MLDP Recap: "Presentation Design for the User Experience" with Dave Uejio

MLDP participants explored the ways they could make their presentations more effective. Photo by Philip Son '16.

Mr. Uejio opened the session with a discussion of why learning how to present information effectively is an important skill for leaders. He showed us examples of various presentations that creatively used visual tools to bring data to life, as well as instances of presentations that failed to convey data in a captivating and informative way. After this, Mr. Uejio split students into several groups, and assigned them to create short PowerPoint presentations utilizing the advice he provided at the beginning of the session. Mr. Uejio and the participants provided specific feedback on each slideshow.

Uejio explains the importance of designing an effective presentation. Photo by Philip Son '16.

Students responded positively to Mr. Uejio’s activity, emphasizing how the advice he gave boosted the caliber of the PowerPoints enormously. Antonia Hoidal ’16 commented: “the resources that we were given added a whole new level to the quality of a presentation.” Jasper Bingham ’17 added, “Mr. Uejio gave us a set of easy-to-use techniques that could quickly turn any mundane, unorganized presentation into one that would be captivating and instructive to viewers.”

This ongoing series explores sessions of the Management and Leadership Development Program (MLDP) through participant narratives. MLDP is a one-term program designed to develop citizen leaders among sophomores, juniors, and seniors at Dartmouth College. Led by expert guest speakers each week, sessions employ experiential teaching techniques to engage students through hands-on learning of core management and leadership skills.