2010 FIRST Robotics Conference How to be Great in Front of an Audience Presented by: Kimberly Eckhardt, Team 1511

2010 FIRST Robotics Conference

How to be Great in Front of an Audience

Presented by:Kimberly Eckhardt, Team 1511


Outline

Presentations in FIRST Presentations Skills Building Powerful Presentations

Know Your Audience Create a Persuasive Presentation Use Strong Visuals Appropriate Q&A

Excellence

“Excellence is the result of caring more than others think is wise, risking more than others think is safe, dreaming more than others think is practical and expecting more than others think is possible.”


Presentations in FIRST

• Chairman’s Award• FLL Project & Technical Presentation• FTC Inspire Award• Talking to Judges in the Pits• Demonstrations• Sponsor Presentations• Event Speaking


Presentation Tips

• Get Rid of the Butterflies• Project Your Voice• Use Eye Contact & Gestures• Locate Turn & Talk• No more than 5-10 minutes per Topic• Its OK to Use Notecards• NEVER Apologize Up Front• “Worry” about what might go Wrong


Activity

• Need 2 Volunteers!


Building Powerful Presentations

• Step By Step– Define the Purpose– Gather Content & Presentation Ideas– Structure the Subject Matter (Outline)– Develop HOW to present it– Prepare the Presentation– Practice– Plan, Experience, Control the Environment– “Dress Rehearsal”


Know Your Audience

• Who: experience, education, job, professional background, age, gender, ethnic background, cultural differences, etc.

• Number of People, Physical Setting• What do your listeners expect?• What do they already know?• What do they care about? Not care about?


Create a Persuasive Presentation• Strong Opener• Variety of Techniques to Express Your Point• Be Clear – Opinion or Fact• Support Your Claims

– Data, Stories, Anecdotes, Quotations, Etc– Don’t Drown them in Data

• Be Influential: logic, emotion, person• Don’t be Egotistical: “I believe, I want, I urge

you”• End with a Bang!


Use Strong Visuals

• Power Point Slides– Use Key Words Only – No Blocks of Text!– Pay Attention to Font Size– Coordinate Transitions

• Charts, Tables, Graphs• A Picture is worth a thousand words• SIMPLE & Clear• Visuals are an Aid, NOT the focus


Appropriate Q&A

• Determine when you want Q&A• Prepare for Questions• Think up or even ask for Questions Ahead


Knock’em Dead

• Show Passion• Know Your Audience• Show Passion• Plan Well• Show Passion• Provide Detail• Show Passion



Questions & Contact Info

• Questions?

• Kim Eckhardt– [email protected]

– Materials: www.penfieldrobotics.com

http://www.penfieldrobotics.com/

Documents

2010 FIRST Robotics Conference How to be Great in Front of an Audience Presented by: Kimberly Eckhardt, Team 1511