Preparing & Delivering an Effective Presentation

Preparing an Effective Presentation

Deciding what to present Organizing your content Developing presentation notes Using visual aids Preparing you and your environment Delivering your presentation Answering questions

Deciding What to Present

To whom am I presenting? Where will this take place? When will this take place? Why am I presenting?

– Develop goals & objectives

“Goals” of a Presentation

Provide a global perspective– i.e. The “Big Picture”

Vague, nonspecific, general Not observable Examples

– Understand how important it is to organize your presentation

– Appreciate the need for practice prior to delivering a presentation

“Objectives” of a Presentation

Describe what you’d like the learner to be able to do after your presentation– Precise– Observable – Measurable– Attainable

**Objectives include action verbs from the learner’s perspective.

Preparing & Delivering an Effective Presentation

Objectives:

Describe the process of choosing and organizing the content of your presentation.

List ways that you will prepare yourself and your environment prior to your presentation.

List effective verbal and non-verbal strategies that you’ll use that will help your learners.

Prepare and deliver an effective presentation.

What will I teach?

Choose your objectives Write down all information related to each Prioritize your information

– Essential– Important– “Nice to know”

Remember…

All of the content of your presentation should help the audience achieve your objectives.

Organizing the Presentation

Introduction – “Tell ‘em what you’re gonna tell ‘em.”

Body – “Tell ‘em.”

Conclusion – “Tell ‘em what you told ‘em.”

Organizing the Presentation:The Introduction

“Attention-getter” Provide an overview State your objectives Motivate the audience

Organizing the Presentation:The Body

Restate each main topic Present essential material first Use examples as much as possible Summarize at the end of each main point Transition smoothly to next point

Organizing the Presentation:The Conclusion

Provide a logical ending Summarize the main teaching points

– “The points I’d like to leave you with are…”– “What I had hoped to emphasize today…”

Developing Presentation Notes

Serve as reminders only May include:

– outline of main points & sub-points– transition sentences between points– cues for examples and visual aids– reminders for gestures & eye contact

Developing Presentation Notes

5 X 7 cards Large print on one side only No crowding Number your cards Fewer is better; none is not good!

Using Visual Aids

Should enhance the presentation Should be easy to read Should use the visual aid that is most

appropriate for the setting– white board in small room– slides in large room

PowerPoint Pluses

Can use it easily Can display photos, graphics, and video

nicely Can change content at a moment’s notice Can help to organize a disorganized

presenter

PowerPoint Pitfalls

Can be very limiting Is often an expectation of the audience but

is not always the appropriate visual aid Can distract rather than enhance Can never save poor content

- Tufte (2004) The Cognitive Style of PowerPoint

Tips for a Good Slide

Is readable Contains words and background that

contrast Provides a message on its own without the

presenter’s verbal words Acts as a visual learning aid that enhances

the presenter’s oral presentation Begins each line of list with the same part

of speech

Tips

Should be readable Words and background should contrast Should be able to stand on its own without

the presenter’s verbal words Learning aid that enhances the

presenter’s oral presentation First word of each line of list should be the

same part of speech

Preparing You

Practice!!!– In sections– Out loud– In front of

someone– With your visuals

Dress to kill!!!

Preparing the Environment

Come early!!! Learn the layout of the room Make the room comfortable Check the equipment

– Does it work?– Can I operate it?

The Verbal Delivery

Try to open without notes Speak clearly; pronounce words correctly Use controlled pauses and inflection Speak at an appropriate pace Be as spontaneous as possible

The Non-Verbal Delivery

Look at the learners in all parts of the

room Move purposefully for emphasis Respond to the learners Be enthusiastic

– facial expressions– postures– gestures

Minimize idiosyncrasies

Answering Questions

Listen carefully, then repeat the question Answer politely and concisely Deal gracefully with a problem questioner

** If you can’t answer the question appropriately or deflect it comfortably, invite the questioner to speak with you privately afterwards.

Preparing and Delivering a Presentation

Write objectives which drive the content of the discussion

Develop clear notes Use visual aids

appropriately Practice out loud Come early and prepare

your environment Speak clearly; remember

non-verbal cues Close strongly; invite

questions