How-To Geek

6 ways to create more interactive powerpoint presentations.

4

Your changes have been saved

Email is sent

Email has already been sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

Quick Links

  • Add a QR code
  • Embed Microsoft Forms (Education or Business Only)
  • Embed a Live Web Page
  • Add Links and Menus
  • Add Clickable Images to Give More Info
  • Add a Countdown Timer

We've all been to a presentation where the speaker bores you to death with a mundane PowerPoint presentation. Actually, the speaker could have kept you much more engaged by adding some interactive features to their slideshow. Let's look into some of these options.

1. Add a QR code

Adding a QR code can be particularly useful if you want to direct your audience to an online form, website, or video.

Some websites have in-built ways to create a QR code. For example, on Microsoft Forms , when you click "Collect Responses," you'll see the QR code option via the icon highlighted in the screenshot below. You can either right-click the QR code to copy and paste it into your presentation, or click "Download" to add it to your device gallery to insert the QR code as a picture.

In fact, you can easily add a QR code to take your viewer to any website. On Microsoft Edge, right-click anywhere on a web page where there isn't already a link, and left-click "Create QR Code For This Page."

You can also create QR codes in other browsers, such as Chrome.

You can then copy or download the QR code to use wherever you like in your presentation.

2. Embed Microsoft Forms (Education or Business Only)

If you plan to send your PPT presentation to others—for example, if you're a trainer sending step-by-step instruction presentation, a teacher sending an independent learning task to your students, or a campaigner for your local councilor sending a persuasive PPT to constituents—you might want to embed a quiz, questionnaire, pole, or feedback survey in your presentation.

In PowerPoint, open the "Insert" tab on the ribbon, and in the Forms group, click "Forms". If you cannot see this option, you can add new buttons to the ribbon .

As at April 2024, this feature is only available for those using their work or school account. We're using a Microsoft 365 Personal account in the screenshot below, which is why the Forms icon is grayed out.

Then, a sidebar will appear on the right-hand side of your screen, where you can either choose a form you have already created or opt to craft a new form.

Now, you can share your PPT presentation with others , who can click the fields and submit their responses when they view the presentation.

3. Embed a Live Web Page

You could always screenshot a web page and paste that into your PPT, but that's not a very interactive addition to your presentation. Instead, you can embed a live web page into your PPT so that people with access to your presentation can interact actively with its contents.

To do this, we will need to add an add-in to our PPT account .

Add-ins are not always reliable or secure. Before installing an add-in to your Microsoft account, check that the author is a reputable company, and type the add-in's name into a search engine to read reviews and other users' experiences.

To embed a web page, add the Web Viewer add-in ( this is an add-in created by Microsoft ).

Go to the relevant slide and open the Web Viewer add-in. Then, copy and paste the secure URL into the field box, and remove https:// from the start of the address. In our example, we will add a selector wheel to our slide. Click "Preview" to see a sample of the web page's appearance in your presentation.

This is how ours will look.

When you or someone with access to your presentation views the slideshow, this web page will be live and interactive.

4. Add Links and Menus

As well as moving from one slide to the next through a keyboard action or mouse click, you can create links within your presentation to direct the audience to specific locations.

To create a link, right-click the outline of the clickable object, and click "Link."

In the Insert Hyperlink dialog box, click "Place In This Document," choose the landing destination, and click "OK."

What's more, to make it clear that an object is clickable, you can use action buttons. Open the "Insert" tab on the ribbon, click "Shape," and then choose an appropriate action button. Usefully, PPT will automatically prompt you to add a link to these shapes.

You might also want a menu that displays on every slide. Once you have created the menu, add the links using the method outlined above. Then, select all the items, press Ctrl+C (copy), and then use Ctrl+V to paste them in your other slides.

5. Add Clickable Images to Give More Info

Through PowerPoint's animations, you can give your viewer the power to choose what they see and when they see it. This works nicely whether you're planning to send your presentation to others to run through independently or whether you're presenting in front of a group and want your audience to decide which action they want to take.

Start by creating the objects that will be clickable (trigger) and the items that will appear (pop-up).

Then, select all the pop-ups together. When you click "Animations" on the ribbon and choose an appropriate animation for the effect you want to achieve, this will be applied to all objects you have selected.

The next step is to rename the triggers in your presentation. To do this, open the "Home" tab, and in the Editing group, click "Select", and then "Selection Pane."

With the Selection Pane open, select each trigger on your slide individually, and rename them in the Selection Pane, so that they can be easily linked to in the next step.

Finally, go back to the first pop-up. Open the "Animations" tab, and in the Advanced Animation group, click the "Trigger" drop-down arrow. Then, you can set the item to appear when a trigger is clicked in your presentation.

If you want your item to disappear when the trigger is clicked again, select the pop-up, click "Add Animation" in the Advanced Animation group, choose an Exit animation, and follow the same step to link that animation to the trigger button.

