Yes, I have put the IOLS and SMS syllabi on our Council website.

If there's a syllabus for it, and I've received the syllabus, it's generally on
the site.

BUT, this doesn't mean that you shouldn't purchase your own copy.  These are for
the
convenience of printing pages and sending them to Instructors.

On some of the syllabi, you'll even see my address stamp -- I stamp my materials
so
people don't confuse them for those belonging to the district, council or other
trainers.

Ida


--- In scouter_t@yahoogroups.com, John Halter <john@p...> wrote:
>
> http://jvcbsa.org/training/committee/Syllabi/Syllabi.htm
>
> It will ask for a username and pw
>
> jvctraining
> bsatrainer2005

Okay ... so, I'm nearly done ... I'm in the home stretch .... I'm doing Sunday
morning ...
finished the Interfaith Worship .... and, other than minor issues with 5 minutes
just
magically appearing in the schedule, there have been no real issues.

[Example of time appearing:

time           duration        class
1:00 PM       40              Ropes and Knots - Combined
1:45 PM       10              Ropes and Knots - Webelos Only
2:00 PM       40              Planning Webelos Den Overnight Campouts

On *my* watch, If I count for 40 minutes, after 1:00 PM, it is 1:40, and not
1:45; and then
if I add 10 more minutes to it, it's 1:55 PM, not 2:00 PM.   Yes, I know it is
to allow
movement between classes, etc., but why not just SAY so? ]



So, anyway ... back to the Sunday morning and the Interfaith worship.

Worship has another 5 minute time slip, bringing the close to 9:00 AM Sunday.

The OWL schedule reads:
9:00        40              First Aid (under Readyman Activity Badge) --
COMBINED

The IOLS schedule reads:
9:00      15              Break
9:15      75              Animal Identification


So, I thought it was a mistake.  Maybe I misplaced something when moving things
from
the OLD to the NEW IOLS

The OLD IOLS schedule reads:
  9:00      15              Break
  9:15      75              Packing and Hiking Techniques


So, hmmm .... maybe I still made a mistake.  I check the "Schedule Adjustments"
and find:
"Animal Identification moves TO 9:15 AM Sunday from 4:00 PM Saturday. "  and
"First Aid
moves TO 10:30 AM Sunday from 1:00 PM Saturday."


Anyone have any ideas/suggestions?

I can play w/ the rest of the schedule, since it's all Webelos Only classes in
order to
combine the First Aid class at 10:30, but SHOULD I?


Ida

Hello,

This email message is a notification to let you know that
a file has been uploaded to the Files area of the scouter_t
group.

   File        : /OWL_IOLS Combined.pdf
   Uploaded by : jvc_scout_mom <Ilively@...>
   Description : Combined OWL/IOLS Schedules (plus Ida's mods to Sync First Aid)

You can access this file at the URL:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scouter_t/files/OWL_IOLS%20Combined.pdf

To learn more about file sharing for your group, please visit:
http://help.yahoo.com/help/us/groups/files

Regards,

jvc_scout_mom <Ilively@...>

Sorry to clog the list with this. I had originally worked a trade of
some Scouting CD's with Mark Ledet from this list. I've sent them out
to him three times in the past but he hasn't received them, and while
I'm getting his emails he apparently isn't getting mine.

Mark,

I've got a another set of CD's ready to send you, but I want to
confirm (since you're in Louisiana) that your address is still valid.
If you can respond to me at this address, or at oracle_sean@...,
and confirm your address for me, I'd appreciate it!

YiS, and hoping that you and yours are safe,
Sean

Sean,
      I've been in contact with Mark and his e-mail is working fine.
What e-mail address do you have for him?
      As you know, Mark had to evacuate from the New Orleans area.
He is probably going to fill out a change of address form at the
post office for his new location.

