1. www.mercersec.org Presentation Skills (for Senior Division oral presentations) Mercer Science and Engineering Club 3 Creek Rim Drive Titusville, NJ 08560

2. www.mercersec.org Overview What to do firstWhat to do first Starting a conversationStarting a conversation The Pitch: What to talk aboutThe Pitch: What to talk about Target AudiencesTarget Audiences Dressing for successDressing for success Display TipsDisplay Tips How to practiceHow to practice Building confidenceBuilding confidence What Judges Look ForWhat Judges Look For

3. www.mercersec.org What to do first Make a planMake a plan Make sure you understand your projectMake sure you understand your project Write things downWrite things down Choose proper attireChoose proper attire

4. www.mercersec.org Starting a conversation Learn how to start a conversationLearn how to start a conversation Write some opening linesWrite some opening lines –Practice, practice, practice –Memorize these –Make the opening natural and easy to speak –Make it short and to the point Introduce yourself, then your projectIntroduce yourself, then your project

5. www.mercersec.org The Pitch: What to talk about Start with a verbal abstractStart with a verbal abstract Make a list of questions and answersMake a list of questions and answers –Provide more detail –Be prepared to discuss any aspect of the project –Not every judge has the same background or interest –Review questions with parents, mentors and teachers

6. www.mercersec.org Target Audiences JudgesJudges –Select award winners –Engineering and scientific backgrounds –Start simple but be prepared to go into depth Teachers and MentorsTeachers and Mentors –Grade your projects for class –Have followed your progress Students and ParentsStudents and Parents –Unfamiliar with project and terms –Simplified explanations

7. www.mercersec.org Dressing for success Professional attireProfessional attire Use for future interviewsUse for future interviews Do not wearDo not wear –Jeans –Flip flops –Sneakers

8. www.mercersec.org Display Tips Utilize the entire spaceUtilize the entire space 30 inches deep 48 inches wide 108 inches high (from floor to top of project) Avoid “Clutter”Avoid “Clutter”

9. www.mercersec.org Display Extras Too much stuff Pictures are better Minimal is good One item is best

10. www.mercersec.org Items Not Allowed at Project or in Booth Living organisms, including plants Living organisms, including plants Taxidermy specimens or parts Taxidermy specimens or parts Preserved vertebrate or invertebrate animals Preserved vertebrate or invertebrate animals Human or animal food Human or animal food Human/animal parts (e.g teeth) or body fluids (e.g. blood, urine) Human/animal parts (e.g teeth) or body fluids (e.g. blood, urine) Plant materials (living, dead, or preserved) which are in their raw, unprocessed, or non-manufactured state (Exception: manufactured construction materials used in building the project or display) Plant materials (living, dead, or preserved) which are in their raw, unprocessed, or non-manufactured state (Exception: manufactured construction materials used in building the project or display)

11. www.mercersec.org Items Not Allowed at Project or in Booth Laboratory/household chemicals including water (Exception: water integral to an enclosed apparatus or water supplied by the Display and Safety Committee) Laboratory/household chemicals including water (Exception: water integral to an enclosed apparatus or water supplied by the Display and Safety Committee) Poisons, drugs, controlled substances, hazardous substances or devices (e.g. firearms, weapons, ammunition, reloading devices) Poisons, drugs, controlled substances, hazardous substances or devices (e.g. firearms, weapons, ammunition, reloading devices) Dry ice or other sublimating solids Dry ice or other sublimating solids Sharp items (e.g. syringes, needles, pipettes, knives) Sharp items (e.g. syringes, needles, pipettes, knives) Flames or highly flammable materials Flames or highly flammable materials Batteries with open-top cells Batteries with open-top cells Awards, metals, business cards, flags, endorsements and/or acknowledgements (graphic or written) Awards, metals, business cards, flags, endorsements and/or acknowledgements (graphic or written)

12. www.mercersec.org Items Not Allowed at Project or in Booth Photographs or other visual presentations depicting vertebrate animals in surgical techniques, dissections, necropsies, or other lab procedures Photographs or other visual presentations depicting vertebrate animals in surgical techniques, dissections, necropsies, or other lab procedures Active Internet or e-mail connections as part of displaying or operating the project Active Internet or e-mail connections as part of displaying or operating the project Glass or glass objects unless deemed by Display and Safety Committee to be an integral and necessary part of the project (Exception: glass that is an integral part of a commercial product such as a computer screen) Glass or glass objects unless deemed by Display and Safety Committee to be an integral and necessary part of the project (Exception: glass that is an integral part of a commercial product such as a computer screen)

13. www.mercersec.org Items Not Allowed at Project or in Booth Any apparatus deemed unsafe by the Scientific Review Committee, the Display and Safety Committee, (or Science Service at INTEL) (e.g. large vacuum tubes or dangerous ray- generating devices, empty tanks that previously contained combustible liquids or gases, pressurized tanks, etc.) Any apparatus deemed unsafe by the Scientific Review Committee, the Display and Safety Committee, (or Science Service at INTEL) (e.g. large vacuum tubes or dangerous ray- generating devices, empty tanks that previously contained combustible liquids or gases, pressurized tanks, etc.)

14. www.mercersec.org Audio/video Presentations I Designed to augment oral and board presentationsDesigned to augment oral and board presentations Use AV presentation when explaining related aspect of the projectUse AV presentation when explaining related aspect of the project Types of video presentationsTypes of video presentations –Video clips –Animated sequences Examples of toolsExamples of tools –Powerpoint –Windows Media Player

15. www.mercersec.org Audio/video Presentations II Practice answering questions using AV presentation – similar to using your board in the oral presentationPractice answering questions using AV presentation – similar to using your board in the oral presentation Keep audio aspects to minimum so it does not interrupt oral presentation or neighborsKeep audio aspects to minimum so it does not interrupt oral presentation or neighbors AV presentation used to showAV presentation used to show –Video clips that show non-standard procedures or results –Animations that would take too many static images –Very large or small objects

16. www.mercersec.org How to practice Oral presentation practice must be spoken, not readOral presentation practice must be spoken, not read Start by speaking to a mirrorStart by speaking to a mirror Move onto speaking to individuals: parents, teachers, studentsMove onto speaking to individuals: parents, teachers, students Practice in front of a classPractice in front of a class

17. www.mercersec.org What Judges Look For Student’s understanding of the project, its results and techniques employed in experimentationStudent’s understanding of the project, its results and techniques employed in experimentation Quality of research, planning, construction, execution and presentationQuality of research, planning, construction, execution and presentation How well the student presents the project (Senior division)How well the student presents the project (Senior division) How well the board presents the projectHow well the board presents the project What did you learnWhat did you learn Who did the workWho did the work Future plansFuture plans

18. www.mercersec.org Getting Students Involved Get students to critique presentersGet students to critique presenters –Students learn how to listen –Students learn how to write evaluations –Write short paragraph summarizing presentation Grade critiques for extra creditGrade critiques for extra credit –Is the critique constructive? –Did the critique miss key items presented? –Did the critique point out areas that are unclear? –KISS Have non-science fair students present on topics of their choiceHave non-science fair students present on topics of their choice

19. www.mercersec.org Summary Start with a good project and resultsStart with a good project and results Dress for successDress for success Start a conversation –Introduce yourselfStart a conversation –Introduce yourself Extemporize don’t memorizeExtemporize don’t memorize Practice, practice, practicePractice, practice, practice Explain your project as many times as possible to as many people as possibleExplain your project as many times as possible to as many people as possible