1. Presentation Skills: Visual Aids
ENC 3254
Speaking & Writing for
Premed Students

2. Structure and Speech Visual Aids Delivery Archives, Cal-Tech
This slide maps a discussion about style in scientific presentations. In this discussion, one’s style in a presentation consists of three perspective: the structure and speech of the presentation, the visual aids that one uses, and the delivery of the individual. Note that although the book breaks up the discussion into four perspective, it is more balanced to divide a presentation of the material as three perspectives, especially if you are dedicating only three or four lectures to the material.
While the speech simply consists of the words that the speaker chooses, the structure includes not only the organization of the presentation, but also the depth, the emphasis, and the transitions between the major sections of the talk. The visual aids include presentation slides, handouts, demonstrations, and films. Finally, the delivery consists of the speaker’s voice, movements (including eye contact), and stage presence before the audience. (CSP, pages 8-11)
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3. Structure and Speech Visual Aids Delivery Archives, Cal-Tech
This slide indicates a transition to the second topic to be discussed: visual aids. In a shorter presentation, I often delete this slide. One point worth noting is that in teaching this material, I try to give the students a model for presentation slides that they can use in their own presentations. That is why I am careful to map this presentation. Visual aids include presentation slides, handouts, demonstrations, and films. The slides in this section of the presentation focus on the design of the most common type: presentation slides. By presentation slides, I mean still images that the speaker gives to the audience. These images could arise from computer projections, overheads, 35 mm slides, or flip charts.
While I discuss presentation slides in more detail on later slides, I usually discuss demonstrations, films, and handouts here. In this discussion, I mention general advantages and disadvantages of each category. I also caution students about common problems that can occur: films that have too much dead time (because of television, audiences these days are sophisticated); demonstrations that fail (Murphy’s Law); and handouts that distract (for instance, a single object passed around in a large auditorium). In using this presentation slide, consider discussing problems that you have witnessed with films, demonstrations, and handouts in scientific presentations. (CSP, Chapter 4)
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4. Why use Visual Aids? Clarity Interest & Retention Variety
Delivery Skills
Credibility

6. Audiences remember more when you use well-designed slides
Hear
See
Hear
and See
An important issue about presentation slides is whether they should even be included in a presentation. In other words, when do the advantages of using presentation slides outweigh the disadvantages. The principal disadvantage of having slides is disruption. Whenever a speaker projects a slide, the audience’s attention turns away from the speaker and onto the screen. For that reason, in designing slides, the presenter has to consider whether that disruption is warranted and how to design the slides such that the disruption is minimized.
This slide brings out the major advantage of using slides in a scientific presentation: namely, that the recall of the audience has the potential of going way up when the speaker uses effective slides. The key word here is “effective.” Many slides shown in scientific presentations are not effective. For instance, many slides contain too many words, far too many for the audience to read. Worse yet, many presenters place those words in all capital letters (almost nothing reduces the reading speed more than using all capital letters). Another problem is that many headlines of slides do not orient the audience. Yet another problem is that the bodies of many slides contain long lists (5, 6, or even 7 items). Slides having these problems can actually reduce the percentage of recall because the audience becomes sidetracked in the presentation by being puzzled over what is projected. For that reason, the design of slides is important. (CSP, Pages ) 10 20 30 40 50
Recall (%)

7. Types of Visual Aids YOU Objects Flipcharts Handouts
Marker/chalkboards
Overhead Projectors
Poster-boards
Videos
Computer-assisted presentations

8. Choose a format that is easily read
Choose legible type
Arial
BOOK ANTIQUA
Choose a helpful layout
words
words
words

9. Color can distinguish a presentation
Color is discussed on pages

10. Color affects how fast the audience can read
The color combination that is read most quickly is black on yellow.

11. Color combinations need to have contrast—the one does not.
Color affects how fast
the audience can read
Color combinations need to have contrast—the one does not.

12. Color affects how fast the audience can read
Combinations of red, green, and brown are difficult for many people to read.

13. Color affects the emotions of the audience
Avoid having a hot color such as red or orange as your background color.

14. Using a sentence-headline design quickly orients your audience
The sentence headline succinctly states
the main assertion of the slide
Body supports
with words
with images
compressor
combustor
turbine
Headline
Body

15. Exclude details that the audience does not need or cannot remember
Avoid filler information
Roentgen discovered x-rays
in He found that a
cathode-ray tube produced
fluorescence in a distant plati-
num-barium-cyanide screen.
Avoid long lists
• Corrosion
• Acid rain
• Toxic materials
• Pulsed combustion
• Energetic materials
• Pyrogenic materials
• Smog
Avoid complex images
DEAR-
ATOR
HOT
WELL
RGF A B

16. Charts and Graphs

17. 4 Important Design Concepts
Make it Big
Keep it Simple
Make it Clear
Be Consistent

18. Planning, Preparing, & Presenting with Visual Aids
Do you really need it?
Does it enhance the meaning or impact of your speech?
Start with a rough draft.
Be sure your visual aid is simple & big enough.
Do not simply have an outline of what you will say.
Consider photos, graphs, etc. vs Clipart
Limit the # of slides (1/minute).
Limit the animation!!
PowerPoint can supplement, but
can not BE the presentation!
Prepare in advance and
PRACTICE with your visuals!

19. Visual Aid Usage Guidelines
Check out environment and equipment.
Refer to it only when showing it and show it only when you refer to it.
Use blank slides in your presentation.
Remember the power of the “B” key.
Do not read from the visual and do not talk to the visual!
Point out specifics.
Do not distribute handouts during speech.
Rehearse with your visuals!

20. Structure and
Speech
Visual Aids
Delivery
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21. Overview of Team Presentation Assignment
20 minutes (i.e. 4-5 mins/team member)
5 minutes for Q & A (audience will roleplay family practitioners who are your CME participants)
Intro/Background
Body of presentation is divided among the team
Conclusion
Use of CME quiz
Use of CME handout
CME audience response survey

22. Speaker Responsibilities
Individual Speakers:
Intro with preview
Relate section to the audience
Body with transitions between main points
Conclusion
Moderator:
Introduction
Team transitions
Conclusion/Q&A
Everyone must use Visual Aids

23. Acting like a Team
Not just a series of presentations—links and references to one another should be apparent
Agree on Q/A format and help one another out
Agree on roles
Plan out transitions
Determine slide progression
Speakers should focus on the audience
Team should look at the person speaking
Roadmap!
Rehearse together & with visuals!

24. Q/A Develop list of possible questions and prepare answers
Ask for questions--if none, be specific (Are there any questions about our suggestions?)
Suggest questions (One of the most frequently asked…)
Restate question
Use wait time
Be sure to thank the audience and sumup