Final Presentation Guidelines and Hints John C. Ramirez University of Pittsburgh Department of Computer Science Capstone Course

University of Pittsburgh Computer Science Outline Introduction Preparing for a Presentation Creating a Presentation Document Practicing the Presentation Giving the Presentation November 18, 2011 University of Pittsburgh Computer Science

University of Pittsburgh Computer Science Introduction Why do we need presentations? Formal documents (ex: tech reports, etc) require substantial time and effort to read Presentations provide an overview of results Usually with less detail than tech reports Can show casual audience some interesting results If interested, audience can then pursue the topic in more depth Audience here could be colleagues, co-workers, supervisors, etc. November 18, 2011 University of Pittsburgh Computer Science

Preparing for a Presentation What is the primary topic? What is the focus of the presentation? Who is the audience? What is their interest and technical background This can determine the level of detail needed Ex: Will terminology be known or must you define it? How much time is there for the talk? Also greatly impacts the level of detail November 18, 2011 University of Pittsburgh Computer Science

Creating a Presentation Document Modern presentations are typically multi- media Minimally some type of presentation document is required Ex: Powerpoint Additionally, demos, audio and video clips, animations and other features can enhance a presentation Goal is to keep the interest of a party who may not necessarily be predisposed toward the topic at hand November 18, 2011 University of Pittsburgh Computer Science

Creating a Presentation Document Do not duplicate the technical document in the presentation Packing too much information into a presentation is usually not good Do not put too much information into each slide "Busy" slides are hard to read and cause audience to lose interest If multiple items are on a slide, do not show all at once November 18, 2011 University of Pittsburgh Computer Science

Creating a Presentation Document Use large fonts so slides are easy to read Check spelling and Organize your document Consider order of subtopics Including an outline is a good idea Consider relationship of topics to each other Consider transitions between topics This often is done orally but should be taken into account as document is being made grammar grammer November 18, 2011 University of Pittsburgh Computer Science

Practicing the Presentation Presentations must be rehearsed Must often adhere to a strict timeframe Cannot know how long a presentation will take until it is tried Goal is for the presentation to be as smooth and polished as possible Practice helps this significantly Do not simply state the content on the slides Audience can read that for themselves November 18, 2011 University of Pittsburgh Computer Science

Practicing the Presentation Goal of the speaker is the "fill in the gaps" left by the slides Enhance the content shown with your words However, too much talk on a single slide / line can also not be good Must strike a balance Be prepared for questions Try to anticipate possible questions Overall knowledge of the topic is generally helpful Have friends / peers ask questions November 18, 2011 University of Pittsburgh Computer Science

Giving the Presentation Speak clearly and project your voice Your speaking is the single most important part of your presentation Audience needs to hear and understand you Look at your audience Eye contact helps to engage the audience Practicing your talk will allow you to look away from the slides more often November 18, 2011 University of Pittsburgh Computer Science

Giving the Presentation Be aware of your time Use a watch, wall clock, timer, etc. If you find you are going over, adjust your presentation May have to skip some "less important" topics Consider this possibility in advance Handle questions respectfully If question is not relevant, do not dismiss it If you don't know the answer, admit it November 18, 2011 University of Pittsburgh Computer Science

Giving the Presentation End of talk should give closure A summary is not a bad idea Ask if audience has any questions November 18, 2011 University of Pittsburgh Computer Science

University of Pittsburgh Computer Science Summary Prepare for your presentation Create your presentation Practice your presentation Give your presentation Any questions? November 18, 2011 University of Pittsburgh Computer Science