Presentation Room. Check the online program for the room information and check the location on the Floor Map.
Presentation Time. Check the online program for the start and end time for your presentation. Please do not start your presentation until the designated time (even if the previous presenter is not there) because some people will be coming specifically to see your presentation at the designated time. Unless otherwise noted, your session time includes the time for set up, presentation, questions, and tear down. (Consider communicating with other presenters in your session to share a laptop.) As a professional courtesy to other presenters and audience, do not start setting up before your time or exceed the time allotted to you. There will be no session chairs or time keepers.
Presentation Technology. Information TBA.
Internet Access. Eduroam (secure) is available. Here is the eduroam information provided by UA. Although the Internet is available, do not count on it during your presentation. Use screenshots or screen recording instead. With advanced planning and skills, pre-planned sessions can be more effective than live demonstrations.
Adapters and Cables. Bring your own A/V adapters (aka dongles).
Printing and Copying Facility. Information TBA.
Paul’s Pro Tip. Here are some tips from Paul for professional presentation:
Before the presentation:
- If you plan to speak for 20 minutes, prepare a 15 minute presentation. The actual presentation usually takes longer than the practice run.
- Do not expect live Internet connection to work. Instead, use screen shots or downloaded videos.
- Test the equipment well before your presentation. You can do so before the first session in the morning, during breaks, or after the last session of the day.
- Arrive early (without disrupting the ongoing presentation) and have all the equipment and adapters in hand and connected so the only remaining step is to connect to the HDMI/VGA cables. Store everything else in one bag.
- Ensure your laptop/tablet has sufficient battery power, and sleep/hybernation mode is turned off.
During the presentation:
- If you have printed handouts, ask SSLW Assistants or the audience to help distribute them while you set up the equipment.
- Show the title page (with the title of your presentation, your name, institutional affiliation, and contact information, and maybe a short link or QR code for handouts) on the screen at the beginning and end of your presentation.
- If you use a presentation software, be sure to enter the presentation mode, and do not exit the presentation mode at the end of the presentation. When you are not using the slides actively, show the title page or use a black screen. (For PowerPoint, just hit “B” for blank.)
- If you want to temporarily turn off the screen, enter the presentation mode on PowerPoint, and hit B for black screen. No matter what happens, do not turn off the projector (it may take some time to restart) or cover the lens with a piece of paper (fire hazard).
- Don’t try to say everything you know. Just focus on a few key points, each with one or two best examples or illustrations. You can elaborate during the Q&A session.
- Don’t waste time on a predictable outline (introduction, method, results, discussion) or extensive lit review (unless your presentation is a review/synthesis).
- Also don’t waste time by flashing the bibliography on the screen (unless you can give people the time to at least take a picture). Instead, prepare a handout, provide a short URL/QR code on the last screen with a link to your bibliography, or offer to provide it upon request.
At the end of the presentation:
- If you run out of time, stop the presentation immediately and let the next presenter start setting up. There is no excuse for poor planning.
- If people want to ask questions afterwards, ask them to wait outside the room, gather your personal equipment, and leave the room to continue the conversation.
Microphone use:
- For handheld microphones: Hold the microphone slightly below your mouth (not directly in front of the mouth), pointing at the mouth at an angle. If you hold the microphone directly in front of the mouth, it will “pop” when you make plosive (b/p) sounds.
- For pin microphones: Clip it in the middle of your body just under your neck. If you have to hold the microphone, position it slightly below your mouth. Do not cover the holes.
- For all microphones: Listen to your own voice and adjust the volume by changing the distance from your mouth. Do not stand directly in front of or under a speaker (to avoid the feedback loop). If the feedback loop starts, hide the microphone from the speaker and step aside.
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