how to make a history presentation interesting

12 Easy Steps to Make a Presentation Creative (+ Examples)

Learn how to make a presentation creative without PowerPoint, and draw inspiration from creative presentation examples by industry and use case.

Dominika Krukowska

9 minute read

Short answer

How can I make a presentation more creative?

• Start with captivating cover videos
• Add chapters for smooth navigation
• Weave in personalization using dynamic variables
• Enhance storytelling with animations
• Highlight key points using subtle visual cues
• Engage with interactive elements
• Showcase ideas using vibrant images
• Sprinkle in video narrations
• Wrap up with a smart CTA

Boring presentations can damage your brand’s image

Boring presentations can feel like those endless meetings where one person monopolizes the conversation. You know, the ones where you’re zoning out, doodling on the side of your notes, just waiting for it to end so you could move on to something more engaging.

That's the disconnect your audience experiences when faced with a boring presentation.

What’s even worse is that when your presentation is dull, it doesn't just bore your audience—it subtly suggests that you or your brand might be, well, kind of boring too .

The good thing is that with the right tweaks and insights, every presentation holds the potential to be memorable.

In this post, we're diving deep into the heart of what makes a presentation creative. We'll explore the mistakes that lead to forgettable slides and the strategies to elevate your content.

By the end, you’ll have all it takes to transform your presentation from mundane to magnetic and have your audience engage with it from the first click to the last.

Let’s go!

What makes a presentation boring?

A boring presentation is a mix of repetitive designs and long chunks of text without a human touch. When slides come off as too generic or overly complex, or they swing between being too predictable or hard to grasp, they lose their spark.

Add in a lack of visuals, real stories, or interaction, and you've got a recipe for audience disinterest.

To truly engage, a presentation should blend interaction, emotion, and content that is relevant to the audience.

How to make a presentation creative step-by-step

Modern presentations are more than just slides—they're experiences. Gone are the days of static bullet points; today's audience craves engagement, interactivity, and a touch of the unexpected.

Let's explore how to make your presentation more creative step-by-step:

1) Add videos to break up text

Videos can set the tone, explain complex ideas, or simply entertain. By strategically placing them at key moments where you feel energy might dip, you make sure your audience remains engaged, and your message is reinforced.

Whether it's a real-life testimonial, a product demo, or a fun animation, videos can breathe life into abstract concepts, making them tangible and relatable.

And, there’s science behind it too: presentations with a video on the cover slide see 32% more engagement . But the magic of videos doesn't stop at the cover. Presentations sprinkled with videos throughout held people's attention 37% longer and even boosted the click-through rate on calls-to-action by 17%.

2) Create a non-linear flow

Who said presentations have to be a straight line? Let's mix it up! By linking slides, you're handing the remote to your audience. It's like those 'choose your own adventure' books from our childhood.

Group your slides into themes or create chapters and let them pick what they want to see next. It's a fun, interactive way to keep them on their toes and engaged.

3) Use personalization for creating tailored stories

You know those emails that greet you by name and make you feel all special? Imagine bringing that warmth to your presentations using dynamic variables.

By integrating with your CRM, you can fetch specific data about your audience and weave it into your slides. This simple trick can make your audience feel like the content was crafted specifically for them, creating a deeper connection.

If you’re making a presentation to showcase your product, you can even use dynamic variables to create a mock-up with your prospect’s name and logo on it to make your deck stand out.

4) Use narrated design

Scrollytelling is where the magic of scrolling meets the art of storytelling. It's an interactive content experience that weaves text, images, videos, and animations into a captivating narrative.

Instead of static slides, scrollytelling guides readers through a story, allowing them to control the pace. It breaks down complex content into bite-sized chunks, enhancing engagement and retention.

Our founder, Itai Amoza, wanted everyone to enjoy this dynamic content experience. So, he joined forces with visualization expert Prof. Steven Franconeri to weave scrollytelling into Storydoc.

Thanks to their partnership, we have dedicated storytelling slides in Storydoc, like the narrator slide you can see below , designed to make content both clear and captivating for all.

5) Tell stories with videos

Videos have this unique power to turn complex ideas into simple, engaging stories. A video might break down a tricky process into fun, easy-to-follow narrative, or give us a peek into real-life examples or experiences.

It's all about making your content feel alive, relatable, and super easy to understand. Because, let's face it, everyone's a sucker for a good story.

Here's a great example of a storytelling video:

6) Use roadmap and timeline slides

Ever tried reading a long-winded description of a company's journey or a product's development process? Yawn, right?

Now, imagine swapping that snooze-fest with a vibrant roadmap or timeline. Instead of slogging through paragraphs, you get a fun, visual play-by-play.

Picture a colorful line showing a startup's journey from a garage brainstorm to its first big sale.

Or a playful timeline marking the stages of turning a wild idea into a bestselling product. It's like turning a history lesson into a comic strip—way more fun and a whole lot clearer!

You can see what it looks like below:

7) Direct attention using animations

Ever been to a theater where the spotlight focuses on the main act? That's what animations do for your presentation.

Whether it's a cheeky arrow pointing out a fun fact, a grand entrance animation for a new idea, or using grayed-out content to highlight a key point, animations are your stage directors.

They ensure your audience's eyes are exactly where you want them to be, soaking in all the important bits.

Here's a great example:

8) Add interactive calculators

Who said numbers have to be boring? With interactive calculators, you're turning math into a fun game. Let your audience punch in numbers and see real-time results.

Whether they're calculating potential savings, ROI, or just playing around, it's an engaging and creative way to make your points tangible. It's like turning your presentation into a hands-on workshop.

9) Use AI-generated images

Instead of sifting through countless stock photos, thanks to the magic of AI, you can have an image that's tailor-made for your slide in seconds.

Storydoc presentation maker lets you generate any image directly in your deck - just give the AI assistant a short description and you’re good to go.

What's great is that you always get an image that matches your topic to a tee. No more "that'll do" compromises. Plus, think of all the time you save when you don't have to hunt for the right picture or take it yourself.

Here's a short video showing how it works:

10) Pop into the presentation with video bubble narration

Imagine if, during a presentation, a mini version of you could pop up, share a quick tip, or clarify a point. That's video bubble narration in a nutshell.

It's like having a friendly guide accompanying your audience, ensuring they get the most out of your content. It adds a creative personal touch, making your presentation feel like a cozy chat between friends.

11) Use before-and-after to show transformation

There's something magical about witnessing a transformation. Just think about the buzz online when someone shares a 'before and after' of a design revamp, weight loss journey, or how they helped a client grow their business.

With a before-and-after slide , you're giving your audience that 'aha!' moment. Even if you can't see their reactions in real-time, you can bet they're sliding back and forth, captivated by the change.

Whether it's showcasing a product's impact, a website redesign, or a process improvement, it's a visual treat that makes your message more powerful.