Regards in Scouting,

Alan Smason
Southeast Louisiana Council

--- In scouter_t@yahoogroups.com, Sean Scott <sscott@a...> wrote:
> Sorry to clog the list with this. I had originally worked a trade
of
> some Scouting CD's with Mark Ledet from this list. I've sent them
out
> to him three times in the past but he hasn't received them, and
while
> I'm getting his emails he apparently isn't getting mine.
>
> Mark,
>
> I've got a another set of CD's ready to send you, but I want to
> confirm (since you're in Louisiana) that your address is still
valid.
> If you can respond to me at this address, or at oracle_sean@m...,
> and confirm your address for me, I'd appreciate it!
>
> YiS, and hoping that you and yours are safe,
> Sean

Does anyone have a power poinp presentation on holding a Junior Lader
Orientation and or Troop Program Planning????   My husband was asked to
do the above for Pow Wow  which is including all levels of training not
just Cub Scouts.  At first he said no as he is really maxed out right
now and didn't think he had the time to prepare for it.  I pursuaded
him to do it because he does a really good job of that type of things.
I would like to see if I can find the presentations on power  point to
sort of help him out.  I posted to a Cub Scout list I belong to and it
was sugested I post here.  Duahh I guess that is a no brainer!!!

> Does anyone have a power poinp presentation on holding a Junior Lader
> Orientation and or Troop Program Planning????

There is a video for Troop Program Planning, as well as a small pamphlet.
It's been discontinued and has not been replaced (come on, Irving!) but I
found the video in our district office. Snippets from that video would
enhance a PowWow presentation.

-John Oliphant
T696 ASM
Wabano District BS Trainer
SW Michigan Council

This column from the August 30 Washington Post looks at the evils of
PowerPoint presentations.

Dan Kurtenbach
Fairfax, VA

------------------
PowerPoint: Killer App?

  By Ruth Marcus

"I suspect that the insidious influence of PowerPoint goes beyond the way it
frustrates scientific analysis.  The deeper problem with the PowerPointing
of America -- the PowerPointing of the planet, actually -- is that the
program tends to flatten the most complex, subtle, even beautiful, ideas
into tedious, bullet-pointed bureaucratese."

  To view the entire article, go to
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/29/AR2005082901
444.html?referrer=emailarticle

>This column from the August 30 Washington Post looks at the evils of
PowerPoint presentations.

It's a great we are involved in training and not scientific analysis!

>This column from the August 30 Washington Post looks at the evils of
PowerPoint presentations.

Actually... the article made me chuckle out loud.

We all have experienced bad PowerPoint presentations.   The ones you can't
read because the type was too small... or the presentations that have
beautiful graphics or animations that have nothing to do with the point
being made... or too __few __many words...  And the worst of all -- the
obnoxious sounds of text zipping by that do nothing but detract from the
message.

Dan, your point can be expanded further to provide a few ideas for trainers:

1) Experiential learning (hands-on) works best!

2) PowerPoint presentations are great if used properly... but can detract
from the message (or worse - lull people to sleep) if not done well.

3) More training on PowerPoint for the amateurs would be helpful.  The
little they receive at TDC isn't enough....  many Councils are now offering
"Advanced Trainer Development Conference" with additional PowerPoint
training.

4) Other methods of presentation can be used effectively -- overheads, white
boards, posters, etc. (all taught at TDC).


All that being said, I am a huge fan of PowerPoint.  It works very well when
outlining, organizing and sequencing a presentation.  It can be extremely
effective at driving home key points and increasing retention.   But when I
create a presentation, I'll spend hours creating and editing them.  Then I
review and revise every presentation before and after using it.  For
instance, my Merit Badge Counselor Orientation PowerPoint is on revision
#101 and has over 600 minutes of editing time.

mm

If you want presentation software that is head and shoulders above
PowerPoint, get Keynote. I use it for industry and professional
presentations, and afterwards I'm always approached with compliments
and amazed questions like, "How did you do that?" Clients love it.
Audiences love it. I love it.

It's does what PowerPoint will do three years from now.

YiS,
Sean

>If you want presentation software that is head and shoulders above
PowerPoint, get Keynote.

Only if they bundle a free G5 with the software.

That's fine if they have a Mac.  The results I got when I Googled
Keynote is that it is only available for Mac platforms.  Do you have any
information counter to this?

	 Dave

Sean Scott wrote:
> If you want presentation software that is head and shoulders above
> PowerPoint, get Keynote. I use it for industry and professional
> presentations, and afterwards I'm always approached with compliments
> and amazed questions like, "How did you do that?" Clients love it.
> Audiences love it. I love it.
>
> It's does what PowerPoint will do three years from now.
>
> YiS,
> Sean
>
>

To reply, click on the address below.

