Making Technical Presentations

A Brief Tutorial

2

Making Presentations

• A presentation is not a paper.– Medium, coverage, detail

– Decisions regarding content

• Process: three keys to effectiveness1. Plan

2. Prepare

3. Present

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1. Plan (Get Ready!)

• Purpose– Inform? Decide? Sell? Persuade? Etc.

• Audience– Technical? Managerial? Clients? Mixed?

– What are the needs of the audience?

• Venue– Time allowed

– Setting? Formality?

– Audio/visual support

– Room size

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2. Prepare (Get Set!)

• A. Gather information– Collect data, facts, graphs, photos, figures, etc.

– Establish motivation, significance, relationships, consequences, etc.

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Preparation: Make an Outline

•B. Write outline

–Introduction

–Introduce self, team-mates and subject

–Set stage: establish big picture, motivate topic, capture interest

–Body

–Organize points for effect

–E.g., chronology, analysis by parts, cause/effect, etc.

–Conclusion

–Reinforce key points

–Identify next steps

WHO?

WHAT?

WHY?

WHAT NEXT?

HOW?

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Preparation: Simplify and Edit

•C. Make visuals

–Simplify, simplify, simplify

•D. Practice

–Time the talk

–Decide what to cut

–Iterate previous steps

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Present (Go!)• Avoid distractions

– Fidgeting, tobacco, gum, hands– Filler words: “er,” “ah,” “umm,”– Inappropriate attire– Shuffled slides

• Enhance communication– Smiles; energy; interest– Voice volume and pace– Eye contact– Repeat key points (e.g., internal summaries, too)– Repeat key points

• Taking questions– Rephrase the question– Be honest; protect credibility: “I don’t know” is acceptable.

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About Visual Aids

• Psychologists tell us:– About 20% retention of spoken material after three days

– Good visuals can increase retention 60-75%

– Support your message; target visuals to the audience

– Simplify, simplify, simplify

• Consistency– Fonts, format, headers, colors, etc.

– Repetition reinforces message

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Simplify Slides

•Limit information per slide–One key idea

–Six lines text, or fewer

–Six words per line, or fewer

–Large fonts; simple fonts

•Equations–Necessary? If “yes,” explain significance

Channel Equalization

• Channel estimation improves spectral efficiency.

In-P

hase

After equalizationBefore equalization

In-P

hase

QuadratureQuadrature

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Presenting Visual Aids

• When presenting charts– Define axes

– Explain what to look for

– Clearly distinguish simulation from measurement

• Cite sources

• Spacer pages with transparencies– Prevent static cling

– Provide for notes to speaker

[Source: www.ee682example.org]

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Oral Presentation

• Aim for extemporaneous presentation– Prepared cues

– Supporting graphics

• Visual aids provide confidence– Emphasis on key points

• Visual aids

• Outline and format

– Road map to follow

– Aid with language difficulties

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Conclusion

• Plan– Audience

– Purpose

• Prepare– Simplify

– Practice

• Present– Presence

– Responsiveness

– Summarize key points

2

Making Presentations

• A presentation is not a paper.– Medium, coverage, detail

– Decisions regarding content

• Process: three keys to effectiveness1. Plan

2. Prepare

3. Present