Presentation Tips (Or, how to survive public speaking)

Presentation Tips (Or, how to survive public speaking) • Which technology? • Overhead/PPT tips • General tips • Managing a crowd • How long should a talk last? • Your ISP presentation

Presentation technology • The simple, spoken talk • Overheads • Presentation software • The dreaded demonstration

Powerpoint: powerful or passe’? • Overheads • Difficult to perfectly align (don’t move them!) • A stable technology • Flexible when cutting talk short, answering questions • Amenable to spontaneous drawing, change

Powerpoint • Animation possible, always aligned and sharp looking • Unstable—always have a backup! • Have a one page printed outline of your talk handy • Difficult to reorder talk on the fly, add new material

Don’t forget other presentation aids: whiteboard, paperboards, posters… • ‘mixed media’ talks can be very effective • Use ‘props’ sparingly • Demonstrations: • Something always goes wrong • Always have screenshots as backup

General tips • Make eye contact • Use normal gestures • Vary your speaking tone • Move, but not too much • Watch for “um”, “like”, “you know” • Appear relaxed • Appear interested, lively • Rehearse! Re-rehearse!

… tips continued • Do not read a presentation from notes. If you must consult your notes frequently, hold them up (but NOT in front of your face). • Don’t put your notes down low on a table. • Never just read out bullet points on slides. • Don’t lean on the projector or table—that shakes it. • Don’t look back at the screen.

…tips continued • The arms: don’t fold in front or hide in back. • Be careful with figures: diagrams have to be big enough to read. • More than 1 presenter? Only 1 stands in front at a time; other presenter(s) sit down, away from the presentation area, until it’s their turn. • ‘Crossing the projector light’: try to set up so as to avoid crossing. If you have to, just do it boldly. • Don’t hold a pencil or pointer; that encourages fiddling. • The advanced technique: a can of Diet Coke.

Overhead/PPT tips • 1st slide: title, organization, speaker • Include an “outline of talk” slide • Large font, short phrases, simple pictures • Non-native speakers: use more words on slides • Pointers: use a physical one, if possible. • progressive displays: don’t do the PPT/projector ‘striptease’ • Fancy powerpoint effects: they’re trite now, don’t use them • Know where to stand: don’t block the display

…tips continued • SPELL CHECK!! • Color? Background? Logos? • Use sparingly • Visibility is paramount: black on white is most readable • How many? • Figure out how many that you need • Get rid of 1/3 of them • Rule of thumb: no more than 1 per 2 minutes; better to use fewer

Playing to the crowd... • Don’t begin with a joke: CS people aren’t funny • Know what the audience expects • your appearance: dress appropriately • presentation style • technological support

Tailoring a talk to the time • Always finish on time, or a bit earlier (you never hear anyone wishing that the speaker had gone on longer) • Always find out in advance how much time you’re allowed, and remember to factor in question time • Short talks: overviews, the big picture, few details • Longer talks: add detail AS NEEDED • Keep the pace the same, whatever the length

The ISP presentation • 20 minutes: 15 talk, 5 questions • Purpose: informational and persuasive (inform client of your recommendations, ‘selling’ the proposal) • Audience: clients, CS colleagues working on similar projects • Overheads or PPT? Definitely! • DO NOT read out ISP, or read from notes • Recommended: 2 presenters per group • Other group members must attend • “Professional” programmer look

Focus on • Description of client • Real world: this would be short, folded into business problems • Client’s business problems • Important: point out problems without being insulting • Existing system (and its problems) • Your solution • Its benefits • Note: it’s doubtful that you will be able to cover every point made in the ISP--tailor to time allocated

Presentation Tips (Or, how to survive public speaking)