 Dealing with nerves  What makes a good presentation?  Preparing for a presentation  Using visual aids effectively  Communication styles  Delivering the presentation  Conclusion and Questions

 Nerves can be good … ◦ They give you a ‘shot’ of adrenalin ◦ They can sharpen your performance ◦ They can motivate you  They can sometimes be bad if… ◦ They make you ‘dry up’ ◦ They make it difficult to speak ◦ They make it difficult to breathe

 Relax and breathe  Prepare properly  Time yourself  Get someone else to watch your presentation or film yourself  Dress comfortably  Get some water if you suffer from a dry mouth

 Use the 7/11 or ‘Sigh Breathing’ technique ◦ Take a deep breath in through your nose on the count of 7 ◦ Breathe out slowly through your mouth on the count of 11 ◦ As you breathe out relax your jaw, neck and shoulders ◦ Repeat 2 or 3 times

In your small groups consider –  What makes a good presentation?  What makes a bad presentation? Be prepared to report back

◦ What is the aim and objective(s) of the presentation? ◦ Devise a structure  Introduction/Beginning  Main content  Conclusion/End ◦ Rehearse the presentation and time it ◦ Try to vary the content of the presentation  Include pictures or video clips  Offer an opening statement for the audience to consider  Ask the audience to participate in some way

Audio-visual aids Neil Ford Subject Librarian, Health & Social Care

What are audio-visual aids?  PowerPoint  Flipchart/ whiteboard  Overhead Projector (OHP)  Handouts  Sound/ video clips

Effective PowerPoint Personal style is good but avoid common pitfalls:  Bullet points good, scripts bad!

Effective PowerPoint Too much text! Try to avoid using too much text on your slides. Text should be used to emphasise and summarise what you say rather than used as a script. If you put too much text on a slide, it becomes very tempting to simply read what is on the slide. Think about times that you have seen this done... Did you wonder why the presenter didn’t just let you read a copy of the notes instead of wasting your time by reading it for you? Do you have to reduce your font size to fit all of the words on the slide? This might be a clue that there are too many words!

Effective PowerPoint Personal style is good but avoid common pitfalls:  Bullet points good, scripts bad! Accessible textAccessible text  Transitions not distractions!  Use effective pictures and diagrams

Effective PowerPoint Personal style is good but avoid common pitfalls:  Bullet points good, scripts bad! Accessible textAccessible text  Transitions not distractions!  Use effective pictures and diagrams  Referencing (Learn Higher 2007)

Handouts  Easy to produce in PowerPoint  More detail than slides  Information for future reference?  Handout at the end?

Sound and video clips  How much is too much?  Embed or link?link  What equipment is available?  Copyright and permission?  BoB (Box of Broadcasts)

 Backup your presentation! ◦ USB stick ◦ Network/ ? ◦ Hardcopy?  Live web or screen captures?  Check hardware and software  Practice in the actual venue  Compatibility (Mac, Linux?) (Learn Higher 2007)

What are the main forms of communication? How can we use them to improve the presentation?

 Voice ◦ Pay attention to the volume and rhythm  Pauses ◦ Natural ◦ Unnatural  Non-verbal communication ◦ Body language ◦ Eye contact ◦ Facial expression  Sit or stand? ◦ Make sure that you are comfortable  What do you do with your hands? ◦ Hold something – your notes, a pointer, a pen ◦ Use hand gestures sparingly

◦ Try to let your personality come across to the audience ◦ Vary the pace of the presentation ◦ Build a rapport by making the material personal to you.

 Try to conquer your nerves  Prepare well  Use PowerPoints and handouts effectively  Communicate well with the audience  Finish with a smile!