1 Oral Presentation Guidelines By: Dan Silver

2 I. Basic Best Practices

3 30 seconds, one slide. Thus, 10 slides as a guide line. 30 seconds, one slide. Thus, 10 slides as a guide line. Memorize key points you must make. Memorize key points you must make. Professional, Energetic Performances Professional, Energetic Performances Look like you are in control AND enjoying yourself. Smile. Look like you are in control AND enjoying yourself. Smile. Practice answering questions without rambling and confusion. Practice answering questions without rambling and confusion. You can introduce new material, including slides, as part of the Q & A as long as it is relevant. You can introduce new material, including slides, as part of the Q & A as long as it is relevant. Learn how to organize your thoughts, and answer in a clear and logical manner. Learn how to organize your thoughts, and answer in a clear and logical manner. TAKE YOUR TIME! TAKE YOUR TIME!

4 II. Presentation = Performance What is Dress Code Appropriate

5 Not Appropriate: Not Appropriate:  T-shirts  Torn jeans  Ugly Sneakers  Baggy Jeans  Hats, caps, etc  Short Skirts  Not matching = not a team

6 Appropriate Appropriate  Men:  Collared shirts  Slacks or nice jeans  Jacket  Sweater Appropriate Appropriate  Women:  Skirts  Pants  Dress  Jacket  Blouse  Sweater All clothing should be appropriate size and fit, not too big or too small. Men can benefit from wearing jackets but not required.

7 III. The Importance of Practice

8 Review your notes a few times before you present. Review your notes a few times before you present. Make sure each member of your team knows every aspect of the apparatus, not just the part they are presenting. Make sure each member of your team knows every aspect of the apparatus, not just the part they are presenting. Team members should practice hand-offs from one person to another. Team members should practice hand-offs from one person to another. Have clear elocution of what you are saying. Have clear elocution of what you are saying. Keep your chin up Keep your chin up (literally!) (literally!)

9 Team members should be engaged when they are not speaking. Team members should be engaged when they are not speaking. Look at the presenter, and even nod in agreement from time to time. Look at the presenter, and even nod in agreement from time to time. Practice your presentation Practice your presentation Pacing is critical for success Pacing is critical for success Do not rush through slides at the end. Do not rush through slides at the end.

10 IV. Perform for Your Audience

11 Smile at the audience and look relaxed. Smile at the audience and look relaxed. (Do not say “we are so nervous” because that makes your audience nervous.) (Do not say “we are so nervous” because that makes your audience nervous.) Have a captain for the Q and A session who will handle the distribution of questions. It is okay to actually call on someone for each question. Have a captain for the Q and A session who will handle the distribution of questions. It is okay to actually call on someone for each question. Get everyone involved in answering questions. Answer without slang (“yes” not “yeah”) Get everyone involved in answering questions. Answer without slang (“yes” not “yeah”) Do not answer questions that were not asked. If your teammate has adequately answered, don’t feel compelled to “add one more thing” unless it improves the original answer. Do not answer questions that were not asked. If your teammate has adequately answered, don’t feel compelled to “add one more thing” unless it improves the original answer. Maintain Eye Contact Maintain Eye Contact No Eye Contact VS Eye Contact

12 The Art of Connection—from good to great Keys: Pace, Gestures, Expression, Tone Pace: Know where to stop, pause, and go. Do not fear dead air—gains attention. Build to something. Gestures: Be in sync with what you are saying. A gesture can be planned and practiced. Examples: Open and wide arms = accessible and authentic. Open and wide arms = accessible and authentic. Nod and wag at a question means = Good one, and I got an answer. Listen up…. Nod and wag at a question means = Good one, and I got an answer. Listen up….

13 Pace, Gestures, Expression, Tone Tone: Modulate your voice to gain attention and to energize. Quiet—listener leans in. Loud-- listener feels the heat. Facial Expression: Smile = confidence. Smile = We got that one figured. Squinting, lip biting, little nod = Thinking about it.

