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Formal Presentations

Tues April 16

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Details on class presentations

  • Each student presents one project
    • Write down your ranked choices on a sheet of paper and hand it to us → Project 5�
  • 12-15 minutes, plus questions
    • Conference style → questions at the end�
  • You will each be the "session chair" for one other person's talk
    • Introduce them with a brief bio and talk topic
    • Give time info
    • Ask for questions and have 1-2 questions prepped�
  • During final exam session (Wed May 1, 11:45-2:45, O'Leary 309)
    • Invite anyone you would like!
    • Draft slides will be due next Thursday so we can give feedback in class

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What does "formal" presentation mean?

  • Practice at least 3 times, with a timer for 1-2 times
    • In between practicing, revise your slides
    • Recommended: practice the first 3-4 slides a few extra times (smooth start helps!)
    • Discuss: what should you do and act like during a formal presentation?�
  • Don't say "obviously"
  • Use bullet points, not paragraphs, on slides
  • Don't read the screen: have cues for what to say on the screen, know what you will say so you can improv
    • Add notes in Powerpoint, so you can see them in Presenter mode
  • Look at audience, vary tone of voice, avoid fidgeting
  • Gestures & pointers
  • Pauses: know when to stop
  • Don't overelaborate: simple, concrete explanation (save for Q&A) - watch yourself present and see if you dwell on a topic too long/in depth (time how long each slide takes - if a slide takes long, rehearse it multiple times and/or break into repeating slides)

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What does "formal" presentation mean?

  • Slides are drafted then revised
    • Slides are polished: font sizes, labels, definitions
    • Check readability on projector screen from back of room�
  • Citations & acknowledgements
    • Cite numbers and figures made by others on the slide "(Villadsen et al, 2023)"
    • References slide can be at end (or embedded at bottom of slides)�
  • Extra effort on:
    • Visual representation of info (with labels)
    • Streamlining/minimizing text
    • Structure!!!

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Reflect on what you've learned so far

Based on: STEM seminars, your own & others' informal presentations in junior lab. What are specific strategies that make good presentations? Specific things to avoid?

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Analyze examples

Open Ibrahim's example presentation. As a class, scroll through & make a list of presentation techniques and advice that this talk shows.

After students make a list, then Ibrahim will add. Then we'll repeat with Jackie's example.