6. Add a Countdown Timer

A great way to get your audience to engage with your PPT presentation is to keep them on edge by adding a countdown timer. Whether you're leading a presentation and want to let your audience stop to discuss a topic, or running an online quiz with time-limit questions, having a countdown timer means your audience will keep their eye on your slide throughout.

To do this, you need to animate text boxes or shapes containing your countdown numbers. Choose and format a shape and type the highest number that your countdown clock will need. In our case, we're creating a 10-second timer.

Now, with your shape selected, open the "Animations" tab on the ribbon and click the animation drop-down arrow. Then, in the Exit menu, click "Disappear."

Open the Animation Pane, and click the drop-down arrow next to the animation you've just added. From there, choose "Timing."

Make sure "On Click" is selected in the Start menu, and change the Delay option to "1 second," before clicking "OK."

Then, with this shape still selected, press Ctrl+C (copy), and then Ctrl+V (paste). In the second box, type 9 . With the Animation Pane still open and this second shape selected, click the drop-down arrow and choose "Timing" again. Change the Start option to "After Previous," and make sure the Delay option is 1 second. Then, click "OK."

We can now use this second shape as our template, as when we copy and paste it again, the animations will also duplicate. With this second shape selected, press Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V, type 8 into the box, and continue to do the same until you get to 0 .

Next, remove the animations from the "0" box, as you don't want this to disappear. To do this, click the shape, and in the Animation Pane drop-down, click "Remove."

You now need to layer them in order. Right-click the box containing number 1, and click "Bring To Front." You will now see that box on the top. Do the same with the other numbers in ascending order.

Finally, you need to align the objects together. Click anywhere on your slide and press Ctrl+A. Then, in the Home tab on the ribbon, click "Arrange." First click "Align Center," and then bring the menu up again, so that you can click "Align Middle."

Press Ctrl+A again to select your timer, and you can then move your timer or copy and paste it elsewhere.

Press F5 to see the presentation in action, and when you get to the slide containing the timer, click anywhere on the slide to see your countdown timer in action!

Now that your PPT presentation is more interactive, make sure you've avoided these eight common presentational mistakes before you present your slides.

  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Office

Got any suggestions?

We want to hear from you! Send us a message and help improve Slidesgo

Top searches

Trending searches

interactive presentation powerpoint

9 templates

interactive presentation powerpoint

dia de muertos

24 templates

interactive presentation powerpoint

indigenous peoples day

8 templates

interactive presentation powerpoint

15 templates

interactive presentation powerpoint

pink christmas

67 templates

interactive presentation powerpoint

fall pumpkin

59 templates

Interactive Presentation templates

Pick one of our interactive presentation templates to further enhance the experience of your audience by the use of hyperlinks. edit them in powerpoint or google slides and enjoy a dynamic slideshow..

  • Calendar & Weather
  • Infographics
  • Marketing Plan
  • Project Proposal
  • Social Media
  • Thesis Defense
  • Black & White
  • Craft & Notebook
  • Floral & Plants
  • Illustration
  • Interactive & Animated
  • Professional
  • Instagram Post
  • Instagram Stories

Full Black and White Planner presentation template

It seems that you like this template!

Premium template.

Unlock this template and gain unlimited access

interactive presentation powerpoint

Register for free and start downloading now

Full black and white planner.

Download the Full Black and White Planner presentation for PowerPoint or Google Slides and start impressing your audience with a creative and original design. Slidesgo templates like this one here offer the possibility to convey a concept, idea or topic in a clear, concise and visual way, by using different...

Motion Graphics App Pitch Deck

You have designed the perfect app for motion graphics, how can you present it now very visually and still keeping your company’s essence? Check out this template for PowerPoint! It’s perfect for an app pitch deck for your product. The 3D shapes floating over the soft slides will make your...

Elegant Workplan

Developing a successful business plan can be challenging, but with the right tools at your disposal, it becomes much simpler. This template is a comprehensive document that allows you to outline your business goals, strategies, and financial projections in a professional and aesthetically pleasing way. The full suite of resources...

Quoting App Pitch Deck presentation template

Quoting App Pitch Deck

Download the "Quoting App Pitch Deck" presentation for PowerPoint or Google Slides. Whether you're an entrepreneur looking for funding or a sales professional trying to close a deal, a great pitch deck can be the difference-maker that sets you apart from the competition. Let your talent shine out thanks to...

Interactive Folders presentation template

Interactive Folders

Folders are very useful when it comes to organizing classes, whether you are a student or a teacher. Today we bring you a digital and interactive version of them. You will love its colorful design, full of illustrations that will bring joy to your notes. In the number tabs on...

