Making Technical Presentations
A Brief Tutorial
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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
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