Dave Loomis       mailto:dloomis.nh.ultranet@...
245 Union St.  (603) 431 5342
Portsmouth, NH 03801-4349

Dave,

Nope. Just for Macs, yet another reason to switch...  :)

Sean

On Sep 9, 2005, at 1:16 PM, Dave Loomis wrote:

>     That's fine if they have a Mac.  The results I got when I
> Googled Keynote is that it is only available for Mac platforms.  Do
> you have any information counter to this?
>
>     Dave
>
> Sean Scott wrote:
>
>> If you want presentation software that is head and shoulders
>> above  PowerPoint, get Keynote. I use it for industry and
>> professional  presentations, and afterwards I'm always approached
>> with compliments  and amazed questions like, "How did you do
>> that?" Clients love it.  Audiences love it. I love it.
>> It's does what PowerPoint will do three years from now.
>> YiS,
>> Sean

Yep that is exactly what he has in mind.  He just wants to show the scout
masters WHAT is avaliable.  He loved that video (trainint)  and uses it often in
the troop I was just thinking if someone had it already done he wouldn't have to
spend time reinventing the wheel!!

John Oliphant <johno@...> wrote:> Does anyone have a power poinp
presentation on holding a Junior Lader
> Orientation and or Troop Program Planning????

There is a video for Troop Program Planning, as well as a small pamphlet.
It's been discontinued and has not been replaced (come on, Irving!) but I
found the video in our district office. Snippets from that video would
enhance a PowWow presentation.

-John Oliphant
T696 ASM
Wabano District BS Trainer
SW Michigan Council



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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Sean Scott wrote:

> Nope. Just for Macs, yet another reason to switch...  :)

Now all I would need are some good Posix tools like
the ones MKS provides for Windows so I can do my
membership and LFL work.
bill

Dan Kurtenbach wrote:
> This column from the August 30 Washington Post looks at the evils of
> PowerPoint presentations.
>
> ------------------
> PowerPoint: Killer App?
>  By Ruth Marcus

Interesting article. Although he makes several valid points, I tend to
disagree with his conclusion. His points?

-A PowerPoint astronomy presentation in the middle of paradise (Hawaii) is
pretty silly. Couldn't someone raise their hand and ask: "Could you just
show us using the stars in the sky?"

-NASA safety engineers didn't understand the space shuttle's problems
because of PowerPoint???
A lousy excuse. That's no different than saying: "I was daydreaming in a
boring meeting and missed critical data about life & death decisions."
Shame on that excuse.

-Abe Lincoln fumbling the Gettysburg Address in PowerPoint. Instead of the
author's miserable example, imagine an AWESOME modern day PowerPoint
presentation - with patriotic music playing quietly in the background,
along embedded photos & video showing the horrific outcome of the battle,
and closing with uplifting images of hope.

Yes, PowerPoint is overused (I've attended more than my fair share of
boring bullet pointed presentations.) However, PowerPoint is just a tool -
and it's a useful tool when used appropriately by a competent presenter.

In addition, the author only rails against PowerPoint, without offering an
alternative. Are we all ready to return to the days of flip charts &
flannel boards, w/ the occasional high-tech white board? I'm serious. There
is a time and place for ALL presentation formats -- and a good presenter
uses the one that's best for the situation and content.

The key point from all this - the content and presenter's skills are more
important than the medium.

-Ken

A couple of years ago when I was privileged to go to the Boy Scout
Training seminar at Philmont, John Alline, the then National Boy Scout
Training Chair addressed us and mentioned that National had little
intent to use PowerPoint in Boy Scout Training.  But when they were
overwhelmed at the number of PP presentations that came their way, they
   felt that they probably should jump on board, rather than letting poor
presentations get a firm hold on training.

	 I do prefer PowerPoint presentations of Astronomy, as I usually have
some trouble with constellation descriptions that start off, "You see
those five stars right up there that look like a lion's . . . ."  I
either need a flashlight beam pointing out the specific group of five
stars, a photo luminescent star chart or some other clue as to exactly
which cluster of stars the instructor is visualizing, or the astronomic
equivalent of a cane or walker.  I am not now have never been, nor do I
play an astronomer on TV.  Perhaps one of my glaring failings.

