1 Presentation skills 2.1 Preparation 2.2 Media choices 2.3 Delivery 2.4 Questions

2 Timetable WeekDateTopicWho and Where 1 7 Oct 3-4pm Introduction All in 1L Oct 3-4pm Library skills (Sally Smith, library) Group 1 in Lib Oct 3-4pm Library skills (Sally Smith, library) Group 2 in Lib Oct 2-3pm 3-4pm Presentation skills Student presentations All in 1L Nov 2-3pm 3-4pm Writing skills Student presentations All in 1L61

3 Preparation

4 Structure is all! A clear, understandable structure to your talk helps the audience to follow it: Hypothesis (introduction) Design of test (method) Results of test Conclusions

5 Check out your audience How many? Background? What do they know? What don’t they know? Aim at the student, not the expert!

6 Length of your talk Too much material – commonest error Rule of thumb: 2-3 minutes per slide One main point per slide Time is subjective! Speaker time, audience time. Rehearse timings

7 Scripting your talk Don’t read a script Prepare one to rehearse timings (not more than 100 words per minute) Use summary notes – cards? Visual aids are prompts but don’t design them as such

8 Media

9 Choice of media Just talk! Audience just sleeps. OHP slides – quick, simple, low tech 35mm slides – elaborate preparation, loss of control Powerpoint – compelling tramlines Whiteboard - complex argument Flipchart – interactive

10 Too much on one slide

11 Avoid tabulated data

12 Appropriate graphics settings

13 Ghastly colours & too much detail

14 Lazy and illegible

15 Delivery

16 Before the talk If possible, have a rehearsal in the lecture room Before session, make sure you are familiar with equipment Practise where to stand, practise use of pointer

17 Timing Before talk – make sure you can see a clock or bring your watch Pace yourself Don’t let persistent questioner take control

18 Being heard – engage audience Face audience, not screen! Head up, shoulders back Breathe from diaphram Address yourself to back row Use your hands

19 Respond to audience Keep eye contact (roving!) Watch the body language (boredom, incomprehension, inappropriate amusement) Respond to signals from the audience

20 Nerves It is natural to be a bit nervous Use that to help you Ensure you are physically comfortable Glass of water Most people are on your side! Relax tension with a joke or comment.

21 Questions ?

22 Handling questions Make sure you understand – repeat it Clarify question: “Do you mean…..” (thinking time) Say something (positive) Try to avoid closing things off: “I haven’t looked at that, but we did find that…..”

23 Questions as feedback Questions mean that dialogue has begun Learn from questions – even the ill conceived ones tell you something Say something Keep discussion going – avoid the closed ended answer Leave time for questions