Disclaimer!

1. Secrets of Real-Life Learning Process in Scientific PresentationRaghavan B. SunojProfessor of ChemistryIIT Bombay

2. R.B.SUNOJ Disclaimer! • Characters presented or enacted in this talk are so real that any coincidence with many in the audience shall only be deemed deliberate. • I can only say sorry, after the talk, if you want me to do so.

3. R.B.SUNOJ Outline 1. Content Creation 2. Preparation and Practice 3. Delivery: On Stage Tips 4. Improvement: A Continuous Process

4. R.B.SUNOJ Attitude The secret of joy in work is contained in one word – excellence. To know how to do something well is to enjoy it. Pearl S. Buck (Nobel laureate, literature 1938) Picture courtesy: cartoonstock.com (accessed on Feb 10, 2011)

5. R.B.SUNOJ Contents: Most Important Understand the topic very well Forms the basis of confidence (poorer the contents lower the confidence) Should spend quite a bit of time in deciding what is to be (a) included, (b) stressed, and (c) flashed. Know your audience Never underestimate the audience. A good assessment of to whom you are going to talk to would be a bonus.

6. R.B.SUNOJ Contents (continued) Order of slides (Flow): Do you want to tell a story to the audience ? or You want them to make a story on your presentation?

7. R.B.SUNOJ Flow: Streamline ? Turbulent ? Chaotic ? I come from haunts of coot and hern I make a sudden sally And sparkle out among the fern To bicker down a valley. By thirty hills I hurry down, Or slip between the ridges, By twenty thorps, a little town, And half a hundred bridges. Till last by Philip's farm I flow To join the brimming river, For men may come and men may go,But I go on forever. ‘The Brook’ (Alfred Lord Tennyson)

8. R.B.SUNOJ Contents (continued) Decide on sequence of slides You MUST know what slide comes next and what was the previous one. (Avoid back and forth movements between different slides) In introduction: Describe background of the work with due credit to other people who have done similar work ahead of you (citations) Good to have supporting slides (after a blank slide), which could even include answers to potential questions.

9. Preparing slides Font size: Minimum of 24 (in PowerPoint) The size of the seminar room can vary, hence minimum font size should be adhered to. Even those sit in the last row should find it comfortable to read. Color: Text should use dark colors like black or blue. Other colors are better reserved for emphasizing. Highlights/underline etc., are good too. Avoid using light colors. Language: Simple and ‘telegraphic’ is better than long sentences. R.B.SUNOJ

10. Preparing slides (continued) Contents : Clarity is the prime goal Text Do not pour too much text In case, it can not be avoided use ‘animation’ effectively. Bring blocks of text, one at a time. R.B.SUNOJ Tables and Data • Avoid data intensive tables • Try using ‘representative’ set of data. • Use highlighting to bring additional emphasis on the most important numbers in a table

11. High on Text R.B.SUNOJ As matters stand today, many teachers are unable to do the best of which they are capable. For this there are a number of reasons, some more or less accidental, others very deep-seated. To begin with the former, most teachers are over-worked and are compelled to prepare their pupils for examinations rather than to give them a liberalizing metal training. The people who are not accustomed to teaching – and this includes practically all education authorities – have no idea of the expense of spirit that it involves. Clergymen are not expected to preach sermons for several hours every day, but the analogous effort is demanded of teachers. The result is that many of them become harassed and nervous, out of touch with recent work in the subjects that they teach, and unable inspire their students with a sense of the intellectual delights to be obtained from new understanding and new knowledge. Bertrand Russell (‘The Functions of a Teacher’ from Unpopular Essays)

12. High on Text R.B.SUNOJ As matters stand today, many teachers are unable to do the best of which they are capable. For this there are a number of reasons, some more or less accidental, others very deep-seated. Clergymen are not expected to preach sermons for several hours every day, but the analogous effort is demanded of teachers. The result is that many of them become harassed and nervous, out of touch with recent work in the subjects that they teach, and unable inspire their students with a sense of intellectual delights to be obtained from new understanding and new knowledge. To begin with the former, most teachers are over-worked and are compelled to prepare their pupils for examinations rather than to give them a liberalizing metal training. The people who are not accustomed to teaching – and this includes practically all education authorities- have no idea of the expense of spirit that it involves.