Here's an example of a before-and-after slide:

12) Close with a smart CTA

The grand finale of your presentation deserves a touch of flair. Instead of a simple 'Thank you' slide, imagine ending with an interactive live chat prompt or a calendar invite for a follow-up. It's like the encore at the end of a concert, giving your audience a chance to engage further.

These smart CTAs aren't just functional; they're creative extensions of your narrative. By integrating them, you're not just concluding your presentation; you're opening doors to new conversations and possibilities.

Here's a great example of a smart CTA:

3 presentation opening ideas

Kicking off a presentation with a bang can set the tone for everything that follows. Here are 3 captivating ways to grab your audience's attention right from the get-go:

Dive into a story: Begin with a personal anecdote or a relatable tale. It's like inviting your audience around a campfire, setting the stage for a memorable narrative.

Pose a thought-provoking question: Challenge your viewers with a question that gets their gears turning. It's an instant engagement booster, making them active participants.

Share a startling statistic: Drop a number that makes jaws drop. When you hit them with a fact that's hard to ignore, you've got their undivided attention.

Want more insights on crafting the perfect presentation opener? Check out our article on how to start a presentation people read to the end .

3 presentation closing ideas

Wrapping up a presentation is just as crucial as the opening. It's your final chance to leave a lasting impression. Here are 3 best ways to ensure your audience walks away inspired:

Circle back to the start: Revisit your opening story or statement, bringing your narrative full circle. It's a neat way to tie everything together and reinforce your key message.

End with a Call-to-Action: End with a captivating personal video message or a lively animation. It's a unique way to engage, surprise, and guide your audience on what's next.

Share an inspiring quote: Leave them with words that resonate. A powerful quote can sum up your message and linger in their minds long after.

Here's an example of a presentation with a personal video message at the end:

Hungry for more tips on crafting the perfect presentation finale? Read our blog post on how to end a presentation and get people to act .

Best tools for making creative presentations

Crafting creative presentations is an art, and like any artist, you need the right tools to bring your vision to life. Here's a curated list of platforms that are pushing the envelope in presentation design:

Storydoc : Beyond traditional slides, Storydoc offers interactive web stories. It's not just about displaying content; it's about creating experiences. With dynamic visuals and interactive elements, your audience is in for a treat.

Pitch : Collaboration is Pitch's forte. Designed for teams, it offers real-time editing, customizable templates, and a sleek interface. It's where ideas transform into visually stunning stories.

Genially : From animated presentations to responsive infographics, Genially provides tools that make your content come alive on the screen.

Beautiful.ai : Automated design assistance is its claim to fame. Feed in your content, and watch as the tool intuitively crafts slides that are both coherent and captivating.

Canva : A versatile design platform, Canva boasts a variety of templates for presentations, graphics, and more. Its drag-and-drop interface ensures even design novices feel like pros.

Visme : Tailored for visual storytelling, Visme offers a rich library of assets. Think dynamic charts, data widgets, and a suite of animations that turn your data into visual narratives.

Creative presentation templates

Ever felt the weight of the cursor blinking on an empty slide, almost taunting you to come up with something creative?

It's like being handed a stage with an eager audience, but the script is yet to be written. That initial step can be the hardest, but what if you had a little nudge in the right direction?

Creative presentation templates can help you shape your story in a way that stands out in a sea of monotony. Think of them as the paint-by-numbers kits, where the structure is set, but the colors and flair? That's all you.

Grab one and see for yourself.

Hi, I'm Dominika, Content Specialist at Storydoc. As a creative professional with experience in fashion, I'm here to show you how to amplify your brand message through the power of storytelling and eye-catching visuals.

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What Makes a Good Presentation? How to Make a PowerPoint 101

Clémence Daniere

Table of contents

How to create a powerpoint presentation, presentation tips and tricks.

• Create a Video to Share Your Slides After Your Presentation 

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Microsoft PowerPoint, Google Slides, and other slide presentations have become an absolutely essential part of any presentation.

They’re easy to use, offer a great way to combine images, video, and text, and require almost no training.

So, why are so many presentations so boring?

All the elements are there for creating effective, eye-catching, and engaging presentations, but so often we’re forced to sit through slide after slide of overcrowded, hard-to-read text and fuzzy (or non-existent) images.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to make your presentations dazzle with just a few easy tips.

Your slide deck has the power to add to or take away from the overall effectiveness of your presentation. Learning how to make a presentation more interesting requires skillful collaboration between the strength of your content and knowing how to make your slides look good. 

So, before you open PowerPoint, let’s go through some basics.

Less is more

Less is more with slide content.  

Your slides should not be stuffed with content, especially text-heavy content. Incorporating bullet points helps your audience follow your message without getting distracted by trying to read the slide.

Use engaging slide designs

You don’t have to start from scratch with every presentation! Chances are, you are not a graphic designer so why not use the templates that have been created by professionals ? 

Using presentation templates can help you make PowerPoint slides, Google slides, or slides for other platforms as well without spending too much time trying to create a professional look. 

You can easily find templates online through Slidesgo and Slidescarnival for Google Slides and for PowerPoint. Each of these platforms offers themes within their software as well. 

All you’ll need to do is make minor adjustements to the design!

Be on-brand

Using consistent branding is an easy way to build familiarity and trust with your audience. If you have an established brand in place be sure to use it when building your slides.  

The colors and fonts used in your design should always adhere to your brand standards without deviation. 

If you don’t have a brand guide to work from, select a specific color palette, using color theory to ensure the message of your presentation is not counteracted by your color choices. 

Stick with just a few colors, and go the same route with fonts. Only choose a few to use, and avoid overly scripted options as they are difficult to read on screen.

Use visual aids

Visuals make a huge difference in your presentations. But there are a few rules to follow.

Stick with high-quality images. Adding images to your slides that are blurry, pixelated, or otherwise low in quality is an easy way to quickly disengage with your audience.

If you don’t have access to high-quality branded photos, use sites like Unsplash and Shutterstock .

Plus, adding screenshots can make your presentation more interesting than stock photos. 

Add screenshots to your presentations with Snagit

Snagit makes it easy to capture and edit the perfect screenshot!

Share data analytics or upcoming project plans by taking a simple screenshot. Screenshots are the perfect addition to your presentations.

Third-party tools like Snagit are made just for that. You can add callouts , arrows , and other tools that draw your audience’s attention . 

For a more fun visual, use GIFs to highlight some key points.

GIFs are a great middle-ground option between static images and videos. They can be used effectively to drive home a specific point or to highlight a specific piece of data.  

Visuals always help with memorability and GIFs usually include a touch of humor and personality – both qualities that help information stick.

You can make your own GIFs using Snagit so that they are perfectly catered to your presentation.

We live in a video world. Embedding videos directly into your slides can play a role in creating an interesting presentation. 