14 Original Article on Clinton Speech and Comparison Speeches /3-techniques-bill-clinton- uses-wow- audience?utm_source=feedburn er&utm_medium=feed&utm_ca mpaign=Feed%3A+fastcompan y%2Fheadlines+%28Fast+Com pany% /3-techniques-bill-clinton- uses-wow- audience?utm_source=feedburn er&utm_medium=feed&utm_ca mpaign=Feed%3A+fastcompan y%2Fheadlines+%28Fast+Com pany%29

15 V. Use Visual Aids

16 Use visuals such as your model or parts of your model. Use visuals such as your model or parts of your model. It is okay to go in front of the judges and have “show and tell” as long as you can stay within the time frame of the total presentation. This may require moving a desk to get to them. Do this in the set-up time. It is okay to go in front of the judges and have “show and tell” as long as you can stay within the time frame of the total presentation. This may require moving a desk to get to them. Do this in the set-up time. Do not cross in front of each other or the projector while talking. Use a wireless mouse to prevent this. Do not cross in front of each other or the projector while talking. Use a wireless mouse to prevent this. Use an electronic pointer if you are going to point things out on your slides. Use an electronic pointer if you are going to point things out on your slides.

17 VI. Read the Scoring Guidelines Carefully

18 (1) Project overview: What was the PROCESS you used to come up with your design? What was the PROCESS you used to come up with your design? How did the CONCEPT EVOLVE and WHY? How did the CONCEPT EVOLVE and WHY? How did you go about your DECISION MAKING PROCESS? How did you go about your DECISION MAKING PROCESS? How did you RUN your project (manage time, where did you meet, and what were the biggest challenges?) How did you RUN your project (manage time, where did you meet, and what were the biggest challenges?) Tell your audience: How you divided up your duties? How you divided up your duties? How you made critical decisions and what the decision path looked like (chart…). How you made critical decisions and what the decision path looked like (chart…). Time line your project followed. Time line your project followed. How you worked together and what roadblocks occurred in project management. How you worked together and what roadblocks occurred in project management.

19 (2) Engineering Principles: Present what engineering principles were used in your design(s). Not just the principle, but some data or chart that shows how the principle was applied. Present what engineering principles were used in your design(s). Not just the principle, but some data or chart that shows how the principle was applied. Clearly presented – Explain both principle and application and learning. Clearly presented – Explain both principle and application and learning. (3) Presentation: 5 polished minutes will score well. No more than 10 slides as a guideline. No small writing on slides (must be visible from 15 feet easily). 5 polished minutes will score well. No more than 10 slides as a guideline. No small writing on slides (must be visible from 15 feet easily). No white letters on white background or black letters on black backgrounds. No white letters on white background or black letters on black backgrounds. Logical, professional, pleasant, confident. Logical, professional, pleasant, confident. No hiding behind each other. No stepping on each other’s answers. No hiding behind each other. No stepping on each other’s answers. Visually attractive as a team and as a presentation. Visually attractive as a team and as a presentation. Imbed pictures and videos in your presentation. Imbed pictures and videos in your presentation. Use of visual aids during presentation or Q & A. Use of visual aids during presentation or Q & A. This is a PERFORMANCE that needs to be PRACTICED. This is a PERFORMANCE that needs to be PRACTICED.

20 VII. FINAL TIPS Remember your oral presentation is 5 minutes with a 10 minute Q&A. Remember your oral presentation is 5 minutes with a 10 minute Q&A. Be mindful to pace yourself Be mindful to pace yourself Watch your time Watch your time An oral presentation is a group effort. It is a performance. And: An oral presentation is a group effort. It is a performance. And: Preparation = Relaxation = Success Preparation = Relaxation = Success SHARE THE SPOTLIGHT!! SHARE THE SPOTLIGHT!!

21 THE END