Improving your Presentations Maggie Roberts, Centre for Teaching and Learning, UTSC Improving your Presentations

Breathing Exercise 3 deep breaths to relax. Say your name over and over.

Today How good can I be? How do I know I’m doing well? How do I plan for next time?

Today How good can I be? How do I know I’m doing well? How do I plan for next time?

How good can I be? Accept that… Nobody is a natural presenter. We gain objectivity through experience. Objectivity helps us identify what we need to improve. You improve by knowing your limitations.

How good can I be? Knowing your audience Being flexible Being confident that you can present well Using effective body language Speaking clearly Organizing the ideas effectively Practicing

How good can I be? How well do you know your audience? Are they: Experts on your topic? Well-informed about your topic? General audience? Do you know their characteristics? What are their expectations?

How good can I be? How flexible are you? Presentations can present challenges. Technical failures? Forgot slides? Responding to questions from the audience?

How good can I be? Confidence: do you believe you can do a great presentation on your research project? What is your greatest concern? Can you speak up to be heard? Can you leave the cover of the podium?

Active Hands Exercise Choose a partner Have a conversation about anything you like. Take turns with one person speaking for 30-45 seconds. Keep hands in front, unclasped.

Nervous Energy (or it’s ok to be nervous!) We can use our nervous energy It can push you to prepare in advance It can push you to practice It can keep your presentation from sounding flat Breath through it, use the energy—and take your time!

How good can I be? Have you prepared a good story for your audience? Is it organized in a dynamic way? Does it make clear what you have learned?

Descriptive vs Analytical Good Description So what??? Concepts Examples and concrete Big picture Telling details Why is your topic significant? Impact on world, communities, individuals Make your topic a compelling story

Your research project has a natural storyline Background Gap Argument/ Purpose So What?

Questions to ask as you prepare: Gap or Research Question Key element Questions to ask as you prepare: Language to use Background What is the background issue, or the ‘past’ of my topic? What research has been done in this area? What information/topic are you working within or against? “Previous research has shown ...” “X has emerged as an extremely important issue, because…”   Gap or Research Question What do most people still not know about this issue? What do you want the audience to be aware of by the end of your presentation? “What we have yet to understand ...” “What is still missing...” “However...” Thesis/Argument/ Purpose for Writing What is the overall purpose of my presentation? Do I have an argument that I am trying to make? What are the implications, or ‘possible futures’ of my topic? “In my presentation today, I’d like to tell you about X, which is important because…” “The goal of my presentation is to tell you about X, which is important because…”

Organize your information: Storyboarding in 4 steps… 1. Brainstorm 2. Group & Identify the core ideas for your presentation 3. Choose a visual organizer 4. Create a presentation plan

Storyboarding Step 3 – Applying a Visual Organizer

How good can I be? Now that you have prepared your content, have you practiced? You really need to begin preparation well before the date of the event. Go over the material many times, take notes on what is most difficult. Get feedback from people and identify what you need to improve. Video and audio for your own viewing.

Today How good can I be? How do I know I’m doing well? How do I plan for next time?

How do I know I’m doing well? How do you feel? Does your presentation flow? Are you… Speaking poorly? Audience can’t follow. Disconnected? Audience not trying to follow. Speaking well and remaining on task? Audience can follow and understand.

How do I know I’m doing well? A smooth, relaxed flow helps your audience relax. … and makes you easier to connect with and more interesting.

Looking them in the Eye Exercise Groups of 4-5 Speak to 3 people in turn for 5 seconds each. Must maintain eye contact or start over.

Today How good can I be? How do I know I’m doing well? How do I plan for next time?

How do I plan for next time? Take notes, keep a journal. Get feedback from instructors and peers. Identify what you did well and what you didn’t What did you do before the presentation that helped/hindered? Identify a few, 2-4, things you can do to add to your next presentation.