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How to Give a Good Technical Presentation

T. J. Dolan

ASIPP, Hefei

July, 2008

References: Brian Dodd, IAEA (2000)

James D. Callen, U. of Wisconsin (2002)

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Outline

Importance

Preparation

Effective speaking

Slides

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Why are technical talks important?

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What kinds of technical talks do you like?

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What kinds of talks do you not like?

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Industry, Laboratories, Teaching

Provide information

Tell research results

Propose research

Persuade leaders

Your reputation depends on your presentation skills.

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You

your message

the audience

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How to prepare?

Audience Level ? What would interest them?

Main ideas ?

Visual aids ?

Practice alonewith audience

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The talk should be organized.

Title, author, institution, outline

Main thesis

Supporting points

Summary and conclusion

Allow about 1 minute per slide

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How should we talk?Image

Mannerisms

Visual aids

Understandable

Memorable examples

Repeat

Interact with audience.

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First impressions

Audience evaluates you in first 5 minutes.

No second chance.

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Present a good image.

AppearanceClothingPostureVoice

confidentloud enough

Do not apologizeadmit nervousness

Enthusiasm

Courtesy of Brian Dodd

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Avoid distracting mannerisms

Talking too fast

Talking too quietly, mumbling

Not looking at peopleTalking to blackboard

Saying “Uh”, “you know”, “I mean”, …

Jingling keys in pockets

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Use visual aids.

Drawings, Photos, Charts, Graphs

Prepare projector early to avoid problems.

Courtesy of Brian Dodd

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Use Demonstrations

Brian Dodd used

* paper airplanes in a talk on quality assurance in transport. * ‘accidental’ coffee spill with a ‘scalded’ hand to introduce emergency response.

* kicked a packaged raw egg around the classroom to show principles of transport packaging.

Courtesy of Brian Dodd

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Make the content easily understandable.

Audience has short attention span.

Simplify the message.

Reduce quantity. Leave them wanting more.

Be entertaining. Maybe some humor.

Be prepared to stop at anytime.

Courtesy of Brian Dodd

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Repeat important content.

People don’t listen perfectly. Attention wanders -- distractions Other thoughts –

work, family, entertainment,…

RepeatIntroductionMain talkSummary

Courtesy of Brian Dodd

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Interact with the audience.

Get acquainted beforehand, if feasible.

Look at many people.

Encourage their questions. Paraphrase the question. Admit what you don’t know.

Ask them questions.

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How to Give a Bad Talk

Dress sloppily

Be hesitant and apologetic

Use crowded slides with tiny lettering

Show complex equations quickly

Read from a manuscript

Speak quietly and too fast

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How to Give a Bad Talk

Face the screen

Avoid eye contact with audience

Distract the audience by jingling coins or keys

Say “uh” or “you know” frequently

Keep talking after your time is over.

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How can we prepare good slides ?

Emphasize the main points

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Each slide should have a thesis.

Give main point in title

< 6 main points

Large lettering (> 18 point)

Graphs and pictures

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Use < 6 statements per slide.

List most important ideas.Give supporting facts (if needed) in smaller font

Space between statements.

Too many statements make retention difficult.

Short term memory saturates ~ 6 facts/slide.

Audience remembers pictures and graphs better.

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Why is this graph bad?

(Courtesy of J. D. Callen)

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What is still wrong with this graph?

(Courtesy of J. D. Callen)

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Here is a better graph.

Plasma density increases linearly with filling pressure

(Courtesy of J. D. Callen)

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Why is this slide bad?

(Courtesy of J. D. Callen)

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Here is a better slide.

EBT Neoclassical Transport Theory for Field Error Effects

(Courtesy of J. D. Callen)

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Simplify phrases

How should we talk?• Present a good image.• Avoid distracting

mannerisms• Use visual aids• Make the content easily

understandable• Use memorable

examples• Repeat important points• Interact with the

audience

How should we talk?

ImageMannerismsVisual aidsUnderstandableMemorable examplesRepeatInteract with audience

Dolan Hefei 2008 30… completely unsecured!…

… and easily removable by the public! ...

This slide emphasizes a bad situation.

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SummaryYour reputation

ImageMannerismsTitle statementsPictures and graphsSimplicityExamplesRepetition Interaction with audienceSummary

Practice speaking aloud.