	 As for the rest; Lincoln got enough stick from those attending his
address without getting more from us.  When I was teaching the older
Train the Trainer Course, I used to do the flip chart presentation using
an slide projector and the flannel board one using a flip chart.  This
justaposition seemed to amuse the crowd.

	 Dave

Ken Walker wrote:
> Dan Kurtenbach wrote:
>
>>This column from the August 30 Washington Post looks at the evils of
>>PowerPoint presentations.
>>
>>------------------
>>PowerPoint: Killer App?
>> By Ruth Marcus
>
>
> Interesting article. Although he makes several valid points, I tend to
> disagree with his conclusion. His points?
>
> -A PowerPoint astronomy presentation in the middle of paradise (Hawaii) is
> pretty silly. Couldn't someone raise their hand and ask: "Could you just
> show us using the stars in the sky?"
>
> -NASA safety engineers didn't understand the space shuttle's problems
> because of PowerPoint???
> A lousy excuse. That's no different than saying: "I was daydreaming in a
> boring meeting and missed critical data about life & death decisions."
> Shame on that excuse.
>
> -Abe Lincoln fumbling the Gettysburg Address in PowerPoint. Instead of the
> author's miserable example, imagine an AWESOME modern day PowerPoint
> presentation - with patriotic music playing quietly in the background,
> along embedded photos & video showing the horrific outcome of the battle,
> and closing with uplifting images of hope.
>
> Yes, PowerPoint is overused (I've attended more than my fair share of
> boring bullet pointed presentations.) However, PowerPoint is just a tool -
> and it's a useful tool when used appropriately by a competent presenter.
>
> In addition, the author only rails against PowerPoint, without offering an
> alternative. Are we all ready to return to the days of flip charts &
> flannel boards, w/ the occasional high-tech white board? I'm serious. There
> is a time and place for ALL presentation formats -- and a good presenter
> uses the one that's best for the situation and content.
>
> The key point from all this - the content and presenter's skills are more
> important than the medium.
>
> -Ken
>
>
>
>
> For subscription and delevery options send a message to:
>   scouter_t-help@yahoogroups.com
>
> Scouting The Net - http://www.ScoutingTheNet.com/
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>

--
To reply, click on the address below.

Dave Loomis       mailto:dloomis.nh.ultranet@...
245 Union St.  (603) 431 5342
Portsmouth, NH 03801-4349

On Sep 11, 2005, at 10:39 AM, Dave Loomis wrote:

>     I do prefer PowerPoint presentations of Astronomy, as I usually
> have
> some trouble with constellation descriptions that start off, "You see
> those five stars right up there that look like a lion's . . . ."  I
> either need a flashlight beam pointing out the specific group of five
> stars, a photo luminescent star chart or some other clue as to exactly
> which cluster of stars the instructor is visualizing, or the
> astronomic
> equivalent of a cane or walker.  I am not now have never been, nor
> do I
> play an astronomer on TV.  Perhaps one of my glaring failings.

That's actually what I went to school to be, and you almost stumbled
upon one of the greatest astronomy jokes ever, which lovers of the
night sky have played on thousands:

"See those three stars up there that make a triangle?"

OK, so it's geek humor!  :o

Green, wide-beamed laser pointers work well for pointing out stars at
night. They'll illuminate dust and moisture in the air better than
red ones, as our eyes are more sensitive to green wavelengths then
the red.

Another great device is what's called a projection reticle. It's kind
of like an open gunsight with a piece of clear plastic angled 45
degrees to your line of sight. From below, an led illuminates a
target that appears to float in the sky when you look through it.
Mount it on a tripod, and you can align it to point at whatever you
want, then have others look through it. What's great about it is that
it's completely open--you're not really looking through something
(like a telescope) but still seeing the whole sky with a glowing
bullseye floating in the middle. Unlike a telescope, it doesn't
invert or reverse the image. They're relatively cheap if you do a lot
of astronomy teaching, and you can build one with very little skill.
Mine is called a Telrad, and I've had it for 20 years.

YiS,
Sean

The things I learn in casual notes over The Internet!

	 I've seen a similar "splitter" or "combiner" used to combine video
outputs from two different sources, as in placing an overlay or titles
onto an existing graphic or video.  The material to be edited is sent
straight into the camera lens and the "add in" stuff is brought in at
the side, 90 degrees to the main video stream so that the two inputs are
combined by the 45 degree glass.  I just never knew that it was called a
projection reticle.

