BS13310 Research and Communication Skills

Dr. Mike Winson

Presentation skills

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Presenting information

EssayLab reportWeb page (2nd year)AbstractPoster (or projected PowerPoint poster)Spoken presentationGroup presentationPowerPoint presentation

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Spoken presentations

PowerPoint presentation

BS13310 research and communication skills assignmentSemester 2 (10% of module) Information retrieval and dissemination techniquesSimilar approach to essayGroup peer assessment

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Key areas

PreparationThe presentationDeliveryVisual aids

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Preparation

Know your subject!Identify objective of talk and audience1 clear messageMain points relating to the messageWrite out talk but do not script it.Cue cards?PRACTISE

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The presentation

Introduce yourself and the talkWhat you will talk about -introThe subject main bodyWhat you have spoken about conclusionKEEP TO TIMEApprox 1 minute per slide

5 minute talk = 5 slides +title and acknowledgement slide.

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Presenting material - appearance

Be professional and look the partArrive earlySmile!Be enthusiasticGood postureDont chew gumRemove your hat

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Presenting material - spoken

Speak clearly - avoid monotone and Vicky Pollard style languageLook up and face the audience Dont rushEffective pausesAvoid blocking or talking to

screen

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Posture & Gesticulation

Stand uprightUse body languageUse hands (but not too much!)Reduce annoying habitsDont fidgetLook interested

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Presenting material - slides

Keep it simpleSummarize information (graphs / tables)Slides less is betterUse relevant headingsUse standard slide design (why?)Be consistentUse appear / greying out for lists

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Avoid too much information

It is very tempting to put all the information you would like to convey to the audience onto a single slide, especially if time is limited. Unfortunately you then just read from the slides rather than talking around the points you have presented on the slide. Summarise what you wish to say into a couple of words or very short sentence. SummariseUse VISUAL CUES

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Visual cues

http://www.presentationhelper.co.uk/

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Visual information

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When presenting material

Introductory slide

Name, subject, module etc

Set out your aims for the talkAssume the audience knows nothingBe organised & preparedDont apologise !

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Presenting material

Avoid irrelevant subject materialRestrict animationColoursSimple backgroundsDont go over time

Poor choice of colour combinations

Poor choice of colour combinations

Poor choice of colour combinations

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Slides

Edit slidesConsistency of font, slide layout etc.Spelling!

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Take home message

Summarise key pointsAcknowledgements if applicableSay Thank you for listeningStay at the frontChairperson will ask for questions

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Dealing with questions

Attempt to answerDont know the answer?Expand your answer (not just Yes/No)Can enter dialogue with questioner eg Good pointDo not argue save it for later!Consider using a handout sheetDiscuss future possibilities

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Annoying things that are difficult to control

Reliability of computer equipmentThe webLatecomersAbsenteesAudience noiseAudience asleepMobile phones, iPodsComputer Messagingetc etc

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Continual improvement

Reducing errs and ermsAvoiding difficult wordsNot getting ahead of the slidesNot relying on slidesNot losing the plot!

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Practice makes perfect

Take every opportunity to present

Extra information in:

Giving a spoken presentationChapter 15 (p87) Reed et al Practical Skills

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Remaining lectures

CareersVery important even at this stageRegister will be taken

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