The amazing 10/20/30 rule that nobody listens to

Ever make a Powerpoint? Of course you have and in high school we do it a lot. But sadly most of them are BORING AS HELL!

Until Guy Kawasaki came along, most people would type everything they could onto their Powerpoint in tiny 3 point font and then just read off all the information hoping we stay awake and actually learn something. Then Guy proclaims the 10/20/30 rule stating that a Powerpoint should have no more than 10 slides, 20 minutes, and no less than 30 point font. That is an ingenius rule that not only proves you actually know what you are talking about but keeps the audience awake.

I am very sad to say that this does not apply to high school. As soon as I heard about this rule I used it immediately in all my presentation assignments. It was nice and easy to make and my speaking was effective. But recently a teacher did not approve and I got a C. She explained that my lack of text shows I did not research enough info and that it was too quick for the class to actually absorb any information. Last time I checked it was a “presentation” assignment, not a “Powerpoint” assignment and I was able to express everything through my speech and talked at a moderate pace to keep everyone awake. On the other hand someone that wrote in barely 5 point font, read almost everything off of the screen, which I actually slept through, got a decent A from the teacher. Obviously this does not apply to all teachers but now I am a little afraid to use this rule because any other teacher might feel the same way. Maybe it is because the teachers have sat through countless number of boring Powerpoints that they are used to it and a good one is too new for them to handle. Once again my ambition to act outside the box worked against me but I’m going to continue until they recognize what I do. I encourage everyone to act a little differently than how the ‘mob’ rolls and hope it pays off. How else can the world hear me?

~Kevin X