Create Something Unique
Imagine you're a professor grading 29 presentations for five classes. The same-old, same-old can get pretty boring very quickly. While you always want to read the assignment instructions very carefully, many professors leave room for creativity. And while it takes more effort to do more than slap some bullet points on a few slides, most people in your audience will appreciate your attempt at creating something unique and engaging. This website is designed to give you resources to go beyond PowerPoint.
Tips for creating unique presentations and class projects:
Start Small and Plan Ahead
Keep your project manageable. New skills take time to develop, start with a small project the first time around and then scale up, building on your new skills set. Planning is key. Make sure you leave yourself enough time to complete the project.
Utilize Your Resources
Use the resources available to you online and at the library. Many services and online web apps offer free options and the library’s MavericksMake Makerspace offers a variety of hardware and software for you to use. Let us know if you can’t find something you need; we’re really good at finding solutions on a budget.
Get Some Help
Use resources like YouTube, Instructables, or product forms for tutorials that will walk you through the elements of the project when you need help. A quick search for what you're trying to do and "walk-through" or "tutorial" will usually yield some helpful information to get you headed in the right direction. Check out our MavericksMake online guide resource to help you get started using a variety of tools and resources.
Stick with it. Learning new stuff is hard, but rewarding. While your end product might not be what you envisioned, you'll likely walk away with some valuable lessons and skills that can be applied again later. And don't forget a grateful professor who will avoided death by powerpoint just this once...
Cite Your Sources
Don't forget to give credit, where credit is due. The format might be different from a traditional research paper, but you should still using quality resources, both popular and scholarly, to support the information in your projects. Be sure to provide full citations in the footer or a separate section of your project. For more information on citing sources, check out our Citation Guide.