Videos can be an easy way to show a tutorial or demonstrate a process. Whatever your presentation is about, there are videos you can make or outsource that will support your point.

However, using too many videos can take away the impact your own content has. Try to stick to three or fewer videos in one presentation. 

According to Forbes , thirty to sixty seconds is ideal for a presentation video.

You want your visual aids to support your presentation, not take over it. The focus of your presentation should still be you and the value you are bringing to your audience!

For your presentation to shine, you need to combine storytelling, authenticity, and visual aids.  

Basically, it’s all about what you say and how you say it.

Tell a story 

Often times when we think about how to make an effective presentation, we focus on the visuals. We add animations and transitions, hoping that will keep our audience engaged. 

If most of your attention and time is spent on design, you are missing out on a key element that is crucial for making presentations interesting – the story. 

The best presentations draw in their viewers with a relatable narrative, but the narrative also helps the presentation to gain memorability as well. 

You should be spending a large portion of your preparation time crafting your content – the actual information you will be sharing and how you will be sharing it. It doesn’t matter how good your slide designs are if they aren’t supporting compelling content. 

You don’t have to weave an epic tale for your presentation, but if you are looking to make your presentation interesting you need to incorporate some storytelling aspects, like personal connection and impact.

To achieve your purpose, you’ll need an outline. That way, your purpose is kept at the center of your presentation and you follow a familiar structure. You need to make sure that you have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Just like a regular story!

Presentations that are interesting from beginning to end take the audience on a journey. Steer away from reciting facts and from long tangents. Find a middle ground that’s personable and informative!

To create an interesting presentation, be sure you structure your content in a way that makes it easy to tell the story and provide your audience with a journey that is relevant and memorable. 

Be authentic and engaging

A key point that often gets forgotten when preparing presentations? YOU are the presentation.  

Leslie Chamberlain , Senior Director, Customer Education explains on The Visual Lounge Podcast :

“What it comes down to. Whenever you’re doing any kind of presentation, whether you’re doing it on a video, whether you’re doing it in front of folks in person, it comes down to your audience is building the relationship with you. Your slides, your images are not the presentation. You are the presentation. So as you go forward to present, be true to yourself, speak from your heart, and enjoy every minute of it.”

Lean into the parts of your personality that best serve the presentation’s purpose. Tell personal stories, speak in the same manner you normally do, and be open. Public speaking is always a little daunting, but with confidence, you can achieve anything!

Your body language should be easygoing, so try to use natural hand gestures and smile. Make sure to maintain eye contact with audience members. It will create a bond between you and them, which will increase their confidence in you.

Your energy is contagious. To make your presentation more interesting, you’ve got to bring the right energy. 

High-energy presenters get more engagement from their audiences while coming in with low energy is a surefire way to destroy any hope of engagement, regardless of how good a story you have crafted with your presentation’s content. 

Memorize your content rather than relying on reading your slides, and be sure to use different speeds and volumes throughout the presentation to make it more interesting, draw attention to specific points, and present authentically.

And don’t forget to use organic visuals in your presentation to support your purpose and drive home the information you’re sharing. 

Create a Video to Share Your Slides After Your Presentation 

To wrap it up, you can make a video of your presentation. That way, you’ll be able to use it again in the future without going through the hassle of presenting over and over.

To do so, you can simply video record your screen and your camera. With Snagit, you can do so easily and use some fun tools like Screen Draw to direct attention to certain parts of your slides. 

Record and share your presentation with Snagit

Snagit makes it easy to record your screen, camera, and audio for the perfect presentation setup!

Once you’re done recording and making simple edits, send the video as a link through Screencast. Hit the Share Link button to create a unique link to your video. Then, send it out to anyone who might’ve missed your presentation!

This is also a great way to get feedback on your presentation before it happens. Record a mock-up presentation using Snagit, and send it to your team for honest, constructive criticism. That way, your presentation will be so much better when the day comes!

Additional Resources

Email will never die. here’s how to make it better, information overload is real: here’s how to manage it, how to create a training manual: steps and tools that make it easy.

Home — Blog — Topic Ideas — Captivating History Presentation Ideas to Engage Your Audience

Captivating History Presentation Ideas to Engage Your Audience

Introduction

When it comes to delivering a history presentation, incorporating creative and engaging ideas can make all the difference in captivating your audience. Whether it's a school project, a celebration of Black History Month , Women's History Month, or simply showcasing your family's legacy, we have compiled a list of exciting history presentation ideas that will leave a lasting impression on your audience. Let's dive into the fascinating world of historical storytelling!

• Incorporate Multimedia Elements: Enhance your history presentation with multimedia elements such as images, videos, and audio clips. Visual aids not only make your presentation visually appealing but also help reinforce the historical context, making the information easier to remember. (Reference: University of Michigan - Center for Research on Learning and Teaching )
• Interactive Timeline: Create an interactive timeline that showcases key events, significant figures, and historical milestones. You can use digital tools or traditional poster boards to present the timeline, allowing your audience to visualize the chronological progression of historical events. (Reference: Education World - Interactive Timelines: A Powerful Tool for Student Projects )
• Role-Play and Reenactment: Bring history to life by incorporating role-play and reenactment. Encourage your classmates or family members to portray historical figures and act out important scenes, making the presentation immersive and memorable. (Reference: Scholastic - Teach the Way They Learn: Role-Playing as a Teaching Tool )
• Historical Artifacts Display: If possible, include authentic or replicas of historical artifacts related to your topic. For example, if you are looking for black history month presentation ideas, you can display items that represent the culture and accomplishments of prominent African American figures throughout history. (Link: Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture)
• Personal Connections: For family history presentation ideas, use personal stories and anecdotes to connect emotionally with your audience. By sharing family traditions, tales of resilience, and ancestral accomplishments, you can have a fascinating and touching experience. (Reference: FamilySearch - Connecting Generations: Capturing Stories and Memories )
• Engaging Quizzes and Games: Incorporate quizzes, trivia, or interactive games to make the presentation enjoyable and educational. Challenge your audience's knowledge of historical facts and events while fostering a fun learning environment. (Reference: TeachHub - Using Quizzes in the Classroom )
• Creative Storytelling: Craft your history presentation as a compelling narrative. By storytelling, you can unfold the historical events in a way that captures the attention of your audience, leaving them eager to learn more. (Reference: TED-Ed - The Art of Storytelling )
• Collaborative Projects: If you need middle school history presentation ideas, consider teaming up with classmates for collaborative projects. Working together can encourage creativity and allow you to delve deeper into different aspects of the story. In addition, such experience can be useful for many high school students, since admissions committees often pay attention to the experience of applicants in joint research work when entering colleges. (Reference: Ed utopia - The Power of Project-Based Learning )
• Diversity and Inclusion: When discussing women's history month presentation ideas, you can celebrate the contributions of women from different walks of life and cultures. Highlight their achievements in various fields by raising awareness and recognizing the role of women in history. (Reference: National Women's History Museum )
• Embrace Technology: Explore the use of modern technology like augmented reality or virtual reality to create an immersive historical experience. This cutting-edge approach can transport your audience to significant historical moments. (Reference: EdSurge - Augmented Reality in Education: Bringing Learning to Life )

By incorporating these history presentation ideas, you can transform a traditional lecture into an engaging and memorable experience. Whether you're celebrating historical milestones, family heritage, or the achievements of underrepresented groups, these creative approaches will undoubtedly make your presentation stand out and leave a lasting impact on your audience. Happy presenting!

