Presentation Tips

185 Presentation Maximum length: 6 minutes. Maximum length: 6 minutes. Pay attention to two minute and one minute warnings. Pay attention to two minute and one minute warnings. Followed by a 2 minute question and answer session. Followed by a 2 minute question and answer session.

“A Technical Subject” A little vague, isn’t it? A little vague, isn’t it? Basically, describe a process. Basically, describe a process. If you’re not sure if your topic is technical enough, ask. If you’re not sure if your topic is technical enough, ask.

Past Topics Constructing Germanium Nanowires Constructing Germanium Nanowires How to detect and prevent cheating in online games How to detect and prevent cheating in online games Path planning for multiple robots moving in formation Path planning for multiple robots moving in formation Eyeglass lens manufacture Eyeglass lens manufacture How to build the frame of a house How to build the frame of a house Establishing a wireless network in a rural setting using Satellite DSL Establishing a wireless network in a rural setting using Satellite DSL The physics of automotive drift The physics of automotive drift Rendering realistic 3D landscapes Artificial intelligence routines for Texas Hold 'Em Quality Assurance Testing. Collision detection in real-time multiplayer games Plotting graphs using Microsoft Excel How does BitTorrent work? Using Maya animation software

Basic Presentation Skills Voice Voice Body Language Body Language Appearance Appearance

Voice Volume Volume Speak loudly enough for the back end of the room. Speak loudly enough for the back end of the room. Don’t shout or whisper. Don’t shout or whisper. Speed Speed Speak naturally. Speak naturally. Don’t rush, or speak too slowly. Don’t rush, or speak too slowly.

Breathe. Practice deep breathing. Practice deep breathing. Breathe slowly and deliberately. Breathe slowly and deliberately. Practice delivering a single musical note for as long as possible. Practice delivering a single musical note for as long as possible. Extra credit: Study meditation techniques. Extra credit: Study meditation techniques.

Pronounce words clearly Pronounce words clearly Enunciate consonants Enunciate consonants D-T D-T G-K G-K L-R L-R B-P B-P He stood on the balcony, inexplicably mimicking him hiccuping, while amicably welcoming him in. He stood on the balcony, inexplicably mimicking him hiccuping, while amicably welcoming him in.

Body Language Face the audience. Face the audience. If you must turn away, do so briefly. If you must turn away, do so briefly. Don’t hide behind the podium. Don’t hide behind the podium. Keep your body open to the audience. Keep your body open to the audience.

Body language always says something. Body language always says something. Whether you mean it to or not. Whether you mean it to or not. You can look formal, or casual. You can look formal, or casual. Or stiff, or sloppy. Or stiff, or sloppy. Always look aware and awake. Always look aware and awake.

Hand Gestures Keep hand gestures clear. Keep hand gestures clear. Point distinctly. Point distinctly. Use clean hand gestures. Use clean hand gestures. Try not to wave your hands needlessly. Try not to wave your hands needlessly.

Appearance Dress for the occasion. Dress for the occasion. What are others wearing? What are others wearing? What do you feel comfortable in? What do you feel comfortable in? What you wear can effect your attitude. What you wear can effect your attitude. When in doubt, err on the side of over-dressing. When in doubt, err on the side of over-dressing.

Preparation Outline the main objectives of the presentation. Outline the main objectives of the presentation. Always know your opening line. Always know your opening line. Follow your outline, don’t read from a script. Follow your outline, don’t read from a script.

Rehearse in front of a mirror. Rehearse in front of a mirror. Rehearse in front of your peers. Rehearse in front of your peers. Rehearse in front of anyone who’ll watch. Rehearse in front of anyone who’ll watch. Use feedback constructively. Use feedback constructively.

PowerPoint/Slide Presentations Useful, but frequently troublesome. Useful, but frequently troublesome. Use slides to prompt points of discussion, not as your script. Use slides to prompt points of discussion, not as your script. Don’t cram too much onto one page. Don’t cram too much onto one page. Two or three bullet points per page is usually enough. Two or three bullet points per page is usually enough.