Animated Intro for Social Media Platforms

Are you describing how your company is going to publish content on social media? Are you defining what, when and how everything is going to be published for the next quarter? You can do so with this new template, that has been created for PowerPoint only. What is its special...

Interactive and Animated Social Media Strategy presentation template

Interactive and Animated Social Media Strategy

Download the Interactive and Animated Social Media Strategy presentation for PowerPoint or Google Slides. How do you use social media platforms to achieve your business goals? If you need a thorough and professional tool to plan and keep track of your social media strategy, this fully customizable template is your...

Interactive Corporate Interface for Business

Give your company visibility in the market and stand out from your competition with this business presentation that provides you a way to present your company, its main services and clients, and show its future projections. Discover resources such as icons, images, diagrams and charts that you can customize with...

Spring Woods presentation template

Spring Woods

Download the "Spring Woods" presentation for PowerPoint or Google Slides and start impressing your audience with a creative and original design. Slidesgo templates like this one here offer the possibility to convey a concept, idea or topic in a clear, concise and visual way, by using different graphic resources. You...

Y2K Console Style MK Campaign presentation template

Y2K Console Style MK Campaign

Download the Y2K Console Style MK Campaign presentation for PowerPoint or Google Slides. Improve your campaign management with this template that will definitely make a difference. It will empower you to organize, execute, and track the effectiveness of your campaign. Enriched with innovative resources, it facilitates seamless communication, meticulous planning,...

Database Company Business Plan presentation template

Database Company Business Plan

Download the Database Company Business Plan presentation for PowerPoint or Google Slides. Conveying your business plan accurately and effectively is the cornerstone of any successful venture. This template allows you to pinpoint essential elements of your operation while your audience will appreciate the clear and concise presentation, eliminating any potential...

Operations and Algebraic Thinking: Operations of Powers With the Same Exponent presentation template

Create your presentation Create personalized presentation content

Writing tone, number of slides, operations and algebraic thinking: operations of powers with the same exponent.

Download the Operations and Algebraic Thinking: Operations of Powers With the Same Exponent presentation for PowerPoint or Google Slides and teach with confidence. Sometimes, teachers need a little bit of help, and there's nothing wrong with that. We're glad to lend you a hand! Since Slidesgo is committed to making...

Interactive Digital Marketing Canvas

Ready to change the way you see marketing? Here's a digital and interactive marketing canvas, created entirely in PowerPoint, where each slide is a place in which to create magic, marketing magic. The palette is full of energetic colors, and everything is totally customizable. Run one of the most popular...

Consulting with Morph Transition

You help companies maximize their performance, you help them identify potential areas of improvement, you help them optimize their costs. Ah, what would many businesses do without consultants... And what would many consultants do without Slidesgo? Today is the day we publish this template created exclusively for PowerPoint. Along with...

Dividing Integers presentation template

Dividing Integers

Download the "Dividing Integers" presentation for PowerPoint or Google Slides and teach with confidence. Sometimes, teachers need a little bit of help, and there's nothing wrong with that. We're glad to lend you a hand! Since Slidesgo is committed to making education better for everyone, we've joined hands with educators....

Interactive Classroom Icebreakers presentation template

Interactive Classroom Icebreakers

Download the Interactive Classroom Icebreakers presentation for PowerPoint or Google Slides and easily edit it to fit your own lesson plan! Designed specifically for elementary school education, this eye-catching design features engaging graphics and age-appropriate fonts; elements that capture the students' attention and make the learning experience more enjoyable and...

Multiplying Integers presentation template

Multiplying Integers

Download the "Multiplying Integers" presentation for PowerPoint or Google Slides and teach with confidence. Sometimes, teachers need a little bit of help, and there's nothing wrong with that. We're glad to lend you a hand! Since Slidesgo is committed to making education better for everyone, we've joined hands with educators....

Organic Shapes Design for Business

Explore the world of creativity with this design. This ingeniously designed template is an ideal match for PowerPoint presentations that demand vibrancy and intuitiveness. It comprises a variety of animated, simple, and interactive elements that bring an enthralling visual experience. Elevate your presentation's appeal with this unique combination of simplicity...

  • Page 1 of 30

Register for free and start editing online

  • Interactive Presentation

15+ Fresh Interactive Presentation Ideas For Any Setting (2024 Edition)

Jasmine • 22 October, 2024 • 14 min read

With remote and hybrid work cultures coming into the picture, interactive presentations and virtual meetings have become the need of the hour.

Remote meetings and presentations are crucial to ensure work continuity and better communication. But the question is, can you make them as effective, engaging and productive as possible?

The answer is a very simple YES! Keeping the audience engaged is critical whether you are having a live or virtual meeting.

In this blog post, we'll bring you:

  • 10+ interactive presentation ideas - the really engaging presentation ideas that you can use at your next meeting or hangout!
  • 5-minute interactive presentation ideas in case you just want to grab a quick and engaging audience activity.