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How to Give a Twenty Minute Oral Presentation

Getting organized….

• Organize your major points on a page or a page and a half of paper.
• Type all quotations (or xerox them) on separate pieces of paper so you can find them at the appropriate time.
• Prepare a transparency or multiple copies for the class if you have special maps, a chronology, technical terms, or illustrations that everyone should see.

When you begin…

• Start out with a strong, clear thesis of what your presentation is all about.
• Make sure you have a limited number of major points which you stress, and illustrate.
• Have a sense of how long you will take by practicing before a mirror or an available roommate.

As you start to write…

• Remember that you will know more than you put down on paper. Try for a limit of ten pages (which is more difficult than fifty!).
• Begin with a substantive statement of the topic/problem you are dealing with.
• End with a summary, with questions that are left unanswered, with a new thought that you would like to pursue. The end of your paper should be as strong and interesting as the beginning.
• Use standard footnote procedures. Jacques Barzun and Henry Graffís The Modern Researcher or Kate Turabianís Manual will serve as references. You may use anthropological style (Author, year of publication: page number) if you organize your bibliography properly: Author. Year. Title. Place of Publication: Publisher.
• Footnotes and bibliography may be at the end; however, footnotes that explain something in the text should be at the bottom of that page. So, if the major notes are at the end, and something in the text needs explaining, use a symbol in the text, * for instance, and place the explanation at the bottom of the page.
• Proofread. No “A” paper can be sloppy, full of typos and misspellings.

– Eleanor Zelliot

See also: How to Lead a Class Discussion

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How to Make a “Good” Presentation “Great”

• Guy Kawasaki

Remember: Less is more.

A strong presentation is so much more than information pasted onto a series of slides with fancy backgrounds. Whether you’re pitching an idea, reporting market research, or sharing something else, a great presentation can give you a competitive advantage, and be a powerful tool when aiming to persuade, educate, or inspire others. Here are some unique elements that make a presentation stand out.

• Fonts: Sans Serif fonts such as Helvetica or Arial are preferred for their clean lines, which make them easy to digest at various sizes and distances. Limit the number of font styles to two: one for headings and another for body text, to avoid visual confusion or distractions.
• Colors: Colors can evoke emotions and highlight critical points, but their overuse can lead to a cluttered and confusing presentation. A limited palette of two to three main colors, complemented by a simple background, can help you draw attention to key elements without overwhelming the audience.
• Pictures: Pictures can communicate complex ideas quickly and memorably but choosing the right images is key. Images or pictures should be big (perhaps 20-25% of the page), bold, and have a clear purpose that complements the slide’s text.
• Layout: Don’t overcrowd your slides with too much information. When in doubt, adhere to the principle of simplicity, and aim for a clean and uncluttered layout with plenty of white space around text and images. Think phrases and bullets, not sentences.

As an intern or early career professional, chances are that you’ll be tasked with making or giving a presentation in the near future. Whether you’re pitching an idea, reporting market research, or sharing something else, a great presentation can give you a competitive advantage, and be a powerful tool when aiming to persuade, educate, or inspire others.

• Guy Kawasaki is the chief evangelist at Canva and was the former chief evangelist at Apple. Guy is the author of 16 books including Think Remarkable : 9 Paths to Transform Your Life and Make a Difference.

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• Zack Edwards (Creator of Historical Conquest)
• Aug 22, 2019

HOW TO MAKE HISTORY FUN, INTERESTING, ENGAGING FOR HIGHER RETENTION AND UNDERSTANDING – HIGH SCHOOL

Now that was a long title, but hopefully it covers the essence of the problems of how history is taught. What does it mean to make History fun? Is it all fun and games or is it engagement and interest? What is your goal while reading this article? By the end of the article we will answer one question, how do we make History more understandable and help your student gain higher retention.

A well-renown social studies speaker, Sam Wineburg was quoted to say:

"I don’t think that a history class should be about things such as History Alive or about making cute posters, or about making history “engaging.” It’s about getting students to thinking rigorously about the evidence. Fun is okay, but I would rather have them hate the class and come out of the class having the skills needed to be good citizens than having them enjoy themselves."

I personally, professionally, and academically disagree with his premise. It is the joy of History that will help them learn the skills that will make them better citizens, if better citizenship came mostly from a classroom.

Think of it this way. If someone resents a task that their parents ask them to do and mope and complain through the task, then they are less likely to want to go further with that skills development. There will be a resentment and while they will learn that skill, psychologically there will have resentful feelings towards that information which will come up in the future. At the same time, to part of his point, I would rather have them learn the skill any way possible because then at least they have the skills but it may be to the skills detriment.

Now let me break in here to explain that Sam Wineburg is well known for his philosophy of teaching history in the public-school system. The system that loses students left and right because of some of this type of mindset. We force feed our students skills that they either won’t use or resent after obtaining them. Is there a better way of doing this? Maybe a new way of thinking could help solve the problems of the public schools as well as make homeschool, private, and charter school thrive even more than they already do.

So how do you engage the student, meaning helping them think while interacting with information, like Historical facts, in a way that allows them to learn the subject and enjoy the skills that they are learning.

There was an article written back in 2014 for the History News Network called Five Things Historians and Teachers Need to Do to Make History Fun written by Tim Grove, Chief of Museum Learning at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. and author of A Grizzly in the Mail and Other Adventures in American History that gave some ideas about engagement with college age students.

Treat your Students as an Equal. Share your sources

In a normal classroom, or a homeschool area of your home, setting we treat our students as underlings or just kids. As they get older, they respond better with being more on the same level as the teacher. Take Science class, if we stop lecturing them and instead use them as a lab assistant or partner and give them actual responsibilities that meet that level of intellect. As they begin to turn their learning into actual tasks, knowing that they are thought of as equals, they will feel pride and enjoyment in what they are doing. Think of it this way, if you explain to your student that they are now in charge and you are their partner or assistant, then they will be vested in the information, results, and the process. In the hierarchy of effective learning, teaching has the highest retention rate of learning. By putting your student in charge, they then become vested in the information. And because you must know the information before you teach it, and so they are more likely to retain that information well beyond the school years.

