Accessibility
For in-person sessions, we encourage you to use the PowerPoint or Google Slides caption feature. See the guides below for more details.
Also, consider that some participants might have vision issues. If any components of your presentation require participants to be able to analyze images, consider having an alternative or putting participants in groups where other group members can provide a visual description of the image for their colleagues.
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 and Delivery
- Introduce yourself. Sometimes, in a 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.