	 The astronomy joke we used to play, waaaay back before hazing was
outlawed was a skit introducing people to the concept that you can
actually see stars and planets in broad daylight provided the extraneous
input like sunlight and its reflected aspects are limited by looking up
a long column, like a well shaft or boiler chimney.  The speiler
introduces this concept and asks for a volunteer from the audience who'd
like to try this, using the sleeve of an old raincoat.  The shill
volunteers, positions himself on the ground looking up at the sky
through the sleeve, and loudly touts all the stars and other heavenly
bodies he can see by this method.  The speiler then gets a mark from the
audience, frequently a new guy who hasn't seen this previously, or a
staff member who doesn't mind being used.

	 The mark takes his position under the raincoat which blocks the view of
the area including the shill who has come up with a pot or dipper of
water, and waits until the speiler gets the mark looking in vain for any
constellations, and finally says, "Well at least you can see the Big
Dipper, it's right up there it is very hard to miss; in fact I can see
it without any aid to observation and it looks as if it is dipping . .
."  and the shill empties the can of water down the sleeve.

	 There are some darned good reasons why we have relegated this skit and
many others like it to the ignoble history of Scouting as she was done
way back when.

	 Dave

Sean Scott wrote:
>
> That's actually what I went to school to be, and you almost stumbled
> upon one of the greatest astronomy jokes ever, which lovers of the
> night sky have played on thousands:
>
> "See those three stars up there that make a triangle?"
>
> OK, so it's geek humor!  :o
>
> Green, wide-beamed laser pointers work well for pointing out stars at
> night. They'll illuminate dust and moisture in the air better than
> red ones, as our eyes are more sensitive to green wavelengths then
> the red.
>
> Another great device is what's called a projection reticle. It's kind
> of like an open gunsight with a piece of clear plastic angled 45
> degrees to your line of sight. From below, an led illuminates a
> target that appears to float in the sky when you look through it.
> Mount it on a tripod, and you can align it to point at whatever you
> want, then have others look through it. What's great about it is that
> it's completely open--you're not really looking through something
> (like a telescope) but still seeing the whole sky with a glowing
> bullseye floating in the middle. Unlike a telescope, it doesn't
> invert or reverse the image. They're relatively cheap if you do a lot
> of astronomy teaching, and you can build one with very little skill.
> Mine is called a Telrad, and I've had it for 20 years.
>
> YiS,
> Sean
>
>
To reply, click on the address below.

Dave Loomis       mailto:dloomis.nh.ultranet@...
245 Union St.  (603) 431 5342
Portsmouth, NH 03801-4349

Ken Walker wrote...

[snip]
> Yes, PowerPoint is overused (I've attended more than my fair
> share of boring bullet pointed presentations.) However,
> PowerPoint is just a tool - and it's a useful tool when used
> appropriately by a competent presenter.

As both a user and victim of PPT, I really don't see much of a
difference between a bad PPT presentation and a bad flip chart or
flannel-board presentation.

The problem is that, like many other things, the user thinks that
just because they _can_ do something, they should.  They _can_ do
all those annoying graphics and sounds with PPT.  They _can_ go 90
mph on the hiway, even though the speed limit is much lower.

I think most of you see my point.

My biggest problem is with intercompatibility.  A  PPT presentaion
created using the Office 97 version of PPT and a PC with Windows
2000 may not operate the same when run on a PC using Windows 95.
Don't ask me how I know that.  :/

> In addition, the author only rails against PowerPoint, without
> offering an alternative. Are we all ready to return to the days
> of flip charts & flannel boards, w/ the occasional high-tech
> white board? I'm serious. There is a time and place for ALL
> presentation formats -- and a good presenter uses the one that's
> best for the situation and content.

And even with TDC and advanced training classes, a bad trainer may
still be a bad trainer.

> The key point from all this - the content and presenter's skills
> are more important than the medium.

That is a good point; It's not the tool that the trainer uses to
get the point across -- it's the skill of the trainer in getting
that point across, that makes the difference.

