I’ve been putting together a series of thoughts on slides to share my perspectives on work and learning in the network era. I’ve called these presentations visual calling cards. The words on these slides come from the posts I’ve written here over several years.
While discussing my latest slide series with my colleague Jane Hart, we wondered which format would be preferable: a slideshow controlled by the viewer, or slides set to music in a streaming video. Does the music and flow enhance or detract from the presentation?
In the spirit of learning by doing, I’ll let you decide. Feedback is always appreciated.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6r0z7Xaj7aA
I suppose it depends on personal preferences. I find that the music enhances the presentation, increasing the emotional appeal. Of course, afterwards it is nice to have the slides as well.
I think it is the first time I comment on your blog so I’d like to say thank you. I am learning a lot with your posts!
Hi, Harold
Appreciate your open attitude and willingness to have your work evaluated by others.
Both the self-controlled and the automated versions have important uses. Why not do both?
Personally, I prefer the self-controlled version where I decide when to move on and which way to go when I do:) Sometimes the thoughts are so self-evident or familiar to me, I absorb quickly and am ready to see more. Other times I like to live with a thought for a while and reflect on it.
Either way, this is good stuff:) Thanks for sharing.
John
I like both Harold. The music and auto play is relaxing and the messages connect differently (not better or worse) than the straight slide presentation. I do like how you are compiling key messages and combining them with visuals. Well done.
I prefer the slides that I can progress through at my own pace; personally I find the music and video presentations corny. The pace and the music I generally find inappropriate for my tastes, and usually skip through them, not finishing the entire video.
My two cents: I liked the music, the visuals, and the text, but found they did not link up in an integrated way–not sure why. I found my attention at times more focused on one or two of these elements at at time. I wonder if the music was more in the background (quieter), if all three become more linked. I would have liked to linger longer on some slides, so having the control would have served that interest. However, what I assume to be the intention of the presentation–to consider alternative perspectives and think about who they might be applied to my work and learning, was fulfilled in an affective evocative way.–good work!
I think the view counts tell the story best:
YouTube 56 views
Slideshare 387 views
I m such a fan of music that i cannot focus on the text while listening to the music. I definitely prefer the version where you can decide when to move on. What about even another version? You decide when to go to the next slide and there is an option: music or not.
I’m not sure how to program that option, Isabel.
I watched both, video first, then slides. While viewing slides I realized that the music and/or timing of slides in the video distracted me from the message. I hit slides that I didn’t remember from the video – I remembered the pic, not the text. I prefer the slide deck. Additionally, I like the idea of being able to put notes onto slides for additional content for students. Appreciate the opportunity to see both in action!
Hi Harold, I liked both of them. The slideshow works best on the web for me- I like to be able to click through at my own speed, however I think the slideshow with the music would work really well on a loop for when people arrived for a training session or similar situation. I agree with @Brent that the music makes the message connect in a different way