Creating a Personal Connection Creates a Stronger Neurological Connection

Use experiences or questions that allow them to feel they are or could have been part of history engages their imaginations. When learning about the Romans, don’t just feed information to them but experiences and questions that allow them to connect. When learning about the Aqueducts ask a questions like: “What would happen if all the pipes in the city and in your house weren’t there. How would you get water from (the local reservoir) to our home?” Then actually drive them to the location to look at the terrain. If you can’t drive, show pictures of the hills and obstacles they would need to overcome.

Provide a Different Perspective

“There is power in the unexpected.” Let’s talk about the Crapper. A man that changed the world by placing toilets inside the house instead of a wash houses. Did he invent the first toilet, NO. Did he make it popular to place toilets inside the house, YES. So teach the smaller stories and give a perspective to the larger issue that they solved. Did Eli Whitney create the first Cotton Gin? People seem to think so but there were dozens of other designs before him, so what made him so famous?

Tell the Smaller Stories – Personal Touch

We love to give the birds eye view of different events in history, but do we give them the personal touch. Everyone that played a part in the Event had a greater story, difficulties in their lives, and even major lose. The richest millionaire in recent history didn’t just one day wake up and have a million dollars in their bank account, most of them had to go through great struggles to make their millions. In the Great Depression and Industrial Revolution many of the richest men in the world began with nothing. Take Andrew Carnegie for example, he came to America with nothing and grew a Steal Empire that rivals any of the companies today. He went from working a below the “minimum wage” job on the railroad to making a million dollars every day.

Find Ways to Show Your Interest and Excitement

A student can feel the joy or excitement that their teacher is feeling. If the teacher is having a bad day the student can feel it as well. If the teacher is happy, the student will feel that and link that feeling with the lesson they are learning. As a teacher, we truly affect the experience of our students. So, if you are a naturally a negative person, please don’t teach. If you don’t like history, please don’t focus on your pains but find ways of teaching the subject in some way that you will enjoy the experiences. When they feel your excitement, they are more likely to enjoy it as well. If you can find activities that both of you enjoy then you made your job so much easier.

Teaching will never be easy, it’s not supposed to be. It is supposed to be a learning experience where you start off not knowing what you are doing and ending up being a pro. The same things goes for students. It’s not always enjoyable but the more joy that you can link to their experience, the easier it will be to retain and enjoy it for many years after obtaining their knowledge.

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How-To Geek

8 tips to make the best powerpoint presentations.

Want to make your PowerPoint presentations really shine? Here's how to impress and engage your audience.

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Table of contents, start with a goal, less is more, consider your typeface, make bullet points count, limit the use of transitions, skip text where possible, think in color, take a look from the top down, bonus: start with templates.

Slideshows are an intuitive way to share complex ideas with an audience, although they're dull and frustrating when poorly executed. Here are some tips to make your Microsoft PowerPoint presentations sing while avoiding common pitfalls.

It all starts with identifying what we're trying to achieve with the presentation. Is it informative, a showcase of data in an easy-to-understand medium? Or is it more of a pitch, something meant to persuade and convince an audience and lead them to a particular outcome?

It's here where the majority of these presentations go wrong with the inability to identify the talking points that best support our goal. Always start with a goal in mind: to entertain, to inform, or to share data in a way that's easy to understand. Use facts, figures, and images to support your conclusion while keeping structure in mind (Where are we now and where are we going?).

I've found that it's helpful to start with the ending. Once I know how to end a presentation, I know how best to get to that point. I start by identifying the takeaway---that one nugget that I want to implant before thanking everyone for their time---and I work in reverse to figure out how best to get there.

Your mileage, of course, may vary. But it's always going to be a good idea to put in the time in the beginning stages so that you aren't reworking large portions of the presentation later. And that starts with a defined goal.

A slideshow isn't supposed to include everything. It's an introduction to a topic, one that we can elaborate on with speech. Anything unnecessary is a distraction. It makes the presentation less visually appealing and less interesting, and it makes you look bad as a presenter.

This goes for text as well as images. There's nothing worse, in fact, than a series of slides where the presenter just reads them as they appear. Your audience is capable of reading, and chances are they'll be done with the slide, and browsing Reddit, long before you finish. Avoid putting the literal text on the screen, and your audience will thank you.

Related: How to Burn Your PowerPoint to DVD

Right off the bat, we're just going to come out and say that Papyrus and Comic Sans should be banned from all PowerPoint presentations, permanently. Beyond that, it's worth considering the typeface you're using and what it's saying about you, the presenter, and the presentation itself.

Consider choosing readability over aesthetics, and avoid fancy fonts that could prove to be more of a distraction than anything else. A good presentation needs two fonts: a serif and sans-serif. Use one for the headlines and one for body text, lists, and the like. Keep it simple. Veranda, Helvetica, Arial, and even Times New Roman are safe choices. Stick with the classics and it's hard to botch this one too badly.

There reaches a point where bullet points become less of a visual aid and more of a visual examination.

Bullet points should support the speaker, not overwhelm his audience. The best slides have little or no text at all, in fact. As a presenter, it's our job to talk through complex issues, but that doesn't mean that we need to highlight every talking point.

Instead, think about how you can break up large lists into three or four bullet points. Carefully consider whether you need to use more bullet points, or if you can combine multiple topics into a single point instead. And if you can't, remember that there's no one limiting the number of slides you can have in a presentation. It's always possible to break a list of 12 points down into three pages of four points each.

Animation, when used correctly, is a good idea. It breaks up slow-moving parts of a presentation and adds action to elements that require it. But it should be used judiciously.

Adding a transition that wipes left to right between every slide or that animates each bullet point in a list, for example, starts to grow taxing on those forced to endure the presentation. Viewers get bored quickly, and animations that are meant to highlight specific elements quickly become taxing.

That's not to say that you can't use animations and transitions, just that you need to pick your spots. Aim for no more than a handful of these transitions for each presentation. And use them in spots where they'll add to the demonstration, not detract from it.

Sometimes images tell a better story than text can. And as a presenter, your goal is to describe points in detail without making users do a lot of reading. In these cases, a well-designed visual, like a chart, might better convey the information you're trying to share.

The right image adds visual appeal and serves to break up longer, text-heavy sections of the presentation---but only if you're using the right images. A single high-quality image can make all the difference between a success and a dud when you're driving a specific point home.

When considering text, don't think solely in terms of bullet points and paragraphs. Tables, for example, are often unnecessary. Ask yourself whether you could present the same data in a bar or line chart instead.

Color is interesting. It evokes certain feelings and adds visual appeal to your presentation as a whole. Studies show that color also improves interest, comprehension, and retention. It should be a careful consideration, not an afterthought.

You don't have to be a graphic designer to use color well in a presentation. What I do is look for palettes I like, and then find ways to use them in the presentation. There are a number of tools for this, like Adobe Color , Coolors , and ColorHunt , just to name a few. After finding a palette you enjoy, consider how it works with the presentation you're about to give. Pastels, for example, evoke feelings of freedom and light, so they probably aren't the best choice when you're presenting quarterly earnings that missed the mark.