👉 Learn how to make a presentation interactive with AhaSlides.

Table of Contents

More interactive presentation ideas w ahaslides.

  • 10 Types of presentations and tips to ace them

Alternative Text

Start in seconds.

Get free templates for your next interactive presentation. Sign up for free and take what you want from the template library!

10 Interactive Presentation Ideas

With a little help from various interactive presentation software and activities, you can stand out from the other presenters and create a productive experience for your audience. So, what is an example of an interactive presentation? Let's dive into 10+ creative and interactive presentation ideas you could imagine and truly use to keep your audience excited and engaged throughout.

Kick Off the Presentation With an Ice Breaker

The first interactive presentation idea we want to show you is setting an icebreaker part. Why?

Whether you have a casual or formal presentation, starting with an icebreaker activity is always better to excite the crowd. Most often, people start the presentation straight away to save time and skip the warming-up stage. The end result? A static audience looking dreadful like it's Friday the 13th.

Here's the deal: build a rapport with your audience before you start the presentation, and you can do this by introducing a few activities👇

Idea #1 - Set some icebreaker questions

You may not always have the same group of people attending a meeting. Sometimes there might be members who are entirely new to the group. You could use this activity to help get to know each other better.

How to Play

Ask basic icebreaker questions to get to know the audience better and give them a time limit to answer. The questions can be open-ended , where the participants can answer freely with or without a word limit. This allows them to clearly express their thoughts, giving you an excellent opportunity to open up further discussions.

Screenshot of an open-ended slide on AhaSlides - interactive oral presentation ideas

Create a Fun and Interactive Presentation With AhaSlides

There was a time when you had to sit for hours preparing and personalising presentation slides, but it doesn't have to be boring anymore. You can get a wide range of free interactive activities with AhaSlides! Sign up and create a free account today to try our online tool.

Interactive presentation ideas

Idea #2 - Word of the Day

Sometimes, the meeting's main topic or agenda gets lost as the presentation gets long, boring and monotonous. One way to prevent this is by having the key phrase/topic throughout the presentation.

Learn the 13 golden openers to start a presentation .

The word or phrase is not revealed before the presentation. You could either divide the presentation into sections or focus on one specific topic at a time. You then ask the audience to write the word they think is the most crucial topic for the day. The words are then displayed as a live word cloud based on the popular responses, and the word with the most responses appears larger on the cloud.

This would give you, the presenter, an idea about how well the audience receives the content and help the audience understand which topic to focus on when you continue the presentation.

A word cloud on AhaSlides with audience responses during a live interactive presentation - creative interactive presentation ideas

Let your audience direct

Nobody likes to sit through hours and hours of a single person talking about a topic, no matter how interesting it could be. Let the audience decide on the topic they want to learn or the presentation order. Best presentation ideas don't need to be linear! Here are some inspirational activities for you:

Idea #3 - Idea Box

People like to be asked for their opinions, and an Idea Box is a wonderful interactive presentation idea to grab your audience's attention and decide which is the best option to go forward with. Every presentation and meeting will have a Q&A at the end, and you might not be able to answer all the audience questions. This is where voting comes into the picture.

AhaSlides Q&A platform - Engaging and fun interactive presentation ideas

Once you are done with a specific topic in your presentation, you can ask the audience if they have any questions and collect them. When they have all shared their questions, they can upvote or downvote the available options, and you can select and answer the questions that have more votes.

These are different from polls because polls give them options to choose from, but you take their opinions into account when voting.

AhaSlides offers an Upvote feature to prioritise high-priority topics from head to toe and an anonymous feature for shy participants to voice out their opinions.

Idea #4 - Deal the Cards

It's normal for the presenter to have data and other information on the slides that could be complicated for the audience to understand. Once you finish presenting a specific topic, you could introduce a Q&A session .

In a normal presentation, only the presenter can control the slides. But suppose you are not presenting live, using an interactive presentation tool. In that case, you can let your audience go back and forth on the slides to check and clarify any information you've already presented.

You display a card (a normal slide) with specific data/numbers. Say, for example, a card with 75% on it. The audience can then go back to the slides, check what relates to the 75% and answer the question. Even if someone had missed out on an important topic, this would ensure they come across it.

Survey Your Audience

Hey, no! Don't be like that one teacher who constantly picks on the kids who aren't listening. The idea is to survey, to create an experience where everyone feels involved and make them feel that they are an important part of the presentation.

Idea #5 - What Would I Have Done Differently?

Asking them profound/fun/upbeat questions is a way to engage the audience in your talk. If you want the team to feel excited and involved, you need to provide them with an opportunity to express their opinions.

Give the audience a situation and ask them what they would have done differently if they were in that situation. AhaSlides offers an open-ended slide option where you can make the Q&A session a little more fun by allowing the audience to share their opinions as free text.

