Presenting Papers at AACE Conferences: Getting Started

General Notes on Preparing for an Global Learn Presentation

Structuring a presentation

• First of all be very clear about what you want to achieve with the presentation. What is the main thing you hope to accomplish in this short time slot?
• What to foreground: The key idea that is included in your abstract should be the main focus. Please say something new. People want to feel they have learnt something from your presentation.
• What to background, e.g. generic theoretical ideas on constructivism. Only what is new about your theoretical views should be included.
• Try to break the habit of following the exact sequence of the paper. The end section will probably be left out if you do. One way to avoid this is to take your presentation and run through it backwards. Reversing the order might improve the presentation!
• Use of examples. A sandwich mode can be useful where you have your example or demonstration in the middle. Please don’t leave all the interesting stuff to the end when you may run out of time.
• Think about how to involve your audience while you are planning the presentation.
• Planning your timing is ESSENTIAL. Note where you need to be after five minutes, after 10 minutes. Write these markers down on your PowerPoint thumbnails. Note that a rough rule is that each slide takes two or three minutes to cover and so a 20-minute talk should have less than ten slides.
• Rehearsal is strongly recommended so that you have an idea about how realistic your timing markers are.

Use of PowerPoint

• You do not have to use PowerPoint. Many people do but there are other ways to give an excellent presentation. The key is to have a carefully planned, structured and engaging session.
• If you use PowerPoint many experts use a sans seraph font (e.g. Arial). Be strategic with the use of bold.
• Preparing PowerPoint is not like preparing overhead transparencies. It is vital that you plan your PowerPoint slides for readability. Look at the default ppt templates to get an idea of appropriate font sizes.
• Images, diagrams, tables and pie charts can provide excellent summaries of key points. Make sure they are clear and not cluttered. Remember that a picture can be worth 1,000 words!
• Avoid fancy transitions, such as parts of the slide flying in from the sides, etc. These are usually just annoying distractions.
• Keep the amount of text as small as possible. Use keywords and short sentences. Three to five bullet items per slide is a rough guide. The audience should be listening to you rather than reading the slides.
• Use a spell checker.
• Check your PowerPoint in a teaching room. Look at it from the back of the room.
• Consider the readability of the colours used.
• Consider the juxtaposition of colours. Use colours sparingly.
• Some of your listeners may be colour-blind and may not be able distinguish red from green and neither of these colours from brown and gray.
• Remember the colours projected on the screen may differ from the colours on your own computer.

Use of the Web and multimedia demonstrations

• Be very focused and get straight to the part of the resource you want to demonstrate. Demonstrations can take an undue amount of time if you are not careful.
• Consider the readability of pages very carefully. Again, check your web pages and/or multimedia demonstration in a teaching room. Look at it from the back of the room.
• Make sure that all plug-ins that might be needed are available. Make a list.
• Check out all possible requirements for sound. Make a list.
• Remember the colours projected on the screen may differ from the colours on your own computer.

Practising your presentation

• If this is your first presentation (and even if it is not) it is important to PRACTICE. It is often useful to get someone in your home institution to listen to you.
• Make a checklist of the points in the section on ‘Delivering a presentation’ and see if you can master them during your practice sessions.

Delivering a presentation

• Be organized: arrive early and check the equipment again.
• The opening section is critical: engage the audience with your introduction.
• Read your audience; look for signs that you are being understood.
• Maintain eye contact with the audience. Talk to the audience, not to the slides.
• Keep your movements and body language relaxed. Smile.
• Avoid distracting mannerisms such as pacing or obvious pointing.
• Project your voice, so that it can be heard. Speak slowly and clearly. Use variety in your voice.
• Use the podium to hold your hands if you are nervous. Do NOT use a infra-red pointer unless you can be extremely steady-handed.
• Avoid reading notes; an occasional glance is all that you should need.

Handling the questions at the end

• Anticipate questions that might be asked.
• Actively try to get questions from the audience.
• If you don’t know the answer, compliment the questioner and say so.
• Keep answers short and focused.
• Thank the audience at the end!
• [Congratulate yourself!]