It's also worth mentioning that you don't need to use every color in the palette. Often, you can get by with just two or three, though you should really think through how they all work together and how readable they'll be when layered. A simple rule of thumb here is that contrast is your friend. Dark colors work well on light backgrounds, and light colors work best on dark backgrounds.

Spend some time in the Slide Sorter before you finish your presentation. By clicking the four squares at the bottom left of the presentation, you can take a look at multiple slides at once and consider how each works together. Alternatively, you can click "View" on the ribbon and select "Slide Sorter."

Are you presenting too much text at once? Move an image in. Could a series of slides benefit from a chart or summary before you move on to another point?

It's here that we have the opportunity to view the presentation from beyond the single-slide viewpoint and think in terms of how each slide fits, or if it fits at all. From this view, you can rearrange slides, add additional ones, or delete them entirely if you find that they don't advance the presentation.

The difference between a good presentation and a bad one is really all about preparation and execution. Those that respect the process and plan carefully---not only the presentation as a whole, but each slide within it---are the ones who will succeed.

This brings me to my last (half) point: When in doubt, just buy a template and use it. You can find these all over the web, though Creative Market and GraphicRiver are probably the two most popular marketplaces for this kind of thing. Not all of us are blessed with the skills needed to design and deliver an effective presentation. And while a pre-made PowerPoint template isn't going to make you a better presenter, it will ease the anxiety of creating a visually appealing slide deck.

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How to Create Slides That Suit Your Superiors: 11 Tips

When you’re pitching ideas or budgets to execs in your organization, you need to deliver slides that fit those particular people just right. This checklist identifies the key considerations.

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I recently interviewed 20 of my customers, all in senior roles at Fortune 100 companies, and asked them their biggest pain point in presenting to higher-ups and even colleagues. What I heard consistently was that it can feel like Goldilocks bouncing from one option to the next, testing to figure out what’s “just right.” Does the audience want deep reports? Sparse slides? Something in between? Like … what?

Teams often come to presentation meetings with vast amounts of backup content just in case an exec wants to take a deep dive on any given point. There’s often a struggle to anticipate every direction attendees might want to go. It’s frustrating, and it’s not efficient.

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There are many ways to build slides. I’m not just talking about crafting them well versus poorly. I’m talking about all of the important decisions regarding how to organize them, how much text to use, when to lean into a chart, the best ways to use bullets and color, and whether to include an appendix with additional information. Before you make your next proposal or request of the executive team, use this list of 11 tips for your next set of slides as a guide.

Four Things You Must Have in Every Exec’s Slides

Before we drill down into the harder aspects, the ones where your executives’ tastes may vary widely, let’s quickly cover four aspects that you can consider the building blocks — the basics you should never proceed without.

Start with an executive summary. Begin the slide deck with a tight executive summary that follows a three-act structure. First, start with stating the current realities. Second, clearly state the problem or opportunity your idea addresses and its potential impact. Third, explain how your recommendation solves the problem or exploits the opportunity and the next steps you’re proposing.

Have a logical organization. The arc of the deck — the package from beginning to end — should make sense. If your audience reads only the headline of every slide, the order should be coherent and make most of the case for you. The content below each slide’s headline must support the statement made in the title. Remove everything that doesn’t support your point; as writers will tell you, you sometimes need to “kill your darlings” when you’re editing.

Begin the slide deck with a tight executive summary that follows a three-act structure.

Make it skimmable. Help your audience to quickly grasp the point without getting bogged down in details. Create a clear visual hierarchy. Guide the reader’s eye through the content: Use bold headings, bullet points, and numbered lists to break down information into digestible pieces. Highlight key takeaways or conclusions in a different color or font size to draw attention to these critical points.

Focus on concise insights. Succinct statements with clear insights are everyone’s jam. Every slide should serve a purpose and contribute directly to the decision-making process. Distill complex information. Don’t use 100 words when 20 words will nail it. If you’re having difficulty trimming, consider using company-approved AI tools to help you take out the fluff.

Five Preferences to Confirm With the Person You Want to Reach

Now we’ll delve into what your particular audience does and does not want. If you haven’t yet, start by asking the person you’re presenting to what they generally prefer. They probably know themselves well but have not been asked to articulate how they like to receive information.

Ask how dense is too dense. Some executives prefer detailed slides with comprehensive data. Others favor a more high-level approach. You’re weighing how to balance informative content with readability, ensuring that slides are not overloaded yet are sufficiently detailed to support decision-making.

Confirm the delivery format and timing. Some execs like information presented to them. Others prefer a pre-read of the material followed by a discussion. I always recommend our tool Slidedocs (I’ve written a free e-book on them), which are visual documents using both words and images. The templates help presenters organize their thoughts into a document for a pre-read or a read-along. They are designed to be skimmable and able to travel through your organization without the help of a presenter.

I’m a huge fan of pre-reads and prefer to use my time in meetings to ask questions and build alignment. If your audience didn’t review your material in advance, ask at the top of the meeting whether they would like you to present it or would prefer to read through it and then discuss it.

Find out how much data visualization they prefer. Charts, graphs, photos, and illustrations often communicate complex data more clearly than words alone. When execs can see what you’re saying, they often can better understand the impact of your idea. Does the exec want to understand exact numbers? Bar charts allow them to move their eyes across a series of specifics. Does the exec want to know the shape of a trend over time? Line charts can show the pattern. (See “Classic Charts Communicate Data Quickly.”) Some prefer charts with annotations that draw attention to what you think is the most important point. Others want to make their own conclusions from the data.

One of my clients, the CEO of a massive commercial real estate company, doesn’t want anything visualized. He prefers numbers, only in a table, and only in two colors — black and red. You might think this is archaic. But the fact that he’s clear to his teams about what he wants takes all the mystery out of how to communicate with him.

When the stakes are high, have a conceptual thinker help with diagrams and concepts. If you don’t have one on your team, and when it’s high stakes, find an internal designer to help you or hire one. You can’t afford to have the baby (your idea) thrown out with the bathwater (terrible slides).

Identify which details need spelling out. How well do the people you’re presenting to know the landscape and function of the company and products you’re talking about? For example, if your engineering team threw a slide into a deck about an issue that requires executive approval, do the execs all speak geek? Or do you need to explain the technology so that they will really understand the ask? Either eliminate internal jargon and acronyms or unpack those bits, especially if your proposal deeply involves expertise outside of the executives’ domain.

Ask whether appendices will be useful. When you’re organizing a presentation, you often troll data, read through complicated reports, and even hire external experts to figure out what’s best for the company. Do your execs want access to that supporting data? You can add a document to the end of the presentation as an appendix to show all of the data and source material. This allows the main content of the slides to remain focused and accessible while still providing comprehensive background information for those who want more.