YiS,

Chuck Bramlet -- Phoenix, Az.    -----    mailto:antelope95@...
I "used to be" an Antelope!                --            WEM-10-95
Thunderbird District                       -- Grand Canyon Council
District Committee Member at Large
-------------------------------------------------------------------
"The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing"
                                                -- Stephen R. Covey
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Dave L wrote:
> A couple of years ago when I was privileged to go to the
> Boy Scout Training seminar at Philmont, John Alline,
> the then National Boy Scout Training Chair addressed us
> and mentioned that National had little intent to use PowerPoint
> in Boy Scout Training.  But when they were overwhelmed
> at the number of PP presentations that came their way, they
> felt that they probably should jump on board, rather than letting
> poor presentations get a firm hold on training.

Hmm, when are we going to see these "not poor" presentations? :-) I've see a
few provided by National and they, ummm, to borrow the term used in that ad
for televisions, they suck. WB21 comes to mind...a decent template but no
content, yet unprintable.

There are lots of us who create these things for a living, and if national
would just ask, they could get sets of slides FAR better quality than what
I've seen so far. Maybe we should create a National Digital Presentation
Task Force. ;-)

John Oliphant
T696 ASM
Wabano District BS Trainer
SW Michigan Council

----- Original Message -----
   From: Ken Walker<mailto:Ken.Walker@...>
   To: scouter_t@yahoogroups.com<mailto:scouter_t@yahoogroups.com>
   In addition, the author only rails against PowerPoint, without offering an
   alternative. Are we all ready to return to the days of flip charts &
   flannel boards, w/ the occasional high-tech white board? I'm serious. There
   is a time and place for ALL presentation formats -- and a good presenter
   uses the one that's best for the situation and content.

   The key point from all this - the content and presenter's skills are more
   important than the medium.

   -Ken

Hear, Hear! I have seen many presentations that were EXCELLENT in Power Point
and many that were difficult to keep eyes open using ANY other method. Often
times the same people that make boring presentations will do so what ever the
tools in use!


Rick

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Scouter Chuck wrote:

>
> And even with TDC and advanced training classes, a bad trainer may
> still be a bad trainer.

  From my perspective, this touches on the key point of this discussion.

I have attended two TDC's, both of which included PPT as a recommended
tool and about 5-10 mins was spent reviewing how to create a PPT
presentation.  My thoughts reflect on the mistakes I have sat through.

a) The TDC is not the proper forum for teaching software use.  It just
shouldn't even be tried.  Give the TDC participants suggestions on where
they can go for learning.

b) The classes I have attended did not do a good job of presenting the
how and when to use PPT and the pitfalls to avoid.  It was only because
the class attendees pushed the topic in Q&A that it was covered
adequately (causing the presenter some anxiety as his schedule went over
time).

The presenter needs to stay engaged with his/her audience.  There is a
problem as soon as
1) the presenter engages with the presentation tools, or
2) the presentation tools distract from the audiences engagement with
the presenter.
And, this can be a real fine line to walk.

My $.02.  YiS,
- Chad
Troop 293, Chief Black Dog, Northern Star Council
Apple Valley, MN

For a session of our Trainer Development Conference, we have someone teach about
PPT.  One of the things he says is "We *CAN* add such and such and such and such
to the presentation, and it might be okay for one or two slides, but how
annoying would it get if every slide jumped, and clicked, and boinged, and ...."

He then proceeds to show us how a little 'oomph' adds to the presentation, and
how 'a lot' is overkill.   He compares it to perfume/aftershave.  Sometimes a
little is needed, even appreciated, but when you bathe in it .... ;-)

He's a professional trainer.  He gets paid to present training for Raytheon.

--- In scouter_t@yahoogroups.com, "Dan Kurtenbach"
<danielkurtenbach@h...> wrote:
> This column from the August 30 Washington Post looks at the evils of
> PowerPoint presentations.
>

Old news.

Scott Adams addressed this in Dilbert years ago, when someone died
of 'powerpoint poisoning' during a several hundred slide PPT
presentation.

Also, even longer ago, Scott McNeilly of Sun banned PPT at Sun.  He
found that tons of server space was being taken up by PPT, so banned
it.  He felt PPT was a waste of resources and productivity.

Michael Brown

On Sep 12, 2005, at 6:09 AM, John Oliphant wrote:

> Hmm, when are we going to see these "not poor" presentations? :-)
> I've see a
> few provided by National and they, ummm, to borrow the term used in
> that ad
> for televisions, they suck. WB21 comes to mind...a decent template
> but no
> content, yet unprintable.