Use clear graphics. Use clear graphics. Will they make sense to a non-expert? Will they make sense to a non-expert? Are they large enough? Are they large enough? Will they still be clear when projected on a screen? Will they still be clear when projected on a screen? Do they contain more information than you can cover? Do they contain more information than you can cover?

Presentation Structure Greet the audience. Greet the audience. Introduce yourself. Introduce yourself. Keep your introduction short. Keep your introduction short. Tell the audience what they need to know about you. Tell the audience what they need to know about you. Introduce your subject. Introduce your subject. Tell the audience what you’re going to talk about. Tell the audience what you’re going to talk about. Then talk about it. Then talk about it.

Be prepared for questions. Be prepared for questions. Answer what you can. Answer what you can. Be honest about what you can’t answer. Be honest about what you can’t answer. Ask friends and colleagues in the audience to help you out. Ask friends and colleagues in the audience to help you out. When in the audience yourself, help out your friends and colleagues. When in the audience yourself, help out your friends and colleagues.

Troublesome questions Troublesome questions If an answer requires a lengthy response, offer to talk after the presentation. If an answer requires a lengthy response, offer to talk after the presentation. Be prepared for hostile questions. Be prepared for hostile questions. Maintain your composure. Maintain your composure. Sometimes the Q&A session turns into an opportunity for commentary. Sometimes the Q&A session turns into an opportunity for commentary. Be respectful of dissenting views. Be respectful of dissenting views. You are the moderator. Control the room. You are the moderator. Control the room.

Content Frame your message. Frame your message. Especially if it is legally or socially controversial. Especially if it is legally or socially controversial. Don’t directly advocate unethical actions. Don’t directly advocate unethical actions. Be aware of your audience. Be aware of your audience. But don’t assume too much. But don’t assume too much. Expect unexpected reactions from your audience. Expect unexpected reactions from your audience.

Selling your idea or product? Selling your idea or product? Address the merits and limitations of your subject. Address the merits and limitations of your subject. Don’t underestimate your audience. Don’t underestimate your audience.

Live Demonstrations Are you demonstrating how to use a program? A tool? A process? Are you demonstrating how to use a program? A tool? A process? This is, for practical purposes, a performance. This is, for practical purposes, a performance. Rehearse each step. Rehearse each step. If possible, rehearse each step on the same equipment, in the same space as your presentation. If possible, rehearse each step on the same equipment, in the same space as your presentation. Leave as little as possible to chance. Leave as little as possible to chance. Be prepared for malfunctions – have something to say throughout. Be prepared for malfunctions – have something to say throughout. Keep it simple. It’s a demonstration, not a lesson. Keep it simple. It’s a demonstration, not a lesson. Class rule: Nothing dangerous or foul-smelling, please. Class rule: Nothing dangerous or foul-smelling, please.

Can be useful to deliver a point. Can be useful to deliver a point. But can backfire if the joke isn’t funny. But can backfire if the joke isn’t funny. Choose appropriate material. Choose appropriate material. Let the audience laugh - don’t cut them off. Let the audience laugh - don’t cut them off. What one group finds funny, the next may not. What one group finds funny, the next may not. Humor

Remember: Your audience is not a group of professional speakers. Your audience is not a group of professional speakers. They don’t expect you to be perfect. They don’t expect you to be perfect. They can sympathize with any nervousness. They can sympathize with any nervousness. You can correct any minor mistakes as you go along. You can correct any minor mistakes as you go along. Check out the space beforehand. Check out the space beforehand. Examine the size, the seating. Examine the size, the seating. Look at the technical equipment. Look at the technical equipment. If possible, test it out beforehand. If possible, test it out beforehand.

Practice. Practice. Beyond all else, convey your message. Beyond all else, convey your message.