Two Tips to Improve Your Presentation Skills

Getting materials in place is the biggest step. They will be your best tools for selling your ideas. But there are two extra areas to pay attention to as a presenter: how you handle questions and how you use every experience to improve.

Anticipate questions, and practice your answers. Before you have your meeting, gather a small team to challenge every point you make. Invite colleagues you trust to role-play as “a rapidly inquisitive exec” or “the doubting naysayer exec” so you are prepared to present your idea well. They’re gonna grill you, and practicing will help you remain unruffled when it happens.

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Ask for feedback after the presentation. Establish a feedback loop with those you presented to. Ask what worked well and how you can improve. If attendees don’t have the time, find people who have had their ideas funded and talk to them about what they did that worked. Advice and some perspective will help you nail your performance even better next time.

Empathetically understanding your audience members and how they process information, whether it’s executives or peers, sets up your ideas for success. Clarity creates efficiency. When a presentation fits just right, you’ve given your great thinking the best chance of moving through your organization and having maximum impact.

About the Author

Nancy Duarte is CEO of Duarte Inc. , a communication company in the Silicon Valley. She’s the author of six books, including DataStory: Explain Data and Inspire Action Through Story (Ideapress Publishing, 2019).

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11 Creative Ways to Share Your Family History

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• family history book , family reunion , family tree , genealogy gift , legacy keepsake

One of the most common recurring questions that come from genealogy research is how to share your family history. I’m sure you’ve thought about that at some point, I know I have. So much so that my cousins and I have discussions about who will inherit what we’ve spent a lifetime collecting.

It’s not just the physical items either but also all of the stories. Every ‘Grandma told me that….’ or ‘Dad heard it from his great-grandmother’ will fade to black. The tradition of oral storytelling to hand over the family tales is becoming obsolete, so what will the replacement be? Or will all the stories fade into the forgotten history?

Ideally, you want to be able to share your family history with your relatives. And for all the research, photos and other items to remain together when it comes time to pass it on. While you can donate historical items to a museum, the actual research is not as easy to bequeath. One way is to create shareable prints that tell the stories hidden deep within your research. And the bonus is that works for engaging both a family and non-family audience!

You live as long as you are remembered. Russian Proverb

Teach others as you share your family history

While we can’t know what will happen next, we can try to influence the outcome. And how can you do that? You start to share your family history in a way that teaches the next generation without them knowing that it’s happening.

That sounds pretty sneaky, right? Well, it’s not as bad as it seems. Pinkie promise. It’s the way most of us learn about our ancestors – from family stories, photo albums and historical treasures in our relatives’ homes. Not to mention listening in on conversations deemed inappropriate for little ears. Or maybe that’s just how I picked up certain things!

Which relative was the one to share your family history with you?

Is there a specific person who encouraged your love of family or was it a group effort? Did you soak up the information like a sponge or did it happen without you realising how much you knew?

• Maybe you grew up in a family who often told stories about their ancestors?
• Or perhaps you were close to one elderly relative who gave you tour after tour of the family photo albums?
• Or was it that your grandparents had a house full of items that came with stories of your ancestors’ adventures?

Did one of those strike a chord or was your experience something else entirely?

Looking back at how you initially learned, was it the facts or the stories that got your interest? For me, it was 100% the stories, so I want to share my favourite ways to create shareable ancestor stories for my family.

11 ideas to share your family history

Let’s be honest; family history can be dull and uninteresting to many. Not everyone is going to be excited by timelines and family tree charts. So we need to transform our research into something engaging and fun that focuses on the stories, not just the facts.

1. Family History / Memory Book

To share your family history as a book requires planning, focus and dedication to the task. It is a labour intensive project, but oh what a legacy you leaving for your descendants. It is probably the most common format people consider when they think about writing their family history. The upside of writing a book is it can be:

• as long or short as you want
• a series of books, not just one
• about a family line, a location, an era or an individual
• written as fiction or creative non-fiction

Creative non-fiction is not making something up, but making the most of what you have. John McPhee

2. Scrapbook pages

A trendy and very visual way to share your family history. You can create scrapbook albums or tell complete stories on one page. The way you tell stories and images in this format is limited only by your imagination.

3. Ancestor bookmarks

These are a fun way to share your family history when you have a lot of photos. These make a great souvenir for Family Reunions as it’s an easy way to share a photo, a mini-tree or simple ancestor story. The best part is that every bookmark is unique because so are your ancestors.

EXTRA READING MATERIAL: Find out why I think bookmarks are a budget-friendly Family Reunion souvenir in the article Why Ancestor Bookmarks Are The Ideal Family Reunion Souvenir

4. Ancestor snapshots

I think this is the most practical way to share your family history one ancestor at a time. It’s a fantastic way to focus on one person’s life and the story you’ve discovered for them. Create a fact-filled, at-a-glance summary of your ancestor’s life. These can be as long as you like, but ideally would be one or two pages. Add their best photo, a mini-tree of their immediate family and a condensed story of their life. These are a great way to share what you know with relatives, whether it’s by email or in person.

5. Trading Card

One of my favourite things as a kid was collecting bubble gum trading cards. Are you familiar with them? The ones where you would get a stick of gum and five cards for twenty cents? And you would trade your doubles with friends, siblings or whoever had the cards you wanted. I was a big fan of the KISS and CHiPs trading cards back in the early 1980s. Though twenty cents was a lot of money to me at the time then so I didn’t collect as many as I would have liked! So what better way to share your family history than via trading card? Is there anything as fun to collect as your ancestors?

6. Ancestor Edition Games

Have you seen all the adds for apps that make it possible to learn while playing a game? It’s not a new concept and is easy to create an ancestor edition as a way to share your family history. I’m not suggesting that you learn how to code, but something a little more old school. I’m talking about both board and card games. It’s easy to take many of your favourite family games and create an ‘Ancestor Edition.’

Suggestions

• Ancestor Guess Who
• SNAP Ancestor Edition
• Ancestor Trivial Pursuit
• Monopoly Ancestor Edition

And creating the game can be a fun family activity as well. Make the game board together, add your ancestor information, establish your rules and start a game.

7. Family History Detectives / Casefiles

You know how much fun tracking down your ancestors can be, so get your kids involved too! On the next rainy weekend or school holidays turn them into Family History Detectives to create case files for their ancestors as a way to share your family history. Casefiles can include things like description, known whereabouts, stories and interviews with relatives.

Alison Kimball wrote a fantastic article on her blog  A Simple Inspiration .

8. Family History Cook Book

Food and family go together like peanut butter and chocolate (or vegemite and toast). So many of our stories involve meals or other food-related events. Or our memories are triggered by a recipe or meal. Whether you create a book or a box of cards, family recipes and stories together are a wonderful keepsake. It’s also a fabulous way to focus on the tools and resources available to your ancestors as you share your family history.

