Death by PowerPoint… or Presentation Perfection?

Week 3 Discussion  |  CI2000: Computer Fundamentals  |  60 Points

Aligns with CO-5 (Microsoft PowerPoint)


Healthcare Context

In healthcare, presentations aren’t just for boardrooms—they’re used for patient education. Think about presenting to diverse populations: elderly patients, non-English speakers, individuals with low health literacy. A poorly designed presentation doesn’t just bore people—it can lead to misunderstanding critical health information. Good design saves lives.

Discussion Prompt (Three Parts)

Part 1 — The Bad

Describe the worst presentation you have ever seen or experienced. What made it terrible? Which CARP design principles (Contrast, Alignment, Repetition, Proximity) were violated? Did it break the 6×6 Rule (no more than 6 bullet points per slide, no more than 6 words per bullet)?

Part 2 — The Good

Now describe the best presentation you have ever seen. What made it effective? How did the presenter use visuals, layout, and delivery to communicate their message clearly?

Part 3 — Your Turn

Imagine you are creating a PowerPoint presentation on Type 2 Diabetes for patient education at a community health clinic. Describe three specific design decisions you would make and explain the rationale behind each. Reference CARP principles or the 6×6 Rule by name.

Requirements

  • Initial post: 200+ words
  • Apply CARP principles and/or 6×6 Rule by name
  • Address all three parts (Bad, Good, Your Turn)
  • Two replies to classmates — 75+ words each

Due Dates

  • Initial Post: Wednesday by 11:59 PM (ET)
  • Two Replies: Sunday by 11:59 PM (ET)

Grading Rubric

CriterionPoints
Part 1 — “Bad” analysis with specific CARP violations identified20
Part 2 — “Good” analysis explaining what made it effective15
Part 3 — Three design decisions with rationale (CARP / 6×6)15
Two substantive replies to classmates (75+ words each)10
Total60

“Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.”

— Steve Jobs