Effective Mechanical Engineering Presentations

1. Effective Mechanical Engineering Presentations Denny Coon Feb. 20, 2002 9 words

2. Important? Characteristics Visuals Mechanics On-line Resources 10 Commandments Summary Effective Mechanical Engineering Presentations 28 words

3. Why Give an Effective Presentation? Good Oral Presentation Skills • Can be learned by anyone • Will reflect positively on speaker UW ME Educational Objective • Solve open ended problems • Effectively communicate the solution 31 words

4. Purpose Message? Audience Their level and interests Make it interesting! Approach Agree with message Time Limit Important Presentation Characteristics 34 words

5. Purpose Message? Audience Their level and interests Make it interesting! Approach Agree with message Time Limit Important Presentation Characteristics 34 words

6. Key Elements of Visuals • Organization • Background & Color • Font • Amount of Information • Graphics 12 words

7. The rule of Tell’em Tell’em what you’re going to tell’em Tell’em Tell’em what you just told’em Logical flow Title Outline & Intro Details Summary Key Elements of VisualsOrganization 29 words

8. Contrasting Colors Clear and clean text Dark background with light text Avoid nauseating combinations Avoid pastels – wash out on projection Key Elements of VisualsBackground & Color 26 words

9. Nauseating Combination!

10. No more than 2 font types Use bold and Italic strategically Able to read from back row Font size proportional to importance Key Elements of VisualsFont 27 words

11. KISS No more than 7 lines per slide No more than 7 words per line Bullets and Keywords No faster than 1 minute per slide Key Elements of VisualsAmount of Information 32 words

12. Keep it Simple Stupid! – KISS If audience is concentrating too hard on the visuals, they sometimes miss the message that you are trying to convey To many lines in the visual cause the audience to experience confusion – no more than 7 lines per slide Long strings of text can cause visual overload - No more than 7 words per line Generally, text elements can be simplified dramatically. If you combine verbal discussion with visual elements, this simplification does not result in loss of message - Bullets and Keywords Rapidly progressing through the visuals can result in delayed processing of your message. It is always preferred to keep the audience in sync with your discussion - No faster than 1 minute per slide Key Elements of VisualsAmount of Information 126 words

13. Don’t assume the audience understands graphic Explainkey elements (symbols, axes, etc.) Explainthe significance PowerPoint effects Key Elements of VisualsGraphics 22 words

14. Dress Mannerisms You are the expert! Don’t read slides Don’t read notes Eye Contact Avoid Laser Light Shows! Learn to mask nerves Presentation Mechanics 22 words

15. On-Line Resources • Important Design Concepts (Psychology Department – Columbia University) • Creating Effective Presentations (University of South Dakota) • Effective Presentations (Office of Sponsored Research – UCLA) • Guidelines for Presentations (American Water Works Association) • Guidelines for Presentations (American Society of Primatologists) 37 words

16. On-Line Resources • Presentation Tips (Physics Department – Rice University) • Effective Oral Presentations (Business Administration – Northeastern University • Making Effective Presentations (Western Association for Art Conservation – Stanford University) • How to Give a Bad Talk! (Computer Science Department – University of Wisconsin) 38 words

17. 10 Commandments of a Bad Talk • Thou shalt not be neat • Thou shalt not waste space • Thou shalt not covet brevity • Thou shalt cover thy naked slides • Thou shalt not write large 32 words

18. 10 Commandments of a Bad Talk 6) Thou shalt not use color 7) Thou shalt not illustrate 8) Thou shalt not make eye contact 9) Thou shalt not skip slides 10) Thou shalt not practice 30 words

19. Importance Characteristics Visuals Mechanics On-line Resources 10 Commandments Effective PresentationsSummary 28 words