Another interactive presentation idea is to ask them if they've raised any pets/children and let them submit images in AhaSlides' open-ended slide. Talking about their favourite thing is a great way for the audience to open up.

Idea #6 - Quizzes

Need more interactive ideas for a presentation? Let's switch to quizzing time!

There's no argument that quizzes are one of the best ways to engage audience participation and make your presentation interactive. But how can you use those to your advantage during a live presentation without hunting for pen and paper?

Well, worry not! Creating fun and interactive quiz sessions is now easy and can be done in a few steps with AhaSlides.

  • Step 1: Create your free AhaSlides account
  • Step 2: Pick your desired template, or you can start with a blank one and use the AI slide generator to help create quiz questions
  • Step 3: Fine-tune, test and present it in front of the live audience. Your participants can access the quiz easily via smartphones.

Lack of games in mind? Here are some interactive presentation games to get you started.

Bring in Humor as Your Ally

Even when it's interactive, sometimes the long presentations can drain the energy and excitement out of the presenter and the audience. Jokes and memes are other interactive presentation examples that you can use to lighten the mood and engage your audience.

Idea #7 - Use GIFs and Videos

The audience will remember the presentation and the topic better when you tie it up with pictures and GIFs. If you are looking for a perfect way to break the ice or lighten the mood during a presentation, this is one of the perfect ideas for interactive presentations.

Show the participants a poll with a number of images or GIFs related to the question. Say, for example - Which Otter Describes Your Mood? The polls can have pictures or GIFs of funny otters, and the audience could pick their choice. Once everyone has chosen their option, the presenter can display the results on the screen.

A poll on AhaSlides showing otter images to describe the mood in the meeting - interactive virtual presentation ideas

Idea #8 - Two Truths and a Lie

If you want to make the audience think and entertain them at the same time, this is one of the best interactive presentation examples you can use. Interactive presentation ideas like Two Truths and a Lie can make your talk double fun and fascinating.

  • Step 1: Give the audience a statement about the topic you are presenting
  • Step 2: Give 3 options for them to choose from, including two true facts and a lie about the statement
  • Step 3: Ask them to find the lie among the answers

two truths and a lie - interactive online presentation ideas

Use Props in Your Presentation

Sometimes, giving the audience something to focus on other than the presentation helps. The idea is to engage them in a fun interactive presentation without taking away the topic's essence.

Idea #9 - The Stick Game

An interactive presentation example of this idea is the stick game, which is pretty simple. You give the audience a "talking stick". The person who has the stick with them can ask a question or share their opinion during the presentation.

This game is most suitable for when you are in a physical meeting setting. You might be using a digital presentation tool, but using a traditional prop method can be easy sometimes and different. You ask the audience to pass the talking stick around when they want to speak, and you could either address it right away or note it down for Q&A later.

🎊 Tips: Best Q&A Apps to Engage With Your Audience | 5+ Platforms For Free in 2024

Idea #10 - Trend a Hashtag

Creating a buzz about a specific topic can excite any crowd, and that is exactly what can be done with the help of social media.

Before the presentation, maybe even a couple of days back, the presenter can start a Twitter hashtag for the set topic and ask the teammates to join in and share their thoughts and questions. The entries are taken only until the day of the presentation, and you can even set a time limit.

Gather the entries from Twitter, and at the end of the presentation, you can pick and discuss a few of them like a generic discussion.

With our ideas for an interactive presentation above, hope you'll make your speech awesome that everyone will remember!

🤗 These creative and interactive presentation ideas are all here for the same goal - for both the presenter and the audience to have a casual, confident and productive time. Bid goodbye to mundane, long static meetings and jump into the world of interactive presentations with AhaSlides. Sign up for free today to explore our template library.

5-Minute Interactive Presentation Ideas

In a world where attention spans are short, making your presentation interactive and engaging in just five minutes can be a wise option. Here are some 5-minute interactive presentation ideas to keep your audience involved and energised.

Idea #1 - Quick Icebreaker Questions

Starting with a quick icebreaker can set the tone for an engaging presentation.

Ask something like, "What's bugging you most about [your topic] right now?" Give them 30 seconds to shout out answers or type in chat. You'll wake them up and learn what they actually care about.

Idea #2 - Mini Quizzes

Our brains love a challenge. Quizzes are a fantastic way to reinforce learning and keep your audience engaged.

Throw 3 quick questions at them about your topic. Use AhaSlides so they can answer on their phones. It's not about getting it right – it's about getting them thinking.

Idea #3 - Word Cloud Activity

Want to know what your audience really thinks? A live word cloud can visually capture your audience's thoughts and keep them engaged.

Ask them to submit one word about your topic. Watch it form a live word cloud. Those big words? That's where their heads are at. Start there.

