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Preparing an Effective Scientific Presentation

Kiruthika Ragupathi
Centre for Development of Teaching and Learning (CDTL)
Copyright 2013, National University of Singapore
Preparinganeffectivescientific
presentation
KiruthikaRagupathi
PrincipalEducationalTechnologist
CentreforDevelopmentofTeachingandLearning(CDTL)
http://www.cdtl.nus.edu.sg/student/scientificpresentation.pdf
Objectives
Planningthepresentation
Structuringthestory
Preparingthepresentation
Practising thepresentation
Deliveringthepresentation
Q&A
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Preparing an Effective Scientific Presentation
Kiruthika Ragupathi
Centre for Development of Teaching and Learning (CDTL)
Copyright 2013, National University of Singapore
Obstacles
Failuretomotivateaudience
Confusingstructure
Gapsinlogic/uncertainty
Poordelivery
Poorlydesignedslides
Excessivedetails
ACT1:PLAN
Preparing an effective scientific
presentation
Goals/Outline:Centralmessage
Knowyouraudience
Knowyourmaterial
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Preparing an Effective Scientific Presentation
Kiruthika Ragupathi
Centre for Development of Teaching and Learning (CDTL)
Copyright 2013, National University of Singapore
Goals/Outline
Summarise yourcentralmessagein23
sentences
Outlineinto3segments
Introduction
Body
Conclusion
Preparing an effective scientific
presentation
Knowyouraudience
Alwaysprepareeachpresentationforevery
individualoccasion,withspecificaudiencein
mind
departmentalseminars
professionalmeetings
Conferencetalks
jobinterview
Preparing an effective scientific
presentation
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Preparing an Effective Scientific Presentation
Kiruthika Ragupathi
Centre for Development of Teaching and Learning (CDTL)
Copyright 2013, National University of Singapore
Knowyourmaterial
Makesyoucredible
Inspirestrustandconfidence
Answerquestionsclearly
Preparing an effective scientific
presentation
Analyse othertalks
Listentoothertalksandanalyse
Whatdidyoulike?
Whatwasreallyirritating?
Gradeeachtalk
Gradeorganizationandcontent
Gradepresentation
Becritical
Preparing an effective scientific
presentation
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Preparing an Effective Scientific Presentation
Kiruthika Ragupathi
Centre for Development of Teaching and Learning (CDTL)
Copyright 2013, National University of Singapore
Whattodo?
Preparing an effective scientific
presentation
P
o
s
t
e
r
Content heavy,
complicated
Relatively informal,one
toone/onetofew
Flexibletimelimit
Audiencefree;Only
interestedaudience
MainlyQ/A;
conversationaldiscussion
O
r
a
l
limitedscopewith
clear,concisepoints
Moreformal,oneto
many
Allottedtimelimit
Audiencemore
captured,likelytoleave
chieflymorefromthe
speakerwithshortQ/A
ACT2:
STRUCTURINGYOURSTORY
Preparing an effective scientific presentation
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Preparing an Effective Scientific Presentation
Kiruthika Ragupathi
Centre for Development of Teaching and Learning (CDTL)
Copyright 2013, National University of Singapore
Tellingthestory
Focusonthecentralmessage
Zoominatthestart
Phrasethebasicideaasaquestion
Breakintosubquestions
Zoomoutintheend
Concludewithatakehomemessage
Dontsidetrack/backtrack
Avoidjargons
Preparing an effective scientific
presentation
Sample:Structure
Titlepage
Anattentiongrabber
Outline
Introduction/background
Body/mainpart
Summary/conclusion
Preparing an effective scientific
presentation
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Preparing an Effective Scientific Presentation
Kiruthika Ragupathi
Centre for Development of Teaching and Learning (CDTL)
Copyright 2013, National University of Singapore
Sample:TitlePage
Titleofthetalk
Name,Institution
Collaborators
Acknowledgements
(grants,etc.)
Aninformalvisual
Preparing an effective scientific
presentation
