Presentation Skills Preparation Practice Performance

Preparation Collect your information Write your presentation Make it Interesting Do not present your audience with information overload When using power-point do not fill the page with text, or include too many effects Make sure you have a back-up copy of your presentation

Points to Remember What is the aim of the presentation Have you addressed the marking criteria Use a few key well explained examples Make sure the presentation has a structure Emphasize key points and even repeat them later

Practise You must time yourself Speak clearly and confidently Do not read from notes, or a PowerPoint Do not read out in a monotone Emphasize key points One practice is nowhere near enough Video your practice and analyze it

Common Faults Talking too quickly Preparing far too many slides Reading every word off the PowerPoint as if it was a script Text too small Endless animations and transitions

Presenting Take a few deep breaths Look at the back of the room Speak clearly If you miss something out do not panic, add it in later (nobody else has your notes) If something goes wrong take a deep breath and a pause and calmly sort it out

Presenting Tell the audience when they can ask questions Do not apologize if you think something went badly. Other people may have a different perception End strongly

Armstrong’s Heart beat never went above 80 beats per minute NASA training Address your audience like a friend The more presentations you do the better you get Video yourself presenting Make an effort to relax beforehand Practise in the space presentation venue beforehand

Using PowerPoint Make sure colours do not clash Avoid tacky animations Make sure you practise with your PowerPoint presentation Use large text (e.g. 32 points) Use on one page for every 3 – 4 minutes of presentation Great presentation does not make up for poor content

Activity Make two PowerPoint Slides Criteria Must be clear Must convey key points Effective design Smooth transition Include key points for your theme

Alternatives to PowerPoint The postcard technique Use bold text or capitals for different sections On the cards write subsection titles and key words as prompts Number the cards in case you drop them Look up as you express your ideas after reading the prompt

Alternatives to PowerPoint OHP acetates Short film Some acting Audience participation Posters Using a whiteboard What about a combined approach?

Work the Audience Emphasize key points using different phrasing You sections to break up your talk into segments Complex arguments are easier to follow visually Don’t go off at tangents Edit your talk if you run short of time Use examples and stories

Developing Presentation Skills Try some drama classes Join the model UN Watch politicians and actors making speeches Take advantage of as many opportunities to present as possible

Links http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/FX010857971033.aspx http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/11.09/ppt2.html http://www.bcschools.net/staff/PowerPointHelp.htm http://www.studyskills.soton.ac.uk/studytips/presentations.htm http://etc.usf.edu/presentations/web/index.html