Idea #4 - Rapid Feedback

Opinions matter. Quick polls can provide immediate insights into audience opinions and preferences.

Toss out a divisive question about your subject. Give them 20 seconds to vote on AhaSlides. As soon as those numbers show up, they become arguments.

5-minute interactive presentation ideas

Idea #5 - Upvote Questions

Flip the script. Let them ask the questions, but make it a game.

They submit questions, then vote on their favorites. Address the top 2-3. You're answering what they actually want to know, not what you think they should. Here's the key: These aren't gimmicks. They're tools to hack attention and spark real learning. Use them to create moments of surprise, curiosity, and connection. That's how you make 5 minutes feel like an hour (in a good way).

Frequently Asked Questions

U003cstrongu003ewhy are interactive presentation ideas importantu003c/strongu003e.

Interactive presentation ideas are important as they help to keep the audience engaged and interested throughout the presentation. Interactive elements can break up the monotony of a one-way presentation and provide opportunities for the audience to actively participate, which can enhance learning and retention.

u003cstrongu003eWhy are interactive presentations beneficial to students?u003c/strongu003e

u003ca href=u0022https://ahaslides.com/blog/6-interactive-presentation-ideas-for-students/u0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eInteractive presentation ideas for studentsu003c/au003e are u003ca href=u0022https://www.viewsonic.com/library/education/5-interactive-presentations-ideas-that-will-engage-students/u0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopener nofollowu0022u003evaluable u003c/au003eways to enhance their learning experience. They can promote active learning, personalised instruction, and collaboration, all of which can contribute to improved academic performance and student success.

u003cstrongu003eWhat are the benefits of interactive presentation in the workplace?u003c/strongu003e

Interactive presentations are effective tools for communication, promoting engagement, learning, decision-making, and motivation in the workplace. By utilising this technique, organisations can foster a culture of continuous learning and development, leading to improved employee performance and business success.

Jasmine

I love the feeling of belonging. Being connected. Being heard. That's why I desire to instil this sense in AhaSlides readers and audiences worldwide.

Tips to Engage with Polls & Trivia

newsletter star

More from AhaSlides

15+ Fresh Interactive Presentation Ideas For Any Setting (2024 Edition)

Home Blog Presentation Ideas How To Make a Presentation Interactive

How To Make a Presentation Interactive

Cover for How to Make a Presentation Interactive Guide

This article provides a short list of proven techniques for adding interactivity to your presentations. Based on our experience and available research, we know applying them will enhance your presentation experience.

Table of Contents

Definition of Interactive Presentation

Benefits of interactive presentation, interactive presentation techniques, recommended templates for interactive presentations.

An interactive presentation actively engages the audience, transforming them from passive listeners into active participants. It incorporates various elements that invite audience interaction, encourage learning and discussion.

  • Interactive presentations generate connection, bringing audiences and presenters closer. 
  • They enhance comprehension, simplifying complex concepts. 
  • They boost engagement, keeping audiences active and interested. 
  • They encourage cooperation, promoting collaborative learning and problem-solving.

The following list is a suggestion of audience interaction techniques that, in our experience, helped presenters make their presentations interactive. They all present an actionable example that can be easily implemented in your next PowerPoint presentation .

Use of Icebreakers

In recent years, researchers have theorized that Icebreakers help establish a conducive communication environment, favoring participation. Effective icebreakers can range from simple questions to fun activities to break down barriers and encourage interaction. The key is to choose an icebreaker that aligns with the audience and the topic of the presentation.

Icebreaker examples

We present two examples of the same technique based on the context of the presentation delivery method.

Scenario 1 – Physical Audience (in the Context of a Summit)

In summits, the audience is gathered for a shared interest. So, the hypothesis is that the people in the room, ready to listen to the presentation, have some interests in common. The presenter can break the ice with a simple “know the people around you.” Each participant should present themselves to the person at the right and the left and ask them the purpose of their assistance.

The presenter will then share the 3 “possible answers,” introducing how the presentation will cover those interests. If time is well measured, it can even do a “rise the hands” round to roughly estimate the answers.

This technique requires good control of the room, so it is important to constantly gauge the possible distraction generated vs the communication effect that wants to be reached. We suggest our subscribers present quickly, clear the icebreaker exercise, and invest time in the wrap-up (post-exercise) activity.

Multiple choice slide for interactive presentation

Scenario 2 – Virtual Audience (in the context of a course)

During virtual presentations (like in Google Meet or Zoom ), the interaction between participants requires separate meeting rooms or moderated chat, which incurs complexity and additional effort. So, our experience in virtual presentations shows that a single round of attendee introductions is a good icebreaker for the audience-presenter pair. 

The main task the presenter needs to prepare is to define beforehand the number of people that will introduce themselves and the 3 questions they should answer about them.