Sample:Introduction/Background
Putyourtalkintoabroadercontext
Describemotivatingapplications
Identifythosewhohavedonerelatedwork
Minimise backgroundmaterial
2/3oftalkshouldbeoriginalwork
Preparing an effective scientific
presentation
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Preparing an Effective Scientific Presentation
Kiruthika Ragupathi
Centre for Development of Teaching and Learning (CDTL)
Copyright 2013, National University of Singapore
Sample:Body/mainpart
emphasizeyoursimplemessage
backitupwithdetails ofexperimentand
theory
usepictures anddiagrams
keepnotation toaminimum
avoidtoomanyabbreviations
neveruseequationnumbers
repeattheequationifnecessary
illustrateyourpointsthroughsimple
examples
Preparing an effective scientific
presentation
SampleTalk:Summary
repeatwhatyoudid
repeatwhyitisimportant
futurework beyondyourthesisproblem
includecontactinfo
Preparing an effective scientific
presentation
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Preparing an Effective Scientific Presentation
Kiruthika Ragupathi
Centre for Development of Teaching and Learning (CDTL)
Copyright 2013, National University of Singapore
ACT3:
PREPARINGYOURPRESENTATION
Preparing an effective scientific presentation
Methodstopresentdata
TextSlides
Visualmedia
ChartsandTables
Drawings/diagrams
Graphicimages
Photographs
Audio/Video
Simulations
Preparing an effective scientific
presentation
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Preparing an Effective Scientific Presentation
Kiruthika Ragupathi
Centre for Development of Teaching and Learning (CDTL)
Copyright 2013, National University of Singapore
TextGuidelines
UseTextSparingly
Usereadablefonts
Usecolour foremphasis
Usecontrastingbackgroundandtext
Checkforspelling,grammar
Preparing an effective scientific
presentation
TextFormatting
Usesansseriffont
Limitthenumberoffonts
Uselargefontsize(40pt+)
Recommendedsize
Titletext:40ptsandabove
Bulletedtext:32ptsandabove
Othertext:24ptsandabove
Preparing an effective scientific
presentation
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Preparing an Effective Scientific Presentation
Kiruthika Ragupathi
Centre for Development of Teaching and Learning (CDTL)
Copyright 2013, National University of Singapore
Whichismorereadable?
THEFOURPSTHAT
CONTRIBUTETOTHE
SUCCESSFORYOUR
PRESENTATIONSAREPLAN,
PREPAREANDPRACTISE
ANDFINALLY,DELIVER
YOURPRESENTATION.THE
FIRSTTHREEOVERLAPAND
ARESEPARATEFROMTHE
ACTUALDELIVERYOFYOUR
PRESENTATION.BE
CONSCIOUSOFTHE
PURPOSEONWHATYOU
WANTTOACHIEVEBE
AWAREOFWHOYOUR
AUDIENCEAREANDYOUR
METHODONHOWBESTTO
ACCOMPLISHYOUR
PURPOSE.
ThefourPsthat
contributetothesuccess
foryourpresentationsare
plan,prepareandpractise
andfinally,deliveryour
presentation.Thefirst
threeoverlapandare
separatefromtheactual
deliveryofyour
presentation.Beconscious
ofthepurposeonwhatyou
wanttoachievebeaware
ofwhoyouraudienceare
andyourmethodonhow
besttoaccomplishyour
purpose.
ThefourPsthat
contributetothe
successforyour
presentationsareplan,
prepareandpractise and
finally,deliveryour
presentation.Thefirst
threeoverlapandare
separatefromtheactual
deliveryofyour
presentation.Be
consciousofthepurpose
onwhatyouwantto
achievebeawareofwho
youraudienceareand
yourmethodonhow
besttoaccomplishyour
purpose.
1 2 3
TextFormatting
CAPITALSHARDERTOREAD
TitleCaseFormal;HarderToType/Read
SentencecaseInformal,easyto
type/read
Italicsdifficulttoread thanregulartext
Preparing an effective scientific
presentation
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Preparing an Effective Scientific Presentation
Kiruthika Ragupathi
Centre for Development of Teaching and Learning (CDTL)
Copyright 2013, National University of Singapore
Colours
Preparing an effective scientific presentation
Can you read me?
More text here
Canyoureadme?
Moretexthere
Can you read me?
More text here
CAN YOU READ ME?
MORE TEXT HERE
Can you read me?
More text here
P
r
e
p
a
r
i
n
g

