Effective Presentation Techniques

1. Effective Presentation Techniques Michael J. Quinn 5 October 2010 Version 2.3

2. Structuring presentation Designing slides Pausing techniques Answering questions This Talk Has Four Parts

3. Structuring presentation Designing slides Pausing techniques Answering questions

4. Plan the Goal of the Talk Where audience is at Where you want audience to be Talk

5. “Tell ‘em” 3 Times Prepare audience Move audience Reflect on journey

6. Too Many Slides!

7. Rehearse!

8. Sign Posts • Orient listener • Current topic • Progress • Two styles • Intermittent • Ever-present

9. Outline First Topic • First topic • Second topic • Third topic • Blah blah A • Blah blah B • Blah blah C Backing Up

10. Outline First Topic • First topic • Second topic • Third topic • Blah blah A • Blah blah B • Blah blah C Backing Up

11. Outline First Topic Second Topic • First topic • Second topic • Third topic • Blah blah A • Blah blah B • Blah blah C • Blah blah D • Blah blah E • Blah blah F Backing Up

12. Outline First Topic Second Topic • First topic • Second topic • Third topic • Blah blah A • Blah blah B • Blah blah C • Blah blah D • Blah blah E • Blah blah F Backing Up

13. Outline First Topic Second Topic Third Topic • First topic • Second topic • Third topic • Blah blah A • Blah blah B • Blah blah C • Blah blah D • Blah blah E • Blah blah F • Blah blah G • Blah blah H • Blah blah I Backing Up

14. Outline First Topic Outline Second Topic Outline Third Topic • First topic • Second topic • Third topic • Blah blah A • Blah blah B • Blah blah C • First topic • Second topic • Third topic • Blah blah D • Blah blah E • Blah blah F • First topic • Second topic • Third topic • Blah blah G • Blah blah H • Blah blah I Duplicate Outline Slide

15. Structuring presentation Designing slides Pausing techniques Answering questions

17. Speaker Reads Slides • A speaker may put his entire presentation on his slides. He turns his back to the audience and reads the slides aloud. Perhaps he feels this approach guarantees all the information will get to the audience. • The problem is that the visual presentation completely dominates the presenter. The presenter is not adding any value to what is on the slides. • This may be the most annoying way to give a presentation. Audience members feel insulted: they already know how to read! They wonder why the lecturer doesn’t simply hand out a copy of the slides.

18. Acceptable Style #1

19. Speaker Interprets Slides • Slides dominate • Provide all content • Hold audience’s attention • Speaker supports • Faces slides • Helps audience understand

20. Complicated Derivation ?

21. Good Illustration >Complicated Derivation

22. Good Illustration >Complicated Derivation

23. Good Illustration >Complicated Derivation

24. Good Illustration >Complicated Derivation

25. Good Illustration >Complicated Derivation

26. Dense, Static Slides

27. President Academics Athletics Facilities Student Services Finances Keep Making Progress

28. Keep Making Progress President Academics Athletics Facilities Student Services Finances

29. Keep Making Progress President Academics Athletics Facilities Student Services Finances

30. Keep Making Progress President Academics Athletics Facilities Student Services Finances

31. Keep Making Progress President Academics Athletics Facilities Student Services Finances

32. Acceptable Style #2 Key Words

33. Slides Enhance Speaker • Speaker dominates • Faces audience • Provides content • Slides support speaker • Reinforce message • Orient listeners

34. Content • Purpose • Complement speaker • Talk ≠ technical report • Density • 7 lines/page • 4 words/line

35. Mixing Important/ Unimportant Words • An effective presenter considers the goal of the presentation and the amount of time that is available • The resulting presentation has the proper number of slides and the proper content per slide

36. Important Words Only • Consider • Presentation goal • Available time • Select • Slide count • Slide content

37. “Fly In” Fails • Could you read this? • How about this one? • Maybe the third time is the charm!

38. “Wipe from Left” Works • Less distracting • Reduces eye movement • Increases readability

39. Hiding Relationships in Bulleted Lists Prereqs to MEGR 230 (Dynamics) • MATH 134 • MATH 135 • PHYS 121 • MEGR 210

40. Showing Relationships Aids Understanding Prereqs to MEGR 230 (Dynamics) MATH 134 MATH 135 PHYS 121 MEGR 210 MEGR 230

41. Typical Eye Movement • Upper left • Upper right • Lower left • Lower right Z

42. Image reproduced from www.animationalley.com

43. Image reproduced from www.allposters.com

44. Image reproduced from www.allposters.com

45. Wall of White • Increases glare • Causes eyestrain • Distracts from speaker

46. Red/Blue Conflict Red letters on blue background creates “flicker effect” Blue letters on red background just as bad

47. Low Contrast White on yellow Yellow on white Black on blue Blue on black

48. Misleading Emphasis 1 2 4 3 5 6

49. Structuring presentation Designing slides Pausing techniques Answering questions

50. Pauses • Useful • Powerful • Difficult