Effective Mechanical Engineering Presentations Denny Coon Feb. 20, words

Effective Mechanical Engineering Presentations Important? Characteristics Visuals Mechanics On-line Resources 10 Commandments Summary 28 words

Why Give an Effective Presentation? Good Oral Presentation Skills Can be learned by anyone Will reflect positively on speaker UW ME Educational Objective Solve open ended problems Effectively communicate the solution 31 words

Important Presentation Characteristics Purpose oMessage? Audience oTheir level and interests oMake it interesting! Approach oAgree with message Time Limit 34 words

Important Presentation Characteristics Purpose oMessage? Audience oTheir level and interests oMake it interesting! Approach oAgree with message Time Limit 34 words

Key Elements of Visuals Organization Background & Color Font Amount of Information Graphics 12 words

Key Elements of Visuals Organization The rule of Tell’em oTell’em what you’re going to tell’em oTell’em oTell’em what you just told’em Logical flow oTitle oOutline & Intro oDetails oSummary 29 words

Key Elements of Visuals Background & Color Contrasting Colors Clear and clean text Dark background with light text Avoid nauseating combinations Avoid pastels – wash out on projection 26 words

Nauseating Combination!

Key Elements of Visuals Font No more than 2 font types Use bold and Italic strategically Able to read from back row Font size proportional to importance 27 words

Key Elements of Visuals Amount of Information KISS No more than 7 lines per slide No more than 7 words per line Bullets and Keywords No faster than 1 minute per slide 32 words

Key Elements of Visuals Amount of Information Keep it Simple Stupid! – KISS If audience is concentrating too hard on the visuals, they sometimes miss the message that you are trying to convey To many lines in the visual cause the audience to experience confusion – no more than 7 lines per slide Long strings of text can cause visual overload - No more than 7 words per line Generally, text elements can be simplified dramatically. If you combine verbal discussion with visual elements, this simplification does not result in loss of message - Bullets and Keywords Rapidly progressing through the visuals can result in delayed processing of your message. It is always preferred to keep the audience in sync with your discussion - No faster than 1 minute per slide 126 words

Key Elements of Visuals Graphics Don’t assume the audience understands graphic Explain key elements (symbols, axes, etc.) Explain the significance PowerPoint effects 22 words

Presentation Mechanics Dress Mannerisms You are the expert! oDon’t read slides oDon’t read notes Eye Contact Avoid Laser Light Shows! Learn to mask nerves 22 words

On-Line Resources  Important Design Concepts (Psychology Department – Columbia University) Important Design Concepts  Creating Effective Presentations (University of South Dakota) Creating Effective Presentations  Effective Presentations (Office of Sponsored Research – UCLA) Effective Presentations  Guidelines for Presentations (American Water Works Association) Guidelines for Presentations  Guidelines for Presentations (American Society of Primatologists) Guidelines for Presentations 37 words

On-Line Resources  Presentation Tips (Physics Department – Rice University) Presentation Tips  Effective Oral Presentations (Business Administration – Northeastern University Effective Oral Presentations  Making Effective Presentations (Western Association for Art Conservation – Stanford University) Making Effective Presentations  How to Give a Bad Talk! (Computer Science Department – University of Wisconsin) How to Give a Bad Talk! 38 words

10 Commandments of a Bad Talk 1)Thou shalt not be neat 2)Thou shalt not waste space 3)Thou shalt not covet brevity 4)Thou shalt cover thy naked slides 5)Thou shalt not write large 32 words

10 Commandments of a Bad Talk 6) Thou shalt not use color 7) Thou shalt not illustrate 8) Thou shalt not make eye contact 9) Thou shalt not skip slides 10) Thou shalt not practice 30 words

Effective Presentations Summary Importance Characteristics Visuals Mechanics On-line Resources 10 Commandments 28 words