Oral and Poster Oral and Poster Communication Communication

Robert Bortolussi MD FRCPC

Professor of Pediatrics, Dalhousie University

ObjectivesObjectives

1. Answer question, why do we want to communicate?

2. Describe how to prepare a great oral or poster presentation.

3. Learn to convince people that your discovery is: Unique Important Worthy of support

Workshop 2012

Who is your audience?Who is your audience?

Gear presentation to the level of knowledge of the audience.

Language we use with colleagues may be nonsense to others.

Strive to be clear without insulting their intelligence.

Workshop 2012

Which is best? Which is best? Poster or oral presentationPoster or oral presentation

OralOral

Pros Pros •Large groups•One way communication

ConsCons•Little dialogue•Anxiety

PosterPoster

Pros Pros •One to one interaction•2-way communication•Focused

ConsCons•Limited audience•Perception of less

prestige

Workshop 2012

Oral presentationsOral presentations

Workshop 2012

From google.com images

From google.com images

What are the objectives of What are the objectives of your oral presentation?your oral presentation?

Objectives must be relevant and achievable. ◦ limit yourself to 2 or 3 objectives.  

State each objective as a short sentence.

Test your objectives: ◦ What is the key message in the objective?◦ Does this message relate directly to the

storyline?

Workshop 2012

SlidesSlides

Designed to serve the objectives.

Not to show you have mastered Powerpoint’s gimmicks.

“KISSKISS” : KKeep iit ssimple, sstupid.

Workshop 2012

The usual order of slidesThe usual order of slides

Title Slide ……….. (1 slide)Background …… (1 slide)Objectives ……… (1 slide)Methods ………. (1 or 2 slides)Data Slides ……….. (2 or 3 slides)Summary ……….. (1 slide)Big Picture ……….. (1 slide)Acknowledgements (1 slide)_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Total……Total…… fewer than 11 slides including title!

Workshop 2012

Do’s and Don’tsDo’s and Don’ts

TextText8 or fewer lines per

slide, ◦ Use bullets ◦ Use clear words

and concise phrases

AnimationAnimation

• Let text simply appear, rather than having it swirl in with sound as it enters.

Workshop 2012

Don’t overdo it!

Do’s and Don’tsDo’s and Don’ts

Colours Too many colours in text is distracting. Black

text works well on most backgrounds.

White or yellow on a blue background is easier to read and easy on the eyes.

X Avoid using red with green and other less common colours since they may not exist on all computers.

10% of the males are red/green colour blind!

Workshop 2012

Do’s and Don’tsDo’s and Don’ts

GraphicsGraphicsUse a diagram or picture rather than

text or a list of statistics.

Use schematics to illustrate unfamiliar protocols.

Remember. The average attention span of a university graduate listener is 10 minutes!

Workshop 2012

Do’s and Don’tsDo’s and Don’ts

Graphs and DiagramsGraphs and Diagrams

Which graph is best?

• A ?

• B ?

Workshop 2012

A

B

No. of

people

A B C D

A B C DN

o. of

people

Research sites

Research sites

Do’s and Don’tsDo’s and Don’ts

Graphs and diagramsGraphs and diagramsNever give graphs

coloured backgrounds.

All graphs should have axis labels in "sentence case“

Never display 2-D data in 3-D. Though it looks good, it obscures accuracy.

Workshop 2012

A B C D Study sites

A B C D Study sites

No. of

people

No. of

people

Test drug vs placebo: ResultsTest drug vs placebo: Results

Randomized, placebo controlled study involving 303 subjects of whom 203 agreed to participate. 102 were randomized to the study group and 101 to the placebo group. Poor outcome was noted in 10% of the treated group compared to 50% in the placebo group (p< 0.01). However 50% withdrew in the treatment group because of intolerance to the drug compared to 2% withdrawals in the placebo group (p< 0.001).

Text presentation of resultText presentation of result

Workshop 2012

Test drug vs placebo: ResultsTest drug vs placebo: Results

D o n't Ag ree (100)

42

P o s itive

10

N eg a tive

W ithd raw (50)

T es t (102)

49

P o s itive

50

N eg a tive

W ith d raw (2)

P laceb o (101)

R an do m ize

A g ree (203)

In ten tion (303)

Graphic presentation of ResultGraphic presentation of Result

Workshop 2012

* *

** ** **

* p< 0.01

p< 0.001

Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.

Science is a wonderful thing if one does not have to earn one's living at it.

We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.

Workshop 2012

“Everything should be made as simple as

possible, but not simpler.”

Albert Einstein

The usual order of slidesThe usual order of slides

Title SlideBackground Objectives MethodsData Slides SummaryBig Picture Acknowledgement

• Timing is quite variable, but plan to use less than one slide a minuteone slide a minute

PracticePractice

Workshop 2012

•Practice to allow change in slides, orientation, use of pointer etc.

•Practice before a small group.

Poster presentations:Poster presentations:

Workshop 2012

google.com images

google.com images

google.com images

Example PostersExample Posters

Workshop 2012

Examples of posters will be shown and discussed at workshop, to illustrate the Strengths and weaknesses of various options!

Anatomy of a PosterAnatomy of a Poster

Conclusion

Other

“Catchy Title goes here!”

Introduction

Methods

Results 2

Results 1

literature Acknowledgements

Workshop 2012

Conclusion

Poster ChatterPoster Chatter

Drive bye browsers !Drive bye browsers !Make sure poster is viewable from 6 feet Weed out those interested from the crowd

Get the most out of the interaction. Get the most out of the interaction. Meet and engage people at every opportunity.Learn from their questions, and seek advice. If they’re interested give them a copy of

poster,Exchange cards and follow up with an email.

Workshop 2012

Elevator exercise !Elevator exercise !

Pretend you are accidentally on an elevator with Bill Gates!

You will have 2 minutes to tell him:◦ What is your passion in a research project◦ Why it is important◦ Why this may be of interest to him

Workshop 2012

What is your story?What is your story?

Any Volunteers?Any Volunteers?

Have you ever sat next to Bill Gates?…. The president?…. The mayor?…. The chief?

Did you instill curiosity and enthusiasm.

Workshop 2012

Have the Objectives been met? Have the Objectives been met?

Why do we need to communicate?

Tricks on preparing a great oral or poster presentation.

How to convince people your discovery is Unique Important Worthy of support

Workshop 2012