will produce more reliable results than will a single interview. An institution looking to make novel advances may therefore consider piloting a program with more interviews per applicant, for example four 20-minute interviews per applicant. Such
an arrangement would be an interesting area of research that need not add significant cost or time to the interview day. As for validity, it is the responsibility of the selecting institution to stipulate what it is attempting to gain from the interview
and what interpersonal qualities it requires of its students. Piloting a standardized scoring card targeted at identifying these qualities, as well as training interviewers to recognize these traits, may improve interview score reliability and validity.
Best Practices PowerPoint Presentation Design Demetri Blanas PowerPoint software is a ubiquitous medium of communication and teaching in academic medicine. Its versatility provides teachers with a wide range of options for conveying concepts and ideas. However, misuse of the PowerPoint format can be distracting to audiences. We outline here a set of best practices guidelines for designing PowerPoint presentations. Text slides: Individual PowerPoint slides should convey a single primary point. Any individual slide should have no more than seven lines. Text should stay within slide borders. Write in point form – use key points or phrases instead of full sentences. Font type and size: Presentations should employ a single uniform font-type. Font types are divided into “serif” and “sans serif” ("no serif"). Serifs are the structural details at the end of letter strokes that in written text can guide the reader’s eye. In computer projected text, however, they are considered distracting. Choose only sans serif fonttypes for PowerPoint presentations. Font sizes should be kept to two (titles and non-titles). Use at least 18 size. Letter case: Reader comprehension is improved with lower case letters compared to upper case. Therefore, consider minimizing the use of upper case font even for titles. Interestingly, readers recognize letters first by the top half of the letter, and lower case letters present a distinctive shape whereas upper case letters consist of block forms that are generally more difficult to distinguish from each other. Color: Use no more than three colors per slide or for the entire presentation. Ensure adequate contrast between text and background (light font on dark text or vice versa). Avoid red or green for color-blind members of the audience. If you use an additional color, use it to emphasize a point. Transitions: Avoid complex transitions with animation or sound effects. These generally distract the viewer from the content of the presentation, and may be associated with amateur use. Tables and graphs: Tables and graphs should be kept to a maximum of three columns and three rows. They should be clearly labeled. Charts should have only one main point to convey to the audience. Pace: Use no more than 1-2 slides per minute. References: Appropriately reference any tables or quotes used during your presentation. Include an asterix or numbers, and indicate the reference at the bottom of the slide. Disclosures: Include a slide disclosing any personal or financial relationships that could present a conflict of interest. PowerPoint software has greatly facilitated and standardized presentations, providing presenters with a wide range of flexibility and options. By adhering to simple principles, presenters can create more effective and engaging presentations. Source: Collins J. Education techniques for lifelong learning: making a PowerPoint presentation. Radiographics 2004;24(4):1177-83.
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