Whether you have handwritten recipes, or they have been handed down verbally from parent to child, this option will be popular with everyone. Who wouldn’t want Great-Aunt Rose’s famous oatmeal biscuit recipe? Or to hear the story of how Great-Uncle Stan chased down the old dog who ran off with them?

9. Family Tree Art

You are probably already telling your ancestor’s stories with framed photos on the walls throughout your house. I find photographs to a wonderful reminder of where we came from and we can have all the generations together in one room. Another way to share your family history is with adding an artistic interpretation of your family tree into the mix.

This is a great gift idea for grandparents or even for yourself! And with online sites like Etsy and eBay, it’s easy to find an artist who can create something that will work perfectly in your home. Create a traditional tree with names and photos or try something creative that will be a conversation piece for years to come.

10. Genealogy Jewellery

Turn your collection of ancestors into something wearable for either a special family occasion or every day. Is there a more unique approach to starting an ancestor specific conversation? I can’t think of one, which makes it a one-of-a-kind way to share your family history.

11. Family Diaries

Maybe you inherited one of your ancestor’s diaries or found an old journal online that mentions your ancestors. You can use the handwritten pages in the design, then transcribe the text as the foundation of the story. Then add the insights and discoveries from your genealogy research.

If you are not lucky enough to have such a treasure, then you can still use diaries to share your family history. Either by writing from your ancestor’s point of view or by telling your own stories and including your insight and theories.

Discover more

Your daily dose of inspiration

Organise your genealogy discoveries, track what you’ve found and decide where to look next.

• © 2016-2024 The Creative Family Historian • All rights reserved.

Who will replace John Calipari at Kentucky? Our list of 12 candidates

There is no coaching job in college basketball like Kentucky , and thus there are no coaching searches quite like the one athletics director Mitch Barnhart is about to undertake after with John Calipari leaving for Arkansas following 15 seasons that included 410 wins, one national title and four trips to the Final Four.

There simply aren't many coaches out there with the level of accomplishment and presence to satisfy the Big Blue Nation, and among that group, there's an even smaller number that would be willing to try. It's an all-consuming public job with huge pressure and off-court demands. But it's also got more upside than any other program in college basketball if someone can corral all the resources the school and the state have made available in pursuit of winning championships.

Here's our initial best guess at some of the candidates who might be in line to replace Calipari.

The top tier

If you take a step back and truly consider what he’s done at Baylor, it’s mind-blowing. The national championship in 2021 was probably a one-off, but the year-over-year consistency is one of the most impressive coaching feats in college basketball history reaching 12 of the last 16 NCAA Tournaments with five trips to the Sweet 16 or beyond. The question is whether anyone can convince him to uproot his family from Waco after two decades. Louisville tried and couldn’t do it. Kentucky is a different animal, though, and may be the one job that could tempt him. 

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Tommy Lloyd

The numbers speak for themselves. In three seasons as a head coach, Lloyd is 88-20 at Arizona with two trips to the Sweet 16. And at age 49, he’s probably just getting started. Though he recently signed a new deal with the Wildcats, this is a bit of an unstable time at Arizona with school-wide budget issues, an upcoming conference change from the Pac-12 to the Big 12 and a new athletics director in Desiree Reed-Francois. Though it would cost a lot of buyout money to get Lloyd out of that deal – upwards of $12 million – it’s worth it if you think he’s the guy who can deliver championships. 

Bruce Pearl

If Kentucky wanted someone who could deliver a similar type of presence and showmanship that Calipari brought to the table, they’d have to consider prying Pearl out of Auburn. Despite his long rap sheet of questionable ethics and NCAA issues, Pearl has built one of the top programs in the SEC at a historically difficult place to win. And you have to think he’d relish the chance to coach at a blueblood – just like Calipari back in 2009 when he left Memphis. 

Buzz Williams

The bottom line on Williams is that he’s gotten premium results at non-premium programs. After an outstanding run at Marquette, he started over at Virginia Tech and rebuilt that outfit to an annual NCAA Tournament participant. Then he went to Texas A&M, another tough basketball job, and has significantly raised the floor with two consecutive NCAA appearances. Kentucky fans would certainly embrace the toughness and energy his teams play with, and putting the Big Blue brand behind a coach as good as Williams would be an interesting and perhaps devastating combination. 

The Longshots

The former Kentucky and NBA player has done quite well at BYU, going 110-52 with two NCAA Tournament appearances in five years. But is he truly ready to take over at his alma mater and everything that comes with it? Probably not. 

Oats has taken Alabama to its first Final Four and won two SEC regular-season titles in his five seasons with the Crimson Tide. And maybe the most incredible part of his success is that nobody knew who he was a decade ago when he was a former high school coach making the move up to Buffalo as an assistant. But is Kentucky really going to pay an $18 million buyout for Oats? That seems a little steep.

Mick Cronin 

Despite his ties to the area as a former coach at nearby Murray State and Cincinnati, the timing probably isn’t great. Cronin is coming off a rebuilding year at UCLA and would be a tough sell to the Kentucky fan base, despite a long track record of success including a Final Four appearance in 2021. 

Brad Underwood

Underwood’s record is sneaky good: Over the last four years, his teams have gone 56-24 in the Big Ten with two tournament titles. The Fighting Illini's trip to the Elite Eight further validated him after some disappointing NCAA performances. Kentucky fans probably don’t know much about Underwood, but they’ll learn quickly if he is hired. 

The Unattainables

Since the former Villanova coach stepped away two years ago, some fans have questioned whether he might be tempted at some point to come back. At age 62, Wright would still have some good years left if he wanted one more shot at a program built to win national titles. But by all accounts, Wright is quite happy doing television and has no interest in returning to the coaching lifestyle  – especially in this era where it’s much harder to build teams through redshirts and long-term development the way he did at his peak. 

Billy Donovan 

Though he was heavily linked to Kentucky when the job opened in 2007 and once again in 2009, he could never quite rationalize leaving a comfortable situation at Florida for the craziness of Big Blue Nation. Instead, Donovan went the NBA route – and all indications are he has no interest in returning to the college game at this stage. Having said that, there’s no guarantee Donovan will keep his current job with the Chicago Bulls for the long haul or get another head coaching opportunity in the NBA if it doesn’t work out. It still seems unlikely, though, that he’d leave in the middle of a season to return to college – or that Kentucky would wait until late April for him to become available. 

Rick Pitino

This would be by far the funniest outcome, and Pitino has often talked about his decision to leave Kentucky in 1997 being one that he has some regrets about. Pitino can still coach, but after everything that has happened since then, there’s no way this can happen. Right?

He has the ego and coaching chops to handle the Kentucky job. They’d love him there. But why leave UConn at this point? It just doesn’t make much sense. 

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Toronto Francophone Affairs Advisory Committee consideration on April 8, 2024

Fa2.4 - population census profile: francophone population.

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