John,

I have to disagree with you. They weren't good templates, either. The
versions that I have placed all of the graphic background images
individually on each and every slide, rather than in the background.
I ended up taking every presentation and redoing them, and not that
I'm a PPT expert or presentation genius, I found that:

* Fonts were too small to be read
* Skinny, serif fonts were used, which are not as readable in a
projection
* Different presentations actually had different styles (sizing,
object placement, etc.)
* None of the presentations included learning objectives; some
omitted summaries
* Presentations often included the super-annoying "whoosh" sound effect
* Many slides just threw information on the screen, rather than
revealing a bullet point at a time--this is a pet peeve of mine,
since it allows people to read ahead and stop listening
* Some slides were just filled with garbage--besides the author, I
think there are some that include the publisher and publication date
of materials--better placed in a bibliography than in the
presentation itself
* Graphics were included without having their transparency set, which
made the slides look like they were thrown together by someone with
no skills
* Boilerplate graphics, that should be in the same spot on every
slide, were in fact positioned differently, creating an annoying
jumping transition effect from one slide to the next
* Some of the graphics (I believe in the team development slides) use
dark colors on their graphs, which all look the same in, say, a camp
dining hall at 2PM, and prevent people from distinguishing the
different lines
* The files themselves were not reliably portable across versions of
PPT, across versions of the OS, or across OS's

As you pointed out, there was LOTS of content missing. In some
presentations, there were whole sections that were left out that
could very reasonably have been included.

It would have been nice to have gotten the files as a kit, with
(well) prepared presentations for those that are happy with the
material out of the box, plus a design template with different slide
layouts built in--one for titles, one for displaying pictures/videos,
single/multicolumn layout, etc., for those that would rather build or
customize their own. An added bonus would have been having the video
as mpeg video, avi file, Quicktime, whatever, so that it could be
dropped into the slideshow itself.

As someone else pointed out, when the presenter is fumbling with the
technology the audience is lost. I can't imagine doing "Values,
Vision and Mission" and switching between a TV and projector, or
flipping the inputs of the projector from computer to video and
fumbling with a VCR and a laptop. It would be distracting to me as a
presenter--imagine the impact on the audience!

YiS,
Sean

Michael Brown wrote:
> Also, even longer ago, Scott McNeilly of Sun banned PPT at Sun.
> He found that tons of server space was being taken up by PPT,
> so banned it.  He felt PPT was a waste of resources and
> productivity.

I've heard these stories - that the Army, NASA, Sun, etc
have "banned" the use of Powerpoint for presentations. Which leads
back to my original question:
-What are these people using for presentations? (or maybe he banned
all presentations?? -- now there's a thought!)

I can't think of another media format that doesn't "waste resources &
productivity". Show of hands - creating transparencies (overheads,
foils, etc) is faster & better? Or how about photograhic slides? or a
grease pencil on acetate? Flannel boards and flip charts in a
corporate presentation? C'mon man ..... puhhh-leeeaze spare me.

When will "they" figure out that PPT is just a media format, and the
problem is in the gray matter creating the presentation - and NOT the
format?

Oh, and if Scott McNeilly does a survey of corporate computing
resources, he will soon find the real culprit of "wasted resources
and productivity" -- EMAIL -- LOTS OF IT! His company sells tons of
hardware to help customers in this area!!! LOL I suspect he never
suggested "don't use email".

I love this millenium!

-Ken

If the army has banned PowerPoint for presentations it hasn't
trickled down very far.

Pete M.

-----Original Message-----
From: scouter_t@yahoogroups.com [mailto:scouter_t@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf
Of Ken Walker

I've heard these stories - that the Army, NASA, Sun, etc
have "banned" the use of Powerpoint for presentations. Which leads
back to my original question:
-What are these people using for presentations? (or maybe he banned
all presentations?? -- now there's a thought!)

<snip>
-Ken






[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

You know, I've heard this about skunks too.

	 Dave

Ida Lively wrote:
>
> He then proceeds to show us how a little 'oomph' adds to the presentation, and
how 'a lot' is overkill.   He compares it to perfume/aftershave.  Sometimes a
little is needed, even appreciated, but when you bathe in it .... ;-)
>
>

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Dave Loomis       mailto:dloomis.nh.ultranet@...
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