April 23, 2024
Virtual Lab, Thomas Adewumi University.
In a bid to equip its graduating students with essential skills for professional success, Thomas Adewumi University hosted a transformative career programme titled "From Bland to Grand: The Art of Dynamic PowerPoint Presentations." Hosted by the esteemed Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Francisca Oladipo and facilitated by the dynamic Miss Bilikis Olawuyi from Summit University, Offa, aimed to revolutionize students' presentation abilities for effective project presentations and defences
The event commenced with Prof. Francisca Oladipo extending a warm welcome to Miss Bilikis Olawuyi, recognizing her expertise in presentation design and facilitation. "Miss Bilikis is here to guide you in harnessing the power of PowerPoint to elevate your presentation skills," remarked Prof. Francisca.
Miss Bilikis delved straight into the heart of the programme, dividing it into two engaging segments: theory and practical. As a proficient researcher in Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence applications, Grant writing, Presentation design, Facilitation, and Graphic design, she brought a wealth of knowledge to the table. The agenda covered crucial topics such as common PowerPoint mistakes, principles of dynamic presentations, design and layout tips, and AI tools for PowerPoint, with an emphasis on fostering captivating and impactful presentations.
Under Miss Bilikis's guidance, students learned to avoid common pitfalls such as excessive text and poor design while embracing principles like simplicity, high-quality visuals, and storytelling to engage their audience effectively. She stressed the importance of brevity and visual appeal in captivating an audience. The principles of dynamic presentations and the Design and layout tips focused on font selection, text-image balance, and whitespace utilization for optimal impact.
The highlight of the session was the introduction of AI tools for PowerPoint, offering innovative solutions to enhance presentation aesthetics. From slide design and content generation to leveraging images, graphics, and icons, students gained valuable insights into leveraging technology to elevate their presentations.
Transitioning to the practical segment, students eagerly participated in hands-on training sessions, learning the intricacies of PowerPoint design and presentation. Miss Bilikis guided them through the process, providing valuable insights and feedback. As the programme concluded, the facilitator assigned a take-home task, challenging students to convert their project proposals into dynamic slide presentations—a practical application of the skills they had acquired.
Thomas Adewumi University's commitment to nurturing well-rounded students was evident in the success of the "From Bland to Grand" programme. With enhanced presentation skills and newfound confidence, these students are primed to make a remarkable impression in their future endeavors, thanks to the expertise of Miss Bilikis Abimbola Olawuyi.
