Large Group Teaching: How to Give a

Presentation

Debra Bynum, MD

Division of Geriatric Medicine

2010

A Presentation on How to Give a Presentation…

Kramer’s Coffee Table Book about Coffee Tables…

“The successful teacher is no longer on a height, pumping knowledge at high pressure into passive receptacles… he is a senior student anxious to help his juniors.”

William Osler (1849-1919)

Goal

Each person will evaluate their “lecturing” and presentation style and make a plan for improvement

What will you stop doing?

What will you continue doing?

What will you consider adding?

Goal…Prevent Procrastination

Goal… Prevent Stress

Outline

Big Picture: Why? How to organize a presentation Power point nuts and bolts Preparation Delivery How to handle questions Emergencies Feedback

Key Points….

Presentations continue to be important in large group teaching

Keep presentations simple, focus on key points

Keep slides simple

Summarize, summarize, summarize

Be prepared

Background

Lecture: “oral presentation intended to present information or teach people about a particular subject”

“Lecture”: “action of reading”

Big Picture: Why?

What are the downsides to giving a lecture?

Why continue to give lectures?

Why?

Transmit information

Answer questions

Generate interest

Create questions

Human touch

How to organize your presentation… 1. Have your goal in mind

2. Focus on 3-5 Main Points

3. Answer “who cares”

4. Use small stories/case studies

5. Follow your outline

6. Summarize and use key words

How to Organize: Marketing “Succes”

Simple Unexpected Concrete Credentialed Emotional Story

Simple

Focus on 3-5 Main Points

Come back to the Main Points, summarize

Add to knowledge

Unexpected

Build upon curiosity

Focus on “what questions do I want them to ask”

Concrete

Build upon knowledge and existing schema

Enduring points based upon examples, cases, stories, proverbs

Put abstract ideas into context

Invite people to the table

Credible

Provide enough details and background

Emotional

Generate “caring”

Self interest (why should I learn this…)

Create a mission

Story

Mental simulations

Use the small story to illustrate a big point (when you see this, think of ….)

The Anatomy of a Presentation

Opening: consider eye catcher Goals Outline Content slides Pauses Summary and Take Home Points Questions References

Anatomy of presentation: eye catcher

Does not have to be funny… don’t do funny if you are not funny

Try to be creative, create questions, set stage (can be a case, a story….)

Anatomy of a Presentation: Goals

Just a few and keep them simple

Anatomy: Outline

Simple bullet points

Follow the outline, use it as structure

Anatomy: Content slides

Keep slides simple, bullet points

Never have to apologize for a “busy” slide….

Attention Span declines after 10-15 minutes: Break it up every 10-15 minutes

Pauses 2 minute pauses three times during the course of a

lecture has been shown to increase retention…

Delivering Content

Interactive Lecturing Techniques

Asking questions of audience

Audience response systems

Using “multimedia”

Using handouts (not just a copy of the slides…)

Anatomy: Summary and Take Home Points

Keep simple

Take Home Points should relate to overall goals of presentation

This is not the time to introduce new material

Anatomy: Finale

Questions

References Can include abbreviated reference on a

specific slide with a quote or significant data

Include more inclusive list of references at end of presentation, handout

Shift and Pause…

Power Point Tips

Fonts Non-serifed fonts

Easier to read on screen/computer/web arial

Serifed Fonts Used in text More formal Easier to read on paper Times New Roman

Fonts

Stick to simple Consider bold (as long as readable) Optimum type size for text = 24 points -32

points (this is 32…) Minimum usable type: 16 points, otherwise not readable….

DON’T SCREAM – AVOID ALL CAPITAL LETTERS UNLESS TRYING TO EMPHASIZE A POINT !!!!!!!!!!

Power Point: Backgrounds…

Keep it simple…

Keep focus on topic, not slides

Colors Dark letters on light background works best Avoid distracting pictures/design

backgrounds Avoid using red/green colors together

Backgrounds

Keep it simple… Keep focus on topic, not slides Colors

Dark letters on light background works best Avoid distracting pictures/design backgrounds Avoid using red/green colors together or in

contrasting areas

Power Point: Action

Keep animations simple – use when needed to make a point

Avoid use in every slide….

It gets very very

Very very

Very very annoying….

Power Points: Charts

Please see handout

Avoid just copying very busy charts out of articles

Review Your Slides…

This type of slide, where everything you have to say is exactly on the screen, with all the words all put together into a long, run on sentence, and then into a long, run on paragraph, is very very hard to read and not at all helpful… review your slides, delete all that is not absolutely needed, space out bullet points, and add more details to the note section of power point….

Review Your Slides… Go through slides several times

Add spacing

Bold when needed

Avoid run on sentences, paragraphs

Keep to bullet points

Use the Notes if needed…

Another Transition and a Break…

Preparation Clean up your slides

Practice, practice, practice

Know your equipment

Get there early

Prepare your “delivery”

Have a back up plan

Preparation

Plan to talk for LESS than allotted time (no more than 45 minutes)

Practice and time your presentation

Allow plenty of time for questions

Delivery : Have a Plan… Equipment

Microphone, slides, how you will advance

Speaking (avoid umms, likes….), pauses

Hands : not too little, not too much

Eye contact

Stance Will you stand behind the podium or walk? Consider microphone, slides, ?videoconference

How to Handle Questions Practice and “pilot” presentation

Anticipate questions (consider slides at end)

Repeat the Question Important so that all audience hears the Question Gives you time to think if needed…

Reflect it back to the audience – what do you think of ….

Ok to say “I don’t know, that is an excellent question”

Emergencies

Prepare for the worse

Have a Back up plan Keep hard copy of slides/handouts Email presentation to yourself Email presentation to conference center

Arrive early, set up equipment, identify problems early

Feedback

Get feedback on your presentation

View video of yourself giving presentation (very helpful for hands, speaking style, extra words…)

Ask colleagues for evaluation/feedback

Ask audience at end for feedback ?

Summary : Key Points

Presentations continue to be important in teaching large groups

Keep presentations simple and focus on key points

Keep slides simple

Summarize, summarize, summarize

Be prepared

Questions

?