13. R.B.SUNOJ Handling data-intensive slides (Example) anti-addition is more preferred

14. Preparing slides (continued) Uniformity and appearance Graphics Having a ‘theme’ is good. Each slide should preferably have a heading Do not think that slides with a heavy dose of graphics would please ‘them’ [Cake (content) is a must! Graphics is just an icing on the cake] Do not spend too much time ‘decorating’ your slides. If you have buffer time after the contents are ready, you may want to ‘beautify’ the slides R.B.SUNOJ

15. Preparing slides (continued) Uniformity and appearance Figures should be of good quality, readable from distance May include slide numbers R.B.SUNOJ

16. R.B.SUNOJ Now that you have your slides ready ….What next?

17. R.B.SUNOJ 1. Content Creation 2. Preparation and Practice 3. Delivery: On Stage Tips 4. Improvement: A Continuous Process

18. R.B.SUNOJ Preparation and Practice Fight-or-flight Picture courtesy: cartoonstock.com (accessed on Feb 10, 2011)

19. R.B.SUNOJ Preparation and Practice Don’t be casual: Learning how to give a talk is an important step in ones career. Beginners: First, practice in front of a mirror (closed door) Practice: Close your eyes and DREAM Next, give mock presentations to a friendly group of people

20. R.B.SUNOJ Preparation and Practice Time management is important (recommendation: about 2 minutes per slide for results and discussion) Avoid elaborate introduction Do not pack 30 slides for a 10 minutes presentation (numbers would vary depending on your natural speed of speech)

21. R.B.SUNOJ 1. Content Creation 2. Preparation and Practice 3. Delivery: On Stage Tips 4. Improvement: A Continuous Process

22. You are on stage! R.B.SUNOJ Its time to perform

23. R.B.SUNOJ On stage: First minute Not a 100 M dash! [Go slow to begin with] Do not rush to the stage A smiling face is the best way to greet Spend about 30 seconds doing nothing! check the collar mike, adjust its position, talk soft, read the title, check the pointer-as if you have invented it Suppose you are still tensed (take a deep breath) It is okay to carry a bottle of water with you on stage Dry mouth should be immediately addressed

24. R.B.SUNOJ Do not worry about being judged Do your job as best as you can. The stage belongs to you, and only you! It is an opportunity to perform

25. R.B.SUNOJ On stage: Next few minutes Start looking at the audience If you see just darkness, you are not alone! Faces would soon become clear! Avoid looking at the roof, sky, and the stars (Those are not going to help!)

26. Non-verbal Communication Talk to the audience (not to your own slides) R.B.SUNOJ Slides are for audience NOT for you to read: AVOID reading from slides Slides are only a reinforcement tool to convey what you want to convey. Picture courtesy: TM2.com and pollsb.com (accessed on Feb 10, 2011)

27. R.B.SUNOJ On stage: Next few minutes The key is Talk to me, I will forget Show me, I will understand Involve me, I will remember Do not look at your supervisor! Look at ‘friendly’ faces around. Scan different blocks of your audience (You can readily spot sleeping beauties and disinterested folks out there: Never mind) Try to move around, rather than staying static (like a statue!)

28. R.B.SUNOJ Speech Stick to natural (yours) English speaking Use simple words that you are familiar with You don’t have to speak like a native English speaker. Avoid mugging someone’s text “I was simbleee going from POOST OOFFICE to HOOSTEL OOFFICE To find bhare (where) my bhile (file) was. At last I found it underrr my TABAL (table). I then took an AAPPAL (apple) and raaaaann to the class ..e’ But I was lat-eahh (late)

29. R.B.SUNOJ Modulations and demodulations are important (e.g., when periodic or ‘local’ summary is stated When major digressions or deviations are taken) Speech (continued) Speak loud and clear (do not murmur) Don’t go too fast Don’t go too slow either Picture courtesy: savagechickens.com (accessed on Feb 10, 2011)

30. Words to avoid “this thing”, “that thing” “ki” “tho” Matlab “math – lab” R.B.SUNOJ Borrowed from ‘Junta’s Dictionary’ (IIT Bombay)! मतलब

31. R.B.SUNOJ Now that the talk is over ….What next?

32. R.B.SUNOJ Taking questions Listen to the questions carefully If the question is good, say that it’s a good question, and answer If you do not know an immediate answer, try taking some time, THINK, and respond. If you have no clue, say that ‘I am sorry, I can’t answer that’

33. R.B.SUNOJ 1. Content Creation 2. Preparation and Practice 3. Delivery: On Stage Tips 4. Improvement: A Continuous Process

34. R.B.SUNOJ Continuous improvements Learn from other speakers when you attend conferences Time-management would improve as you gain more experience e.g., No fixed number of slides are required, instead you can take a decision ‘on-stage’ (with larger number than what is required) Speed up and slow down after looking at elapsed time Humor would add value. Preplanned humor often does not work (beware!)

35. R.B.SUNOJ What I have tried to do …. As one person I cannot change the world, but I can change the world of one person Paul Shane Spear

36. R.B.SUNOJ Yesterday is a cancelled check Tomorrow is a promissory note Today is the only cash you have So spend it wisely What you could do …. Sandra Carey