Tips, Tricks, and Strategies for Superior Platform and Poster Presentations

1. Tips, Tricks, and Strategies for Superior Platform and Poster Presentations Platform Presentations Ryan E. Casey Towson University

2. So you have to give a presentation…. Platform Presentations

3. Purpose • “Battle Plan” • How to mentally and physically approach giving a presentation • Get audience to Stop, Look, and Listen Platform Presentations

4. Getting Your Audience to Stop, Look, and Listen • Know Your Audience • Know Your Surroundings • Know Your Tools • Know Yourself Platform Presentations

5. Three Phases of a Presentation • Preparation • Turning Thoughts into Slides • Pre-Game • Practice and Gaining Control • Presentation • Delivery of the Message Platform Presentations

6. Preparation • Power Question • Who is my target audience? • Key to presenting “Relationship” Platform Presentations

7. Knowing Your Audience • Gives direction as to the • the type presentation (formal or informal?) • identify time constraints or other limiting factors? • Design presentation (take home message) Platform Presentations

8. Turning Thoughts into Slides • Two methods • Write a formal paper in speech format • Develop an outline • In either case, remember the “circle” Platform Presentations

9. Design • Think “circle.” Intro Body Conclusion Platform Presentations

10. Knowing Your Tools • Slides • text, fonts, and colors • pictures and animation • tables and graphs • Your voice Platform Presentations

11. Purpose of Slide • Reinforce “circle” design • Visual cue for speaker • Visual cue for audience • Serves as a road map • Make the map easy to follow • “KISS” Principle (Keep it Simple …) Platform Presentations

12. Mechanics of Making Slides • Don’t overload with text • Keep points short • Highlight important text • Fontsarereasonablesize! • Colors • Can be seen clearly and do not clash with background Platform Presentations

13. Pictures and Animation • Illustrate concepts with photographs • Description of field sites • Laboratory design • Be careful not to give a slide show • Be creative and use animation Platform Presentations

14. vs. Sorption Isotherm Procedure Sorption Isotherm Procedure • Phosphorus sorption isotherms were generated in 50 mL centrifuge tubes by equilibrating the initial solution with a soil sample. • After equilibration, phosphorus was quantified in both media Platform Presentations

15. Tables and Graphs • Great Idea • A picture is worth a thousand words • Label all items • Define Acronyms Platform Presentations

16. Platform Presentations

17. Most Important Slides • Title Slide • Who are you and where are you from? • Who are your co-authors? • Topics to Be Discussed • Conclusions • Acknowledgements • Thank funding sources • Thank technical support personnel Platform Presentations

18. Preparation Phase Complete • Presentation is written • Slides or Overheads are prepared • NOW WHAT?? Platform Presentations

19. Pre-Game Phase • #1 Rule Before Presentation Practice, Practice, Practice, Practice, Practice, Practice, Practice, Practice, Practice, Practice Platform Presentations

20. Get to Know Yourself…Practice! • Timing, pace, volume and tone • Using our voice • emphasizing important points • enunciating • Being confident Platform Presentations

21. How we say it Vs. Saying it • Verbal Element (actual spoken words) -7% • Non-Verbal Element (body language) - 38% • Para-Verbal Element (volume and rate) - 55% Platform Presentations

22. Practice Out Loud • Where to practice? • in front of a mirror • speaking into a tape recorder • at your computer screen • to an empty room • bribe a friend • Practice at least 3 times. No Less. Platform Presentations

23. Presentation Phase • Things you can do to ensure your audience enjoys your presentation • know your comfort level • know your skill level • know your surroundings Platform Presentations

24. Know Your Comfort Level • Feeling nervous is Natural • Remember to • plant your feet but keep your knees bent • make eye contact with your audience • speak slowly • BREATHE!! Platform Presentations

25. Know Your Skill Level • Be aware of distracting foes • take change out of your pockets • put that rubber band or pencil down • it’s a laser point not a crowd control device • Are you forgetful? • Use notes but be discrete Platform Presentations

26. Know Your Surroundings • Find room early • Take notes • Size • Podium location • Microphone • Lights (for reading notes or distracting light) • Identify distracting features Platform Presentations

27. Gaining Control • Things to remember • You’re the boss • Identify the things you can change to make you feel more comfortable and • Don’t worry about things you can’t change Platform Presentations

28. Keys to a Successful Presentation • Remember the “Battle Plan” • Preparation • Pre-game • Presentation Platform Presentations

29. Getting Your Audience to Stop, Look, and Listen • Know Yourself • Know Your Audience • Know Your Surroundings • Know Your Tools Platform Presentations

30. Evaluating Slides • What is the important information? • Does my slide communicate this information? • Does extraneous material distract from the communication? Platform Presentations

31. Pee Dee Pore/Bulk Results 500 400 300 Denitrification 200 100 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Core Number Denitrification in Matched Macropore/Bulk Soil Samples from the Pee Dee Site Platform Presentations

32. 500 ** * 400 Bulk -1 h ** -1 Pore 300 O-N kg Denitrification 200 * 2 ug N 100 ** 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Core Number Denitrification is Elevated in Macropores from Matched Pee Dee Macropore/Bulk Soil Samples Platform Presentations

33. Simplified Nitrogen Cycle Atmosphere N2 Fixation Decomposition Aquatic Terrestrial Aerobic Assimilation OrgN NH3 Nitrification NO3- NO2- Aquatic Terrestrial Anaerobic Denitrification NO3- NO2- N2O N2 Platform Presentations

34. Evaluation of Nitrogen Control Strategies on Golf Courses • Constructed wetlands • Alternative fertilizer application practices • Subsurface denitrification systems Platform Presentations

35. Slide Techniques Specific to Computer Projected Presentations • Animation • A great opportunity for enhancement • A great danger for distraction Platform Presentations

36. Maximum Slope Area Platform Presentations

37. Recommendations to Turf Managers Modification of N applications • Apply less material • Use slow release forms of N • Slow release N is less soluble (sulfur coated urea, composted organic N) • Higher assimilation efficiency in turf Platform Presentations

38. Recommendations to Turf Managers Modification of N applications • Apply less material • Use slow release forms of N • Slow release N is less soluble (sulfur coated urea, composted organic N) • Higher assimilation efficiency in turf Platform Presentations

39. Wrapping it all up… • Don’t lose your audience! • Evaluate your presentations, overall and piece by piece • What is the important information? • Does the slide/poster segment/presentation communicate this information? • Is there extraneous material that detracts from the communication Platform Presentations

40. HAVE FUN!! Platform Presentations

41. Acknowledgements • Wendy Kuhne, Colorado State University • Mrs. Mimi Meredith, Wordsmiths • Dr. Bruce C. Thompson, US Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division, New Mexico Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Las Cruces, New Mexico • Ms. Julie Seton, New Mexico State University, Department of English, Las Cruces, New Mexico Platform Presentations