Recommendations for Presenters

Ideas

•  Innovative use of a technology tool in traditional, hybrid, online courses
•  Course redesign ideas, process, story, lessons learned
•  Adaptive learning
•  Social media in instruction
•  ePortfolios
•  Mobile Learning
•  Flipping the classroom
•  Big Data / Data Analytics
•  Active Learning in Online/Hybrid Courses
•  Learning Communities
•  Student engagement strategies
•  Creative student assessments
•  Learning Spaces

Session Design

• Design your presentation around your proposal. Ensure that the presentation you plan to deliver matches the goals of your proposal and audience expectations.
• Build in interactivity. Within 10 minutes, your audience may begin drifting. Keep them engaged with active learning methods.
• Fewer slides, less text. The audience is there to see you! Make fewer (but impactful) slides to hold their attention. Use less text to refrain from "reading the slides".
• Don't try to teach too much material. Time flies when you're in the spotlight! Pace your presentation at a comfortable rate and leave time for questions, especially if presenting a workshop.
• Practice. Go over your presentation with a peer or colleague. Even a simple walkthrough could highlight something you missed or a flaw in the design.
• Create key takeaways. Provide resources for further exploration; these might be handouts, a bundle of Web links, and/or an activity for the audience to try in their class.

Presentation & Delivery

• Introduce Yourself. Sometimes, in the hurry to get the session underway, we forget the little things.
• Speak conversationally. You are the guide of the session. Help the audience feel welcome.
• Pause for questions... Presenters often do not leave enough "awkward silence" to warrant an audience member to ask their question or give a response. Don't be afraid of the silence.
• Stay on topic. If you begin to shift to topics other than your session's goal, guide the conversation back to the purpose.
• Respect the time. Be aware of how much time you've been allotted and keep track of it; if your session goes past the limit, offer to continue it outside the room.
• Bring it full circle. Near the end of the session, remind the audience what they came to learn and highlight the themes of the session.

Frequenty Asked Questions

Q: What technology will be available to presenters?
A: Each room will have a computer workstation, a projector with VGA connection, and wireless/wired internet.

Q: What is the best way to bring my presentation?
A: Bring a USB drive with the presentation on it; as a backup, please also upload it to a cloud storage option like Google Drive, SkyDrive, or Dropbox.

Q: What if my presentation requires special equipment?
A: Please contact Keeta Holmes at holmeskm@umsl.edu to get individualized help.

Q: What else do I need to know?
A: If your presentation has handouts, please remember to print them before arriving to campus. 

 

_{Adapted from EDUCAUSE Recommendations for Designing an Effective Presentation}

Past FTTC Programs

2013 Focus on Teaching and Technology Conference

2012 Focus on Teaching and Technology Conference

2011 Focus on Teaching and Technology Conference

2010 Focus on Teaching and Technology Conference

2009 Focus on Teaching and Technology Conference

2008 Focus on Teaching and Technology Conference