your audience.
Check out the Storytelling section in this module to learn how to use stories to enhance your presentations.