Effective Technical Presentations Mark Tew Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering University of Mississippi

Why focus on presentations?  First impressions are important  Effective presentations are an “edge” in hiring and promotion decisions  Lack of effective presentations limits job assignments  The satisfaction of a job well done

A process that yields an effective presentation Step 1: Plan Step 2:Organize Step 3:Prepare the Content Step 4:Practice Step 5:Get there Step 6:Speak to the audience

Step 1: Plan Who is the audience? –Make the level of the material appropriate to the audience What is the message? –Have a clear point that you want to convey

Step 2: Organize How long is the presentation? –Present enough material to convey the message –Leave time for questions Follow the golden rule

The Golden Rule 1) Tell the audience what you’re going to tell them 2) Convey the information 3) Tell the the audience what you’ve told them

An Introduction vs. an Outline An outline presents a list of topics that the presentation will cover An outline does not give the audience a reason to listen to you

An INTRODUCTION  Who has done this work?  What work has preceded this? What is the context?  When was the work done? But most importantly,  Why is this work important? Give the audience a reason to listen!

Step 3: Prepare the Content Where will the presentation be given? –How large is the room? Determines minimum font size –What presentation equipment is available? Use generally available technology Take your own equipment

Content: A presentation is NOT:  a technical journal paper  a final report  a book chapter  a medium for conveying fine details

Content: A presentation is effective when it uses the visual impact to Convey the message Keep the audience’s attention

Content: Keep it simple A presentation is not effective when slides are verbose and filled with lots and lots of text for the viewer to read. This type of presentation is better suited for publishing a paper or journal article and is not desirable for an oral presentation. Remember what a presentation is and what it is not. This type of slide is a real attention-killer and very difficult for the audience to follow.

Content: Only 2-3 Points per slide Avoid clutter Emphasize the points you want to make

Content: Present ideas, not details Applies to Text Equations Graphs, not tables

How many times have you seen this?

Content: Make it readable 12 point 18 point 24 point 32 point 44 point Match the font size to the presentation room

Content: Appropriate to the medium Light letters on a dark background are best for projected images Dark letters on a light background are best for opaque images

Technology: Color Avoid low contrast or dark-on-dark combinations Avoid the UM red and blue Light letters on a dark background are best for projected images Dark letters on a light background are best for opaque images

Ideas, not details: Equations Natural Response of an Unforced Parallel RLC Circuit

“Busy” Equations Natural Response of an Unforced Parallel RLC Circuit

Equations that convey ideas Natural Response of an Unforced Parallel RLC Circuit

Conveying results Graphs, not tables V(0)=5v, i(0)=-6 mA Critical Damping: R= 10, L=0.4 mH, C = 1  F Underdamping: R= 20, L=0.4 mH, C = 1  F Overdamping: R= 5, L=0.4 mH, C = 1  F

t*e-4 critical under over t *e-4 critical under over

Graphs: Label Axes, including units Use color and symbol to differentiate plots Include a legend Each graph should be as complete and self-explanatory as possible

Time (0.1 msec) Node Voltage (Volts) Natural Response of a Parallel RLC Circuit

Step 4: PRACTICE! Practice so that you are comfortable with the equipment Practice so that the timing is correct The first time you try something is never your best performance: –Sports –Music –Speaking

PRACTICE! Practice as if the result is important: Aloud Standing With the equipment Before a friend or colleague In the presentation room

Step 5: Get There What computer is available? What projection device? From here to there –“Direct cable connection” –Network (HTML?) –Parallel port Zip drive –CD ROM –Notebook computer

Delivery: Computer-based Use current technology “Just-in-time” presentations

Step 6: Speak to the Audience Three rules: Speak to the audience Speak Audibly Speak Intelligibly

Summary Follow the Golden Rule Think visually--it’s a presentation 2-3 points per slide Concepts, not details Speak audibly, intelligibly, to the audience Slides are readable PRACTICE!

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