Giving a Presentation in College

Presentation Creation Tips:

Text

Slides should have as little text on them as possible.

• The text on your slides should be bullet points, which means it is a summary of the idea. Then during your presentation you can speak the details.
• If you can say it with a picture, do it.

Pictures

A powerpoint is a visual presentation.

• So naturally there should be more images than text.
• Pictures are actually worth 1000 words, and they are words you don't have to type out.
• The image should be relevant to the subject matter. Random pictures of cats are nice, but not always helpful to making your point. They could be used as a tool to regain the attention of your audience however.
• GIFs are hilarious, however they might distract people from the content you are trying to explain to them. A solution could be to have the GIF play only once, or find a video version, which you could have play once, muted, and then freeze frame.

Transitions

Don't use them.

• They are distracting.
• They are simple to make, so you are not showing a mastery of the software by doing so.
• An alternative, if you don't want to show all of your information when the slide first appears is to make copies of the slide, with another bullet on each one, this way the room isn't waiting for the information to be on the board.
• If you REALLY want to have transitions, MAKE THEM QUICK!

It Should Look Good

This may be nit-picking, but here are some things to look out for.

• The style is consistent, if you have a text box over your background make sure that they are at least close in design.
• Make sure that it is possible for anyone to read the text against the background. Lime green backgrounds are great but it's hard to read anything on them.
• Do not cover your text content with any of your amazing pictures. They are both important to your presentation.
• Make sure that your text remains entirely on the slide. Specifically the sides and top.

Content for grading

Graders can only grade on the content they have access to. If you have notes for your presentation, put them into the speakers notes section of the presentation that you submit and comment on the myCourses submission, or however the submission is done, to make sure the grader sees them.

Black Side to Start

This gives you some leeway between quieting the class down and starting the presentation. An alternative is to use the "A/V Mute" feature that some projectors have.

Presenting Tips:

Speaking

More than just the words you say.

• Control your tone, being monotone will cause your audience to lose interest.
• Filler words are distracting, the occasional one is alright, however constant "umms" will result in your audience counting your "umms" instead of listening.
• Whenever possible, use narrative or examples to describe something - this will help to engage physical learners

Slides

Think of your slides as a supplement to your content, not as the only source of it.

• You're using a powerpoint/visuals in order to engage more visual learners
• You're speaking on your visuals to expand the concepts to contain all of the relevant information as well as engage those who are auditory learners.

Dress for success

Look good

• Dressing up, even a little, shows that you are serious about the presentation. Dress up at other times rather than just for presentations to become more comfortable with your clothing/style.
• Distracting clothes are just that, distracting the audience from your content

Body Language

Sixty percent of all human communication is nonverbal, body language; thirty percent is your tone. So that means that ninety percent of what you're saying ain't coming out of your mouth. - Will Smith (Hitch, 2005)

• Do not stand in front of the board, you might knock the screen.
• Keep your hands out of your pockets, you should be using your hands to pull your audience in. Hands in your pockets is restrictive.
• You are in front of everyone as your presentation is happening, this is hard during group presentations when it isn't your turn to speak. Show interest in your group member's information.
• When presenting to a class or group, do not only look at the teacher or person of authority, and be conscious of the tendency to do so. Look around the whole room/group to be more engaging.

Group Presentations

Teamwork makes the dream work.

• Share the presentation with your team, alternate who is speaking, it makes it easier on yourself as well as on the audience.

Homework for next class

Next class we will have a visit from experts in opensource and legal aspects of software development. Take a look at next week’s Class Plan and spend some time thinking about (and researching) some of the following:

1. What would be the differences between creating free software and doing so under a commercial product?
2. When is it appropriate to use other people’s software?
3. What might be the legal, ethical implications and moral obligations of creating software and/or using someone else's?
4. Where does the responsibility lie on maintaining the software and monitoring it's proper use?
5. Does one area interest you more than the other (free, open source, commercial)? Why?

Compile answers and thoughts as well as a list of your own questions for our panelists. Submit this in MSWord or PDF format to myCourses by deadline policy indicated on schedule. Use "Assignment - Week 8" dropbox. You must print out your questions and bring the printout with you since we may need to move to a larger auditorium without computer access.