For example:

  • What’s your name? (or any demographic that might fit the audience)
  • What do you expect from the presentation?
  • Do you have a specific question or topic you would like the presenter to address?

This technique of micro-interactions increases the audience’s affinity with its remote peers and triggers curiosity. For the presenter, it sets a standard of expectations to focus on during the speech. [3]

Incorporation of Multimedia Elements & Other Interactive Presentation Ideas

According to audience studies , incorporating multimedia elements into presentations significantly enhances audience engagement . This technique uses videos, reels, TikTok, audio clips, animations, memes, and images to convey information more effectively. These elements can simplify complex concepts, stimulate discussion, and maintain audience interest. They also cater to different learning styles, ensuring a more comprehensive understanding of the presented material.

Use of Non-linear Flow

Non-linear flow in interactive presentations allows for a flexible, audience-driven progression. It consists of allowing the listener to decide the path of the presentation. This technique enhances engagement by adapting to audience responses. Two studies ([1],[2]) conclude that the use of a non-linear presentation reinforces learning and improves understanding of concepts and results.

Usage of non-linear flow in interactive presentations

Storytelling Approach

The storytelling approach involves weaving a narrative around your topic, connecting facts and figures with characters and plots. This method engages the audience emotionally, stimulating their imagination, making it more relatable and memorable, and enhancing their understanding of the subject matter. The interaction materializes between the message and the emotions of the receiver. 

Do not misunderstand the usage of storytelling presentations as merely fictional creative plots. The presenter needs to create a story that delivers the message and also, is backed up with arguments or data.

Storytelling Example

For instance, imagine a mid-manager working on customer trends and behavior analysis in a retail company. In the previous quarter, numbers show a decrease in the sales of brewed coffee. The trends and survey analysis show that consumers prefer to brew at home.

So, instead of just showcasing numbers, the presenter elaborates on a customer persona (“Emily”) and creates a story about Emily’s regular day and decision-making process.

“Emily is a hard-working mom of 2 boys. She has a white-collar job, 9 to 5, in a big city. She is a conscious mom about their children’s nutrition and makes her grocery every morning in our stores. She values our quality and freshness. As part of her daily routine, she picks a fresh coffee from our store barista and quickly covers her shopping list., ready to deliver the goods at home and run to her job.

Her morning routine has recently been affected since Emily’s budget has seen an increase in groceries, and a detailed analysis of cost benefits has replaced the almost automatic process of selecting top-of-the-line healthy products. Prices have seen alterations due to inflation and have hit the shelves. Emily’s routine has changed so that she does not even take her “to go coffee”; she decided to brew at home.”

This story is more relatable and can trigger the audience’s experience about the topic. This is no bidirectional communication but generates an internal action in the audience.

Audience persona analysis in interactive presentation

Use of Q&A and Discussion Sessions

Question and Answer (Q&A) sessions and discussions complement interactive presentations. They provide a platform for the audience to drill down into concepts and exchange ideas. This methodology promotes dynamic involvement, inviting passive spectators to become active participants. Moreover, the presenter can extract invaluable insights from these sessions, transforming the presentation into a reciprocal learning experience. For further reading and techniques of Q&A sessions, please check our post on how to moderate questions and answers .

Quizzes and Polls

In interactive presentations, quizzes and polls are frequently employed to receive input from the audience at scale. Using technology, you can get quick answers to a grid of questions predefined or even built during the presentation itself. The audience input is received and quickly processed to share in a summary. Results can then be discussed during the presentation. 

Quizzes and Polls Examples

As technology for this technique, we suggest using Microsoft Forms or Google Forms. Booths are proven technologies that can be accessed from almost every network and guarantee you will not fail during your presentation. This tool reduces the risk of having a glitch failure.

If you have an Office 365 subscription, you can use Microsoft Forms, which integrates with PowerPoint to show the results of a poll or quiz.

Quiz created with Microsoft Forms for an interactive presentation idea

If you use Google Forms, even though you do not have direct interaction, you can use the web viewer add-in of PowerPoint and, after some time, edit the presentation, refresh the preview, and show the examples.

If you need a quick method to create an interactive presentation, check out our  AI presentation maker . A tool in which you add the topic, curate the outline, select a design, and let AI do the work for you.

Here is a list of interactive presentation ideas & templates that you can use in PowerPoint or Google Slides.

1. Interactive Jeopardy Game Template for PowerPoint & Google Slides

interactive presentation powerpoint

Welcome to Jeopardy! If you intend to make a memorable presentation and evaluate your attendees’ knowledge of the topics you disclose, this is the ideal resource to make a presentation interactive.

Use This Template

2. Quiz Maker for Interactive Presentations Template

interactive presentation powerpoint

When looking for how to make presentations interactive, this slide deck with a quiz theme can bring light to training sessions or even inspirational presentations. Easy to edit, you can build expectation with multiple-choice format, or work with true/false statements.

