Presentation skills

1. Presentation skills • Presenting information to people verbally is a significant part of being a kinesiologist and hence in your degree we require you to practice this skill. • Given are the main skills for verbal presentation and use of power-point and overheads.

2. Preparation/practice • Know the needs of your audience and match your contents to their needs. • Know your material thoroughly. • Put what you have to say in a logical sequence • Ensure your speech will be captivating to your audience as well as worth their time and attention.

3. Preparation/practice • Practice and rehearse your speech at home. • Practice on your family, friends or colleagues. • Use a tape-recorder and listen to yourself. • Videotape your presentation and analyze it.

4. Introduction • Begin with something clear and engaging. • When you are presenting in front of an audience, how you are being perceived is very important. • Dress appropriately for the occasion. • Be solemn if your topic is serious. • Present the desired image to your audience. Look pleasant, enthusiastic, and confident.

5. General presentation points • Speak slowly, enunciate clearly, and show appropriate emotion and feeling relating to your topic. • Establish rapport with your audience. • Speak to the person farthest away from you to ensure your voice is loud enough to project to the back of the room. • Vary the tone of your voice and dramatize if necessary.

6. Presenting using power point • Our brain can not absorb information verbally and visually at the same time. • Therefore, either listen or view but do not do both simultaneously. • A suggestion is use the slides for pictures that complement your presentation but while you are speaking, change to blank slides

7. Effective PowerPoint Presentations • Fonts • Graphics and Design • Colour • General Presentation

8. Fonts • Select sans-serif fonts such as Arial or Helvetica. Avoid serif fonts such as Times New Roman or Palatino as they are sometimes more difficult to read. • Use no font size smaller than 24 point. • Clearly label each screen. Use a larger font (35-45 points) or different color for the title. • Use a single sans-serif font for most of the presentation. Use different colors, sizes and styles (bold, underline) for impact.

9. Fonts • Avoid italicized fonts as they are difficult to read quickly. • No more than 6-8 words per line • For bullet points, use the 6 x 6 Rule. One thought per line with no more than 6 words per line and no more than 6 lines per slide • Use dark text on light background or light text on dark background. However, dark backgrounds sometimes make it difficult for some people to read the text. • Do not use all caps except for titles. • To test the font, stand back six feet from the monitor and see if you can read the slide.

10. Graphics and Design • Keep the background consistent and subtle. • Use only enough text when using charts or graphs to explain clearly label the graphic. • Keep the design clean and uncluttered. Leave empty space around the text and graphics • Use quality clipart and use it sparingly. The graphic should relate to and enhance the topic of the slide.

11. Graphics and Design • Try to use the same style graphics throughout the presentation (e.g. cartoon, photographs) • Limit the number of graphics on each slide. • Check all graphics on a projection screen before the actual presentation. • Avoid flashy graphics and noisy animation effects unless they relate directly to the slide. • Limit the number of transitions used. It is often better to use only one so the audience knows what to expect.

12. Colours • Limit the number of colours on a single screen. • Bright colours make small objects and thin lines stand out. However, some vibrant colours are difficult to read when projected. • Use no more than four colours on one chart. • Check all colours on a projection screen before the actual presentation. They may project differently than what appears on the monitor.

13. General Presentation • Check the spelling and grammar. • Do not read the presentation. Practice the presentation so you can speak from bullet points. The text should be a cue for the presenter rather than a message for the viewer. • Give a brief overview at the start. Then present the information. Finally review important points. • It is often more effective to have bulleted points appear one at a time so the audience listens to the presenter rather than reading the screen.

14. General Presentation • Use a wireless mouse or pick up the wired mouse so you can move around as you speak. • If sound effects are used, wait until the sound has finished before speaking. • If the content is complex, print out the slides so the audience can take notes. • Do not turn your back on the audience. Try to position the monitor so you can speak from it.