Ryan's Rules of PowerPoint (abridged)
(1) Not using PowerPoint is the new PowerPoint. Just let the people talk and throw up key images. People want to talk. #MedEd

https://twitter.com/mcsassymd/status/1013851867510640641

(2) You are the expert on the topic - you're the only one who read about this before your talk. Don't underestimate yourself. Be prepared and have minimal slides (have back-up slides if someone in the audience is contrary and insists on seeing slides).

(3) no cartoons or funny slides. People take in jokes or gifs are different speeds. So you end up with a staggered polite laugh. You can make jokes that sound spontaneous, but staged slides are never as funny to anyone else (fka the GaryLarson rule of PPT)

(4) Be prepared to crush the person who asks you a question (well, more of a comment, really).

(5) Keep it simple. Recommend black font on white slides. Or white font on black slides. Just know what works better in the room you're in.

(6) Never dim the lights. And never let anyone dim the lights.

(7) instead of doing four slides in a row, where you summarize four different studies, put all four key images on one slide and make your own summary about the data (again being prepared to describe all the studies in detail if asked).

(8) Kick back. Have fun. People are coming to here you talk. Develop your own style over the next few years. Think of your evolution on talks as like the evolution of the Beatles catalogue (1969 was much better than 1963....10k hours etc,).

(9) Time your talk for 2/3s the length of the time allotted. No one ever complains when the speaker finishes early.

(10) Walk around the room. Even without a mic. It's engaging and heart healthy.

(11) Feel free to ignore Ryan's Rules.
- my talks are not as good as I think they are.
- fin