3. Six Thinking Hats PowerPoint Template for Interactive Presentations

interactive presentation powerpoint

Induce interactive activities for presentations by implementing this creative thinking template featuring the Six Thinking Hats model. It is ideal for teams to discuss a problem from different points of view.

4. Futuristic Concept Roadmap for Interactive Presentation Ideas

interactive presentation powerpoint

When looking for how to create an interactive PowerPoint presentation, this roadmap template stands out by its highly detailed graphic aesthetic, which makes facts easier to remember. Participants can add their insights to collectively build a roadmap for the organization, highlighting 3 key milestones.

We presented several methods to make your presentation interactive. You can navigate our presentations gallery and choose professional PowerPoint templates to apply these new techniques.

  • Das, Anup & Dutta, Bidyarthi. (2002). Presentation of Results of Research: Linear and Non-Linear Forms.
  • Rumpa, Lantana & Sampelawang, Petrus & Lolang, Enos & Tangkeallo, Daud & Rubianus,. (2018). NON-LINEAR PRESENTATION ON STUDENT PERFORMANCE: APPLYING PREZI ON ENGINEERING EDUCATION.
  • In-person vs. virtual conferences: Lessons learned and how to take advantage of the best of both worlds

Like this article? Please share

Presentation Approaches, Presentation Ideas Filed under Presentation Ideas

Related Articles

Formal vs Informal Presentation: Understanding the Differences

Filed under Presentation Ideas • October 23rd, 2024

Formal vs Informal Presentation: Understanding the Differences

Learn the differences between formal and informal presentations and how to transition smoothly. PPT templates and tips here!

The Rules of PowerPoint Presentations: Creating Effective Slides

Filed under Design • October 22nd, 2024

The Rules of PowerPoint Presentations: Creating Effective Slides

Create powerful slide decks by mastering the rules of PowerPoint presentations. Must-known tips, guidance, and examples.

Architecture Project Presentation: Must-Know Secrets for Creative Slides

Filed under Design • October 17th, 2024

Architecture Project Presentation: Must-Know Secrets for Creative Slides

Impress your audience by mastering the art of architectural project presentations. This detailed guide will give you the insights for this craft.

Leave a Reply

interactive presentation powerpoint

IMAGES

  1. How to make an interactive PowerPoint presentation

    interactive presentation powerpoint

  2. HOW TO MAKE AN INTERACTIVE POWERPOINT

    interactive presentation powerpoint

  3. 30+ Animated PowerPoint PPT Templates + Interactive Slides

    interactive presentation powerpoint

  4. Create Interactive PowerPoint Presentations With 8 Panels Template

    interactive presentation powerpoint

  5. 30+ Animated PowerPoint PPT Templates + Interactive Slides

    interactive presentation powerpoint

  6. 30+ Animated PowerPoint PPT Templates + Interactive Slides

    interactive presentation powerpoint

VIDEO

  1. Interactive PowerPoint Presentation

  2. How To Create a PowerPoint Presentation

  3. "PowerPoint Terminology in Action: A Practical Example"

  4. how to make an interactive PowerPoint presentation PowerPoint

  5. How to create Interactive PowerPoint presentations without triggers

  6. Creating an Interactive PowerPoint Presentation

COMMENTS

  1. 6 Ways to Create More Interactive PowerPoint Presentations

    We've all been to a presentation where the speaker bores you to death with a mundane PowerPoint presentation. Actually, the speaker could have kept you much more engaged by adding some interactive features to their slideshow. Let's look into some of these options. 1. Add a QR code

  2. 20 Ways to Create an Interactive Presentation That Stands Out

    An interactive presentation is a dynamic type of presentation that supports increased engagement and interactions with the audience. Try integrating media techniques like video clips, audio narratives, music, and interactive quizzes.

  3. Free Interactive Google Slides themes and PowerPoint templates

    Interactive Presentation templates. Pick one of our Interactive presentation templates to further enhance the experience of your audience by the use of hyperlinks. Edit them in PowerPoint or Google Slides and enjoy a dynamic slideshow. Industry.

  4. 15+ Fresh Interactive Presentation Ideas For Any Setting ...

    5-Minute Interactive Presentation Ideas. In a world where attention spans are short, making your presentation interactive and engaging in just five minutes can be a wise option. Here are some 5-minute interactive presentation ideas to keep your audience involved and energised. Idea #1 - Quick Icebreaker Questions

  5. 23 PowerPoint Presentation Tips for Creating Engaging ...

    Creating the perfect presentation can be challenging. Learn how to make a presentation engaging and interactive with these tips and examples.

  6. How To Make a Presentation Interactive - SlideModel

    Learn how to create interactive presentations with the help of PowerPoint and Microsoft Forms. A detailed guide with tips & techniques here!