Index Card Briefly answer these two prompts.

Add your first name. Bring it up to us.

Prompt #2 What question(s) do you haveabout making effective presentations?

Prompt #1Think about a recent presentation…What is the most boring, dumb, confusing, useless, unprepared technique you’ve seen?

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Presentation Skills &

TechniquesGraduate Women in Science

Oct. 3, 2012Dr. Marcy Towns, PhD.

Professor, Chemical Education Dept. of Chemistry Associate Dept. Head

Karen S. Neubauer, MLSAssistant Director, Special ProjectsCenter for Instructional Excellence 2

Tonight’s Plan1.Address your concerns & questions2.Provide overview of effective

preparation, organization, delivery, props/materials & other tips

3.Inspire you to prepare, practice & relax

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Presenting yourself & your research

• Meet scientists, make contacts

• Share ideas, get new ones

• Influence your discipline

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Prepare and Organize

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Prepare• Know your objectives• Get to know your

audience• Check out the logistics• Provide an

introductionKairosKairos

LogosLogos

EthosEthosPathosPathos

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OrganizePlan entrance & exit strategies.Repeat key ideas, phrases.Divide information into chunks.Make it relatable (examples, analogies, metaphors).

Take advantage of senses.7

Tell the story of your researchFour parts: 1.Introduction – problem, why it should be addressed & why now2.Methodology – results were obtained by…3.Results – most salient points only4.Conclusion – brief results & implications

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Presenting Yourself• Posture• Placement• Movement• Eye contact• Facial expressions

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Presenting Yourself, cont.• Dress professionally, not to get noticed• Voice

–Hydrate with water & breathe–Vary pace and pitch–Exude passion

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Using Props

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Using Media

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Media rules to remember1. Media doesn’t deliver information, you do.2. Media should not distract attention from

where you want the audience to focus.3. Do not select media because it is “wow!”

“sexy” or has a lot of “flash.”4. When in doubt, keep it simple so your

message is not lost.13

Gill Sans was rated most: comfortable to read, interesting, and attractive.

Times New Roman was rated most professional.

Verdana was rated least: comfortable to read, interesting, and attractive.

In a 2007 study of fonts in PowerPoint:

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16 pt. lowercase18 pt. lowercase20 pt. lowercase22 pt. lowercase24 pt. lowercase28 pt. lowercase32 pt. lowercase36 pt. lowercase40 pt. lowercase44 pt. lowercase

Titles

Body of text

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Expert Novice

Images

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Background Patterns

Avoid patterns!

Changes in background color or

white/dark background can cause loss of

contrast.

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Background Patterns

Avoid patterns!Changes in background

color or white/dark background can cause

loss of contrast!

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Six-by-six RuleApplies when all text appears at onceSix lines, six words per lineAllow for “white space” Remember, audience reads aheadBullets help separate linesUse 0.5 line above or below each line

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Animations, Slide Transitions, Sounds• Animations can be effective in pacing• Transitions, sounds often used for “fun”• Too often are distracting• Repeated use becomes annoying

– First time = “interesting”– Second time = “okay”– Third time = “really annoying”

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white screen black screen

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Acknowledgements• Thank those who funded your research

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Practice= Good Timing• Time your “chunks”• Practice, practice• At least 5 min Q&A• Practice, practice• Least important last• Practice, practice

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The Q&A• Have your own questions ready, just in case• Repeat the question for clarity• If you don’t know, say so• Use phrases like, “In my research…” and “My

experience on that topic indicates”• Avoid arguing with a questioner• Get the last word with concluding statement

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Presentation Skills &

TechniquesGraduate Women in Science

Oct. 3, 2012Dr. Marcy Towns, PhD.

Professor, Chemical Education Dept. of Chemistry Associate Dept. Head

Karen S. Neubauer, MLSAssistant Director, Special ProjectsCenter for Instructional Excellence 25