I've read the blog posts on making lists (read:bullet points) more interesting when you just can't avoid them, but I'd be interested in hearing what everyone else has come up with. I've hit a creative rut. Thanks!
To add on to Bruce’s comment – if you write good narration for them , you can often use just one word instead of a whole bulleted phrase/sentence.And then you have options for how those words appear on the screen – they don’t have to be in a traditional list.Each word can take up most of the screen and fade in and then out, one at a time, as the narration runs.Or they could be “scattered” all over the screen.Or… any number of other options I can’t think of right now.=)
I usually have a bullet list of topics at the beginning of a lesson, but your comments make me realize that they don't necessarily have to be bullets -- they can be displayed in other ways.
Hi Katie! Have you seen this before? Cathy Moore did a great piece on avoiding information dumps and Tom Kuhlmann re-purposed to show other ways to present bulleted lists.
If I do need to add bullets, I've created a more interesting bullet using the oval shape tool for the bullet and a text box for the text. You can group these or use them separately. I then have them fade or animate in as they occur in the timeline/narration.
To make this easier, I've created different template slides that have 10 of these built and spread out in my timeline and then it's easier to use them where they are needed. I just add the text and then delete any that I don't use or copy to add more.
Because groups won't align to the playhead, if I have a series of bullets, I'll use the bullet image separate from the text (not in a group) and keep the bullet visible throughout the display of text boxes. It makes it easier to align the text boxes to the playhead where you need them.
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Don't know how you can make them more interesting with only one choice of bullet style!
Normally - I get around the issue of bullets by finding ways of writing, or narrating complete sentences.
Bruce
To add on to Bruce’s comment – if you write good narration for them , you can often use just one word instead of a whole bulleted phrase/sentence. And then you have options for how those words appear on the screen – they don’t have to be in a traditional list. Each word can take up most of the screen and fade in and then out, one at a time, as the narration runs. Or they could be “scattered” all over the screen. Or… any number of other options I can’t think of right now. =)
Yes, with bullet points, a write-up looks more prominent and interesting. Its easy to read and remember. Also it looks professional.
How about using a Wordle and then spotlighting or lightboxing technique to talk about them?
Bob
I usually have a bullet list of topics at the beginning of a lesson, but your comments make me realize that they don't necessarily have to be bullets -- they can be displayed in other ways.
Thanks all for opening the box!
LOVE this idea!
Hi Katie! Have you seen this before? Cathy Moore did a great piece on avoiding information dumps and Tom Kuhlmann re-purposed to show other ways to present bulleted lists.
Dump the Drone
If I do need to add bullets, I've created a more interesting bullet using the oval shape tool for the bullet and a text box for the text. You can group these or use them separately. I then have them fade or animate in as they occur in the timeline/narration.
To make this easier, I've created different template slides that have 10 of these built and spread out in my timeline and then it's easier to use them where they are needed. I just add the text and then delete any that I don't use or copy to add more.
Because groups won't align to the playhead, if I have a series of bullets, I'll use the bullet image separate from the text (not in a group) and keep the bullet visible throughout the display of text boxes. It makes it easier to align the text boxes to the playhead where you need them.
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