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How to Give a Good Technical Presentation

How to Give a Good Technical Presentation. T. J. Dolan ASIPP, Hefei July, 2008. References: Brian Dodd, IAEA (2000) James D. Callen, U. of Wisconsin (2002). Outline. Importance Preparation Effective speaking Slides. Why are technical talks important?.

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How to Give a Good Technical Presentation

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  1. How to Give a Good Technical Presentation T. J. Dolan ASIPP, Hefei July, 2008 References: Brian Dodd, IAEA (2000) James D. Callen, U. of Wisconsin (2002) Dolan Hefei 2008

  2. Outline Importance Preparation Effective speaking Slides Dolan Hefei 2008

  3. Why are technical talks important? Dolan Hefei 2008

  4. What kinds of technical talks do you like? Dolan Hefei 2008

  5. What kinds of talks do you not like? Dolan Hefei 2008

  6. Industry, Laboratories, Teaching Provide information Tell research results Propose research Persuade leaders Your reputation depends on your presentation skills. Dolan Hefei 2008

  7. Youyour messagethe audience Dolan Hefei 2008

  8. How to prepare? Audience Level ? What would interest them? Main ideas ? Visual aids ? Practice alone with audience Dolan Hefei 2008

  9. The talk should be organized. Title, author, institution, outline Main thesis Supporting points Summary and conclusion Allow about 1 minute per slide Dolan Hefei 2008

  10. How should we talk? Image Mannerisms Visual aids Understandable Memorable examples Repeat Interact with audience. Dolan Hefei 2008

  11. First impressions Audience evaluates you in first 5 minutes. No second chance. Dolan Hefei 2008

  12. Present a good image. • Appearance • Clothing • Posture • Voice • confident • loud enough • Do not • apologize • admit nervousness • Enthusiasm Courtesy of Brian Dodd Dolan Hefei 2008

  13. Avoid distracting mannerisms Talking too fast Talking too quietly, mumbling Not looking at people Talking to blackboard Saying “Uh”, “you know”, “I mean”, … Jingling keys in pockets Dolan Hefei 2008

  14. Drawings, Photos, Charts, Graphs Prepare projector early to avoid problems. Use visual aids. Courtesy of Brian Dodd Dolan Hefei 2008

  15. Use Demonstrations Brian Dodd used * paper airplanes in a talk on quality assurance in transport. * ‘accidental’ coffee spill with a ‘scalded’ hand to introduce emergency response. * kicked a packaged raw egg around the classroom to show principles of transport packaging. Courtesy of Brian Dodd Dolan Hefei 2008

  16. Make the content easily understandable. • Audience has short attention span. • Simplify the message. • Reducequantity. Leave them wanting more. • Be entertaining. Maybe some humor. • Be prepared to stop at anytime. Courtesy of Brian Dodd Dolan Hefei 2008

  17. Repeat important content. People don’t listen perfectly. Attention wanders -- distractions Other thoughts – work, family, entertainment,… Repeat Introduction Main talk Summary Courtesy of Brian Dodd Dolan Hefei 2008

  18. Interact with the audience. Get acquainted beforehand, if feasible. Look at many people. Encourage their questions. Paraphrase the question. Admit what you don’t know. Ask them questions. Dolan Hefei 2008

  19. How to Give a Bad Talk Dress sloppily Be hesitant and apologetic Use crowded slides with tiny lettering Show complex equations quickly Read from a manuscript Speak quietly and too fast Dolan Hefei 2008

  20. How to Give a Bad Talk Face the screen Avoid eye contact with audience Distract the audience by jingling coins or keys Say “uh” or “you know” frequently Keep talking after your time is over. Dolan Hefei 2008

  21. How can we prepare good slides ? Emphasize the main points Dolan Hefei 2008

  22. Each slide should have a thesis. Give main point in title < 6 main points Large lettering (> 18 point) Graphs and pictures Dolan Hefei 2008

  23. Use < 6 statements per slide. List most important ideas. Give supporting facts (if needed) in smaller font Space between statements. Too many statements make retention difficult. Short term memory saturates ~ 6 facts/slide. Audience remembers pictures and graphs better. Dolan Hefei 2008

  24. Why is this graph bad? (Courtesy of J. D. Callen) Dolan Hefei 2008

  25. What is still wrong with this graph? (Courtesy of J. D. Callen) Dolan Hefei 2008

  26. Here is a better graph. Plasma density increases linearly with filling pressure (Courtesy of J. D. Callen) Dolan Hefei 2008

  27. Why is this slide bad? Dolan Hefei 2008 (Courtesy of J. D. Callen)

  28. EBT Neoclassical Transport Theory for Field Error Effects Here is a better slide. (Courtesy of J. D. Callen) Dolan Hefei 2008

  29. Simplify phrases How should we talk? Image Mannerisms Visual aids Understandable Memorable examples Repeat Interact with audience How should we talk? • Present a good image. • Avoid distracting mannerisms • Use visual aids • Make the content easily understandable • Use memorable examples • Repeat important points • Interact with the audience Dolan Hefei 2008

  30. This slide emphasizes a bad situation. … and easily removable by the public! ... … completely unsecured!… Dolan Hefei 2008

  31. Your reputation • Image • Mannerisms • Title statements • Pictures and graphs • Simplicity • Examples • Repetition • Interaction with audience • Summary • Practice speaking aloud. Summary Dolan Hefei 2008

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