Presentation skills Becky Bergman (becky@chalmers.se) Division for Language and Communication Department of Applied IT FFR141 Complex systems seminars
The ten worst human fears (in the US) 1. Speaking before a group 2. Heights 3. Insects and bugs 4. Financial problems 5. Deep water 6. Sickness 7. Death 8. Flying 9. Loneliness 10. Dogs (The book of lists, 1977) Why is this? What can be done to reduce stress?
Your presentation skills 1. How good a presenter are you? How would you rank yourself from 1-10? 2. How important is it for you to be a good presenter? How important is it here / for your future?
Goal The complex systems seminar course has dual objectives. The first is to become exposed to different issues, advances and problems in complexity science and to aid in the development of a picture of the scope of complex systems research. The second is for the students to improve their ability to prepare and hold presentations. You will be scheduled to prepare and present a presentation. You will also be scheduled to serve as discussion leader for one other presentation.
Key activities What is successful communication? Elevator pitch Rhetorics Some tips and tricks! Feedback / opposition
The communication process Feedback Sender Message Receiver
Presentation instructions / schedule Topic should be broad and clearly related to complexity theory. Should be major/important articles - well-cited and in respected journals. The presentations should take 30 minutes to deliver Review group presents 3-5 questions / issues Go to discussion groups General discussion to finish off / summarise
What makes a successful presentation? Let s look at an example. Why do you think this was a winning presentation? Winner of best student cas presentation 2014
Text type communication situation Written essay Oral presentation Purpose Audience Analysis: strengths Analysis: weaknesses
The Elevator Pitch Purpose: presentation practice in informal setting on being concise and to the point! 60 second talk introducing yourself Highlight key issues Start with most important first ( Front page technique) You will deliver your talk in small groups
The Elevator Pitch Let s look at an example from the University of Dayton: And one from MIT Here s how the result can be. Here is a business oriented guide for how pitch talks can be designed.
And another look.. Let s take a look at the first one again. Think about the following questions: How did she begin her talk? How does she try to include her audience? How does she end her talk? Is she effective? Discuss your answers
The five canons of rhetorics preparing a presentation inventio dispositio elocutio memoria Analysing the task Gathering information Structuring the material Preparing the presentation Practising actio Performing
Inventio analysing the task 1. What is the main purpose? 2. Think about your audience: Who? What pre-knowledge? Why are they listening?? What are their expectations? 3. What/which information to select? What is necessary? What is interesting? 4. Seven questions: What? Who? Why? When? Where? How? With the help of what?
Back to the elevator pitch.. What aspects do you want to highlight about yourself? Your choice of study? An interest? Some previous work experience? Your last university?
Dispositio structuring the material 1. What 3-4 overall parts are there? What is a natural order? What obvious transitions are there? 2. Which information has to be excluded in order to stick to the time limit?
Get planning! Find a structure for your key points
Elocutio preparing the presentation Style Appropriateness Accuracy of information / of language used Language: Vocabulary Grammar Pronunciation (See Englishcentral.com)
Memoria practising the Learning off by heart? Reading from a script? Notecards? Slides as support? presentation If you read too much from a script, you will lose your audience!
Actio - performing Check out the room beforehand - where will you stand? Time your talk at home. Write down your first and last sentences. Have a maximum of 1 slide per minute. Have a backup plan for your slides Plan your talk and slides together Keep your language as simple as you can but use the appropriate terminology!
What is opposition? A conversation concerning all those present and not just for the presenters A dialogue which involves analysis, comments and advice
Suggested order for the opposition 1. The opponents thank the presenters 2. The opponents explain to the audience what they have read /heard 3. The opponents ask questions and create discussion around the text s content and form. 4. The opponents should adapt these comments / questions during the presentation are there additional questions? Have some questions been answered? 5. The opponents sum up their opinions 6. The opponents conclude through thanking the presenters once more
How can this be done? An example of a helpful comment might be: A great way to start your presentation! (positive encouragement). Simple, direct, interesting (Give information). Is there ever just a right or wrong answer? (Ask a question) I would be careful with some of your source material (Give information). Is this your own idea or one provided by your source material? Could you make that clearer? (Provide a suggestion).
Now deliver your pitch.. Procedure: Person 1 delivers their pitch (60 secs) Person 2 and 3 act as opponent and ask questions Person 2 delivers their pitch (60 secs) Person 1 and 3 acts as opponent Etc etc After all 3 pitches are completed, you will present your comments
What about a longer presentation?
The importance of being attention span issues interesting Attention Time
Hook Quote Question + Picture + Video Clip Quiz Demonstration Surprising Fact Story Results!
Introductions The first impression make it yourself. Get audience s attention. Checklist: Present yourself (where are you from?!) Establish contact Establish topic (title on a visual) Establish purpose Establish presentation structure (on a visual) Establish expectations Establish motivation (why listen to you?)
Structuring the content Guidance: Where are you going? Where are you? Where have you been? Coherence: transitions repetition of central themes/ideas, phrases See suggested phrases in handout
Conclusions Final impression have expectations been met? End in a strong way not with a sigh ( well that s it..i believe.) Checklist: Summarize State what you hope they got out of the presentation Tell them where more information is available Thank the audience Ask for questions
Why use visuals? Introduce yourself and topic Visualize concepts and ideas Create interest Reinforce ideas Remind audience of points
Readability is affected by Font Font size Length of lines Length of paragraphs Text type Colour
Illustrating information What s an effective way of showing information? www.smartdraw.com
Use visuals to focus information/attention Point, show and guide the audience through your material when relevant Use (simple) animations to focus the attention focus / guide as helps, but be careful to avoid eye-candy
802.11i / 802.11e Handover Procedure
Creating your visuals Always remember that design matters - there is always a choice. Visuals should clarify the presentation - make sure you talk about your visuals. and also let the visual do some of the talking
The audience? Problems? Hyperventilation? Breathing! Don t read Written vs spoken language from a manuscript Complicated, detailed structure? Focus on the positive ones! Rule of 3 / Front page technique
Well prepared Well rehearsed Varied with balance Clear Interesting Structured A good presentation is:
Summing up Why are you talking to me? Where are we? Where are we going? Where have we been? Power of visuals It ain t what you do, it s the way that you do it!
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