BEST PRACTICES FOR TURNING YOUR RESEARCH INTO A RELEVANT AND ENGAGING CONFERENCE PRESENTATION BY: Laura galloway, pHD ASSISTANT FACULTY SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, BRANDMAN UNIVERSITY

Don’t let your presentation go like this! (http://www.phdcomics.com/comics.php)

Agenda Locating Academic Conferences 4 Keys to Constructing A Presentation References Agenda

Locating Conferences Call for proposals- usually 2-6 months ahead WEBSITE Locating Conferences Conal Conference Alters Call for proposals- usually 2-6 months ahead Topical: Be creative! Location: know the location/layout/set-up Cost: scholarships/partnerships/support Publish vs. presentations

FOUR KEYS TO GREAT PRESENTATIONS   KEY 1: FOCUS YOUR TOPIC KEY 2: FORMAT OF DELIVERY KEY 3: DINNER CONVERSATION STYLE KEY 4: HAVE A PLAN  

Key 1: Focus your topic Example Dissertation Topic: What are the conditions and components that contributed to Transformative Learning in a Blended Social Justice course. Presentation 1: Teaching for Transformation: Cultivating Student Transformation in Virtual Social Justice Education Seminar Presentation 2: Seven Steps for Students to Apply Transformations from the classroom to their workplace Presentation 3: Transformation and Blended Learning: Tactics, Technology and Tales Presentation 4: Design and Practice: Creating Transformation in Virtual Learning Spaces Presentation 5: How to Build, Create, Support and Facilitate Authentic Learning in Virtual Spaces Poses an interesting question Conveys how people in other fields think Describes important ideas WIFFM

Your turn

FOUR KEYS TO GREAT PRESENTATIONS   KEY 1: FOCUS YOUR TOPIC KEY 2: FORMAT OF DELIVERY KEY 3: DINNER CONVERSATION STYLE KEY 4: HAVE A PLAN  

Key 2: format of delivery NO READING! 2-2.5 minutes per page ADULT LEARNERS State your thesis clearly Tell your audience why this topic is relevant Make sure you tell your audience what awaits them. WHITE SPACE IS YOUR FRIEND

layout Every slide should have a heading. Pictures are preferred to make a statement.

Be generous with empty space. Layout Be generous with empty space.

Layout If you try to cram too much into a slide, and place things too close to the sides, they can get cut off if you’re using a poor projector. In any case, the slide looks all cluttered and junky.

What do you think of the following slide?

Emk1 knockdown inhibits lumen formation in MDCK cells: RT-PCR: EMK1 is effectively knocked down in MDCK cells 24 hours after transfection with P-SUPER (control) or P-SUPER-siEMK1 plasmid; knockdown confirmed on the right with antibodies to EMK1. Collagen overlay assay: cells cultured 24 h on collagen I before being overlaid with additional collagen on the apical surface, analyzed 24 h later. Note the lack of lumen in EMK1-KO cultures. Ca switch: control or EMK1-KO cells were plated in low Ca medium 24 h upon transfection with pSUPER or pSUPER-KO. After 12 h, cultures were switched to normal medium for 24 h. Transmission EM of cells sectioned perpendicular to the substratum shows lack of microvilli in EMK1-KO cells.

Not much. WHAT DO YOU THINK? 3 suggestions for improvement

Emk1 knockdown inhibits lumen formation in MDCK cells: RT-PCR: EMK1 is effectively knocked down in MDCK cells 24 hours after transfection with P-SUPER (control) or P-SUPER-siEMK1 plasmid; knockdown confirmed on the right with antibodies to EMK1. Collagen overlay assay: cells cultured 24 h on collagen I before being overlaid with additional collagen on the apical surface, analyzed 24 h later. Note the lack of lumen in EMK1-KO cultures. Ca switch: control or EMK1-KO cells were plated in low Ca medium 24 h upon transfection with pSUPER or pSUPER-KO. After 12 h, cultures were switched to normal medium for 24 h. Transmission EM of cells sectioned perpendicular to the substratum shows lack of microvilli in EMK1-KO cells.

FOUR KEYS TO GREAT PRESENTATIONS   KEY 1: FOCUS YOUR TOPIC KEY 2: FORMAT OF DELIVERY KEY 3: DINNER CONVERSATION STYLE KEY 4: HAVE A PLAN  

Key 3: Conversation style Foster engagement (Read your audience) You Content Each other have a conversation share your passion with your audience Walk around use humor and roll with issues

Questions and interactions READ & ADJUST TO YOUR AUDIENCE CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING INCREASE ENGAGEMENT BY ASKING QUESTIONS ASK FOR EXAMPLES BE READY FOR CRITICISM

Signs of success? Leaning forward Note-Taking Challenges Networks Questions Others??

FOUR KEYS TO GREAT PRESENTATIONS   KEY 1: FOCUS YOUR TOPIC KEY 2: FORMAT OF DELIVERY KEY 3: DINNER CONVERSATION STYLE KEY 4: HAVE A PLAN  

Key 4: have a plan Conference format Room location and layout Allotted time (leave time for Q & A) Place on schedule Dress code? plan b: use humor and roll with issues

References Recommended reading for grad students. 15 Minutes Including Q&A: How to Save The World From Lousy Presentations Advice for thesis proposals. Productivity tips for academics. The CRAPL: An open source license for academics. Even A Geek Can Speak References

THANK YOU! Questions or comments? LAURA GALLOWAY, PHD BRANDMAN UNIVERSITY GALLOWAY@BRANDMAN.EDU 353-9956