Presenting for Impact
May 22, 2009
AACE
George Siemens

Overview, idea relatedness, and
transition

Preparing Interacting
• Message • Clear
• Research • Flow • Concise • Questions
• Visuals • Follow up
Planning Presenting

Preparing Interacting
• Message • Clear
• Research • Flow • Concise • Questions
• Visuals • Follow up
Planning Presenting

Planning

What do you want to communicate?

Why is your message
important?

What should listeners do as a result of
your research/message?

Preparing

Presenting vs. Providing resources

Sequencing & Flow
argument
your
build

Telling stories? Metaphors?

Tables/data
Consider wikis/Google docs for complex tables
and data

Poor table
Lots of columns Small text No colour Important concepts Lots of
not highlighted numbers
More of the same Difficult to read All black text Text flows from one 4563
And so on Especially in All black text Element to the next +/- 0.687
poorly lit rooms
And so on Too much info All black text A simple arrow or <02368
colour
Until viewers Important ideas (remember what Change can go a long >095474
sanity will not be that does to way
noticed Jack?)
Is questioned You are the 25 All black text I’m running out of 463.906
presenter things to say here
And then more They have seen All black text Image reading this on a N=lots
in the last two screen?
days
Data and Why is your work All black text Not sure if anyone, 98.09
information important? other than the speaker
Eyes are blurring More text All black text Can make sense of this 4567

Effective table
Clear text Variation in colour Attention on
important findings
Large columns Don’t over do it...but a Clear explanation of what
bit of variety is good. the numbers mean
Large font
This is important Research shows...

http://www.physics.csbsju.edu/stats/display.html

Images
Gliffy
PowerPoint Images should
add to, not
Flickr detract from,
your message
iStockPhoto
Don’t over due it...don’t go for
“cutesy”

Text size
• Certain things can be very difficult to read
• Especially when in a large room with small screen
• Text and background colour are important
• Too many points on a slide are a challenge
• What you put on a slide does not need to be read from the
podium (unless it’s a really important quote)
• Your viewers eyes will start to glaze over if they see too
many of these slides
• You think your research is important and you want to make
sure that you don’t forget any vital elements. Putting them
all up on a slide, however, is not the way to do it
• Yellow is tough to read

Rehearsing
Mirror
With a colleague/friend
With the technology

Confirm what you need
Internet connection
Speakers
Room layout
Lighting
Screen location

Presenting

Arriving early
Right room, right time
Dealing with nervousness (your audience
WANTS you to succeed)

Transitioning from previous speaker
Flash drive?
Advance slides?
Load media?

Using multimedia
Expect it to fail. What will you do if it does?

Backup plan
How will you share your research/deliver your
presentation if everything goes wrong?

Interacting

Responding to questions
Write down questions
Repeat if unsure
Offer to follow up if unable to answer

Follow up
Collect cards/email addresses
Presentations=networking opportunities

Staying on task and on time
Timing presentation and Q & A
NEVER go overtime

Join Toastmasters
Follow speaker lists/blogs
Observe & learn from other presenters

Tools
Jing
Wikis
Slideshare
Audacity or handheld recorder

Managing your expectations
Numbers in attendance
Audience interaction
Now what?
Reflecting and improving

Resources
http://blogs.aace.org/edmedia/
http://delicious.com/gsiemens/ed-media
http://www.slideshare.net/gsiemens