a
n

e
f
f
e
c
t
i
v
e

s
c
i
e
n
t
i
f
i
c

p
r
e
s
e
n
t
a
t
i
o
n
Backgrounds
Useappropriatebackgrounds
Avoidnoisybackgroundthatobscurestext
Usesimplethemebackgroundsthatcompliment
yourtextandimages
Preparing an effective scientific
presentation
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Preparing an Effective Scientific Presentation
Kiruthika Ragupathi
Centre for Development of Teaching and Learning (CDTL)
Copyright 2013, National University of Singapore
VisualAids
Useappropriatemediaelements
Usereadablegraphs/tables
Avoidusingpictures/soundsthatdistract
Bewareofcopyrightedmaterials
Preparing an effective scientific
presentation
Dontsayit,showit
Clarifiesandemphasiseskeypoints
Increaseimpact/understanding
Enhancelearnerattention
Helpcontrolnervousness
Morestimulating
Increasesspeakersability
Addsvarietyandcredibility
Reducesdeliverytime
Preparing an effective scientific
presentation
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Preparing an Effective Scientific Presentation
Kiruthika Ragupathi
Centre for Development of Teaching and Learning (CDTL)
Copyright 2013, National University of Singapore
Thefinalpass
Isyourpresentationstructuredwell?
Examineyourstructurecarefully
Doesyourtitleemphasisetherightthings?
Improveonthetitles
Areyourvisualsappropriate?
Improve/change,ifinappropriate
Usually,atleasthalfofthemcanbe
improved
Preparing an effective scientific
presentation
Review,ReviseandOptimise
ACT4:PRACTICE
Alwaysrehearse
Runthroughfrombeginningtoend
Cutsomecontentifyouwentovertime
Mark/selectslidesthatcanbeskipped
Prepare thenrelax
Preparing an effective scientific
presentation
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Preparing an Effective Scientific Presentation
Kiruthika Ragupathi
Centre for Development of Teaching and Learning (CDTL)
Copyright 2013, National University of Singapore
Time
Payattentiontotiming
Assigndefinedtimetoeachsegment,e.g,
Introduction(10min)
Body(30min)
Conclusion(5min)
Neverexceedallottedtime
80%ofallottedtime
Preparing an effective scientific
presentation
ACT5:
DELIVERINGYOURPRESENTATION
Tuneyourmessagetoyouraudience
Repeatthemessageoverandoveragain
throughoutthetalk
Tellthemwhatyouwilltellthem
Tellthem
Tellthemwhatyouhavetoldthem
Keepthecontentofthetalkfocusedonthe
centralmessage
Preparing an effective scientific
presentation
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Preparing an Effective Scientific Presentation
Kiruthika Ragupathi
Centre for Development of Teaching and Learning (CDTL)
Copyright 2013, National University of Singapore
TipsforDelivery
Startingoutisthehardestpartofthetalk
Dontapologizeormakecommentsabout
yourself
Beenthusiastic
Alwaysgivepropercredit
Avoidblockingtheaudienceview
Figureoutwhichslideisyourhalfwaymark
andusethattocheckyourtime
Preparing an effective scientific
presentation
Foranoralpresentation
Enthusiasm
Voicecontrol
Eyecontact
Posturesandgestures
Nervousness
Laserpointer
Preparing an effective scientific
presentation
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Preparing an Effective Scientific Presentation
Kiruthika Ragupathi
Centre for Development of Teaching and Learning (CDTL)
Copyright 2013, National University of Singapore
Foraposterpresentation
Frequentmistakestoavoid
Nopresenterpresent
Unclear/inappropriatestructure
Informationoverload
Poorillustrations
Preparing an effective scientific
presentation
Closing
Bebriefandconcise
Relatebacktothespecificobjectives
Avoidallirrelevantdetails
Preparing an effective scientific
presentation
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Preparing an Effective Scientific Presentation
Kiruthika Ragupathi
Centre for Development of Teaching and Learning (CDTL)
Copyright 2013, National University of Singapore
SAMPLES/EXAMPLES
Preparing an effective scientific
presentation
ConferenceTalk(1520min)
Title/author/affiliation(1slide)
Outline(1slide)
Introduction/Background
MotivationandProblemStatement(12slides)
RelatedWork(1slide)
Methods(1slide)
Results(46slides)
Summary(1slide)
FutureWork(1slide)
BackupSlides
Preparing an effective scientific
presentation
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Preparing an Effective Scientific Presentation
Kiruthika Ragupathi
Centre for Development of Teaching and Learning (CDTL)
Copyright 2013, National University of Singapore
Formallecture
Opening
Startwithanoutline,Neverstartwithajoke
Attentiongetter
Focusoncentral,excitingconcept
Maincontent
Oneparagraphoverview
Example
Putdemosattheend
Closing
stopwhendone!
Saythankyou
Preparing an effective scientific
presentation
Sampleposter
Preparing an effective scientific
presentation
TITLEINBOLD,96POINTS
Subtitle
Name,Affiliation
Abstract
Summarise in23
sentences
Introduction
Background
information
ResultsandDiscussion
Usetables,figures,charts
MaterialsandMethods Conclusion
Brief&concise
References
Textreadings
credits
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Preparing an Effective Scientific Presentation
Kiruthika Ragupathi
Centre for Development of Teaching and Learning (CDTL)
Copyright 2013, National University of Singapore
Handlingquestions
Anticipatequestions alistof
previouslyaskedquestions
Repeatthequestion
Dontworryaboutstoppingto
think
Bepolite&gracious
Answerbriefly
Defercontentious
conversations
Preparing an effective scientific
presentation
Takehomemessages(Dos)
Allowplentyoftimetoprepareyourtalk
Practice!
Knowyouraudience
Useappropriategraphics
Clarity,clarity,clarity
Keeptoyourtime
Bepersonableintakingquestions
Enjoyandlearnfromyourmistakes
Preparing an effective scientific
presentation
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Preparing an Effective Scientific Presentation
Kiruthika Ragupathi
Centre for Development of Teaching and Learning (CDTL)
Copyright 2013, National University of Singapore
Takehomemessages(Donts)
Dontputintoomuchmaterial
Dontwastetimeatthestart
Dontblocktheslidesduringthetalk
Avoidusingtoomanyequations
Avoidmakingdistractingsounds
Preparing an effective scientific
presentation
Questions?
Preparing an effective scientific
presentation
Thank you
kiruthika@nus.edu.sg
Resources for Students
Workshop Presentations
Preparing an effective scientific presentation
http://www.cdtl.nus.edu.sg/student/scientific-presentation.pdf