Effective Conference Presentations

Tom SorkDepartment of Educational

StudiesMarch 12, 2008

Why do a presentation?

It’s an expected part of academic work

To present your ideas To receive critical feedback To gain visibility To network To develop your presentation skills To add a line to your CV

Common types

Paper presentation Roundtable Poster session Panel Symposium

A question to begin….

What to you are three key characteristics of an effective academic presentation?

Questions for today?

What do you hope to learn? What kind of presentation are you

most likely to make? What makes you the most anxious

about presenting? Other questions you have?

Points to consider

Total time available to YOU Ratio of presentation vs. discussion Norms and traditions of the

conference Space and equipment available Flow and pace if others are involved Difference/diversity of participants ‘Takeaways’ for participants.

Paper presentation

Do respect your audience Do keep to the time limits Do allow time for questions Do locate your work intellectually Do limit the details you provide Do be professional and engaging.

Paper presentation

Don’t read your paper Don’t use all the time talking Don’t rely totally on technology

(have a Plan B) Don’t end with a “thud.”

Roundtable presentation

Roundtable presentation

Do consider the setting and its limits Do provide a handout or other form of

visual guide to the discussion Do take advantage of the small group Do acknowledge those who join late

but don’t repeat for their benefit Do have contact information available.

Roundtable presentation Don’t be disappointed if few show up Don’t disturb others at nearby tables Don’t try to cover too much material Don’t get into one-on-one conversations

and ignore the other participants Keep it informal but informative.

Poster session

Poster session

Do pay attention to the specifications provided

Do provide something to draw them in

Do use colour and large fonts Do present only the essence Do be available for questions Do provide contact information.

Poster session

Don’t use only text Don’t ignore those who are reading

your poster…invite engagement Don’t assemble your poster while

the session is underway.

Resources for poster sessions

Thanks to Lesley Andres:

http://faculty.washington.edu/scporter/INQUAposters.htmlhttp://www.slam.org/meetings/guidelines/poster.phphttp://cte.umdnj.edu/career_development/

career_posters.cfmhttp://webguru.neu.edu/communicating/poster/http://www.owinet.rice.edu/~cainproj/designing.html

Panel

Do know your sequence in the program

Do know something about the other presentations

Do link your comments to others Do contribute provocative ideas Do finish in the allotted time.

Panel

Don’t read your “position” Don’t be awed by “famous”

panelists Don’t infringe on the time of

others.

Symposium

Do know the purpose—usually to present DIFFERENT perspectives

Do know something about the views of the other participants

Do your best to present a distinct, well-argued perspective

Do stay within your allotted time.

Symposium

Don’t spend so much time thanking the others for their contributions that you don’t have time to make your own!

Don’t be awed by “famous” presenters

Don’t infringe on the time of others.

Ten rules for keeping your audience awake…..(Wineburg, 2004)

1. Your talk is not your paper2. Your data mean more to you than

to your audience3. Middle-aged people lose their

eyesight4. Never project a quotation without

reading it5. Look at your audience

Ten rules (cont.)

6. If you have to read your text, learn how to do it…and practice

7. Do not use PowerPoint until you have read The Cognitive Style of PowerPoint (Tufte, 2003) and PowerPoint Antidote (Norvig, 2000)

8. An academic talk is a diamond—the beginning and the end are key

Ten rules (cont.)

9. You may not say, “Just one more thing” (Refer to Rule #1)

10. Think coda—find some way—elegantly, gracefully, and memorably—to bring your talk to a stinging conclusion.

Reference

Wineburg, S. (May, 2004). Educational Researcher, pp. 13-14.

Using PowerPoint…

“Powerpoint presentations: The good, the bad and the ugly”

www.shkaminski.com/Classes/Handouts/powerpoint.htm

Norvig, P. (2000). “PowerPoint antidote”www.norvig.com/Gettysburg

Tufte, E. R. (2003). “The cognitive style of PowerPoint.”

www.edwardtufte.com/tufte/books_pp

Graphics add interest…

Use your own photos Use free graphics and photos Use low cost stock photos or

graphics Sharon Hu, formerly of EDST,

recommends http://www.istockphoto.com/index.php Observe copyright and usage rules!

Use them to locate...

UBCVancouver

LiULinköping

UTSSydney

UWCCape Town

Use them to present data…

Age Distribution–Overall

(n=117)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

< 40 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60-64 >64

Use them to tell a story…

…that engages participants…

…and provokes reflection.

Videos are also effective

YouTube.com can be a good source

Download videos and embed them Think about sound! Observe copyright and usage

rules.

Bits of advice…

Model being a “good teacher” Be confident but humble A little humour is a good thing Invite others into conversation Practice, practice, practice Don’t overuse PowerPoint’s bells

and whistles!

Have fun and learn!

Enjoy yourself and learn from the experience. Watch what others do right and emulate the best.

The End!