The Art of Presentation is...
Source: 99% Invisible Podcast
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------This week's reading is based off of:
Chris Dede. "Theoretical Perspective Influencing the Use of Information Technology in Teaching and Learning" International Handbook of Information Technology in Primary and Secondary Education, 43–62. Springer Science.
Atkinson & Mayer (2004) "Five ways to reduce the PowerPoint overload"
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Design and storyboarding is a fascinating topic (especially hidden design of everyday objects; see 99% Invisible podcast). Good design is undetectable and is intuitive for the user but is painstakingly difficult to achieve. What makes a good presentation is all the decisions and thinking the audience doesn't see, but will appreciate. I would like to share a few things I've learned in my side-quests to find the ultimate presentation techniques in hopes that they may help someone. And please, feel free to add your own tips! A quick disclaimer though- I come from the STEM side of things, but I would be curious to know if similar concepts could be applied in the HFA and SS fields.
I'm sure we've all seen the pitfalls of PowerPoint: cluttered slides, tiny fonts, blurry images, outrageous animations, terrible animations, content that is skipped over without explanation. However, these can all be avoided through two things- planning and practice. Planning is perhaps the biggest factor for what makes a good presentation. One of the most helpful things I learned was from a seminar from Jean-luc Doumont, an engineering PhD turned instructor and invited speaker on all-things related to designing clean and clear presentations. (Side note: He occasionally comes to the UCSB campus to give such seminars.) Basically, plan the story of the presentation outside the medium of the presentation. This could be on a piece of paper, using sticky-notes, or using a storyboard but the point is to move away from the implicit constrains of thinking slide-by-slide and to think more big picture. Having a big picture makes sure every slide, every image, every word has a purpose (does it build the big picture?). The hope is that the speaker does not fall into being an accessory to the presentation, but rather the presentation is a tool for the speaker. From personal experience, this has changed the way I approach presentations and I feel it has really helped me hone in what is relevant and what is not relevant in a presentation. But I'd like to know your thoughts as well! Would this be a useful technique for you to build presentations?
The second tip is practice, practice, practice. The first run is never that great, the second run is better, and by the third run, you have a rhythm. I attended a workshop offered by Grad Div that aimed to teach theatre techniques to graduate students in STEM. At first, I'll admit I was a bit skeptical, but towards the end it was really fun. We re-enacted an excerpt from (I think) Henry V and added interpretive movements. I think the exercise really connected what you're thinking of next to say with your body and voice, and connecting these three are what truly makes an engaging speaker. This naturally requires forethought and, most importantly, practice. While I won't be doing dramatic pauses or fake-sword-fighting gestures in my own presentations, I think the lessons of unifying all types of visual and audio media (including yourself) are important. What are your thoughts?
And unrelated but highly enjoyable to watch, to help prep for speaking:
From whence the "Wonder Woman" pose for confidence came.
Atkinson & Mayer (2004) "Five ways to reduce the PowerPoint overload"
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Design and storyboarding is a fascinating topic (especially hidden design of everyday objects; see 99% Invisible podcast). Good design is undetectable and is intuitive for the user but is painstakingly difficult to achieve. What makes a good presentation is all the decisions and thinking the audience doesn't see, but will appreciate. I would like to share a few things I've learned in my side-quests to find the ultimate presentation techniques in hopes that they may help someone. And please, feel free to add your own tips! A quick disclaimer though- I come from the STEM side of things, but I would be curious to know if similar concepts could be applied in the HFA and SS fields.
I'm sure we've all seen the pitfalls of PowerPoint: cluttered slides, tiny fonts, blurry images, outrageous animations, terrible animations, content that is skipped over without explanation. However, these can all be avoided through two things- planning and practice. Planning is perhaps the biggest factor for what makes a good presentation. One of the most helpful things I learned was from a seminar from Jean-luc Doumont, an engineering PhD turned instructor and invited speaker on all-things related to designing clean and clear presentations. (Side note: He occasionally comes to the UCSB campus to give such seminars.) Basically, plan the story of the presentation outside the medium of the presentation. This could be on a piece of paper, using sticky-notes, or using a storyboard but the point is to move away from the implicit constrains of thinking slide-by-slide and to think more big picture. Having a big picture makes sure every slide, every image, every word has a purpose (does it build the big picture?). The hope is that the speaker does not fall into being an accessory to the presentation, but rather the presentation is a tool for the speaker. From personal experience, this has changed the way I approach presentations and I feel it has really helped me hone in what is relevant and what is not relevant in a presentation. But I'd like to know your thoughts as well! Would this be a useful technique for you to build presentations?
The second tip is practice, practice, practice. The first run is never that great, the second run is better, and by the third run, you have a rhythm. I attended a workshop offered by Grad Div that aimed to teach theatre techniques to graduate students in STEM. At first, I'll admit I was a bit skeptical, but towards the end it was really fun. We re-enacted an excerpt from (I think) Henry V and added interpretive movements. I think the exercise really connected what you're thinking of next to say with your body and voice, and connecting these three are what truly makes an engaging speaker. This naturally requires forethought and, most importantly, practice. While I won't be doing dramatic pauses or fake-sword-fighting gestures in my own presentations, I think the lessons of unifying all types of visual and audio media (including yourself) are important. What are your thoughts?
And unrelated but highly enjoyable to watch, to help prep for speaking:
From whence the "Wonder Woman" pose for confidence came.
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| Your body language shapes who you are |
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