September+17

The information below is paraphrased from our first discussion as a group.
 * Future Discussion Opportunities**

... determine how much information to put on a PPT screen? ... develop an order the material within the PPT? ... remain natural with body language without over-doing it? (i.e., pointing at the screen, pacing, etc.) ... become comfortable with the technology? (i.e., clickers, LCD projector, software, computer) ... determine when comfortable is too comfortable? professional is too still? casual is too casual? ... figure out how much time should one take to prepare for a presentation? ... stay within time constraints? ... balance over-rehearsed vs. not rehearsed? ... overcoming silence without distracting fillers? "um," "ah," etc. ... maintain a good communication level? (i.e., trailing off at the end of sentences, using acronyms, etc.) ... introduce potentially controversial new ideas/programs to the audience/participants? ... bridge academic and/or general audiences? ... create a good team communication style for group presentations? ... know the material without reading it off of slides/notes? ... determine the amount of information without being too broad or not being deep enough?
 * How do we...**


 * Presenter challenges and nightmares:**
 * reading directly from PPT
 * looking directly at PPT and not making eye contact with audience
 * getting lost in PPT ordering -- the clicker forwards too far, or it accidently goes backwards
 * creating a PPT which is not accessibility (i.e., colors of slides -- red font on black background, black on red, black on dark blues, etc.)
 * recognizing the technology/presentation does not work at the facility
 * having no back-up plans
 * adjusting/adapting communication style to the type of audience (i.e., acronyms, ego, cannot connect with audience)
 * presenting in too small or too large of facility for the number of participants attending the program/lecture/presentation

> > Remember, today we talked about ideas like balance, proportion, white space, formatting, color contrast, font size, and paying attention to small details. We also talked about the importance of ‘story’ or ‘message’: //What is this slide / poster / presenter trying to say? What is the viewer / listener supposed to be taking away from this? What gets in the way of the story or message?// And, of course, we recognized that we already know a lot about what makes a good or bad presentation from our own experiences, both presenting and watching others present.
 * Email from Scott -- Assignments for next time:**
 * 1) **Our wiki.** We now have a wiki. Check it out! |http://effectivepresentations. wikispaces.com/ The wiki includes the members of our group, our schedule (and meeting locations) for the year, and useful resources.
 * 2) **Establishing a baseline.** In the next few days, send me (Scott McLeod) a presentation that you want to make better this year. This will be VERSION 1.
 * 3) **First ‘assignment.’** AFTER you send me the presentation, use some of the design principles that we talked about today to make a VERSION 2 of your presentation. Send me that presentation right before our next meeting.
 * 1) **Look around.** Start looking around ISU, in restaurants and stores, at home, on the street, in public areas, etc. What do you see that exemplifies good layout and design choices? What doesn’t? The more you’re cognizant of the design issues that are occurring around you, the better designer you’ll be for your own presentations.
 * 2) **Bring your laptop.** If you have a laptop, please bring it to our next session along with VERSION 2 of your presentation. We’re going to play with drawing tools a bit.
 * 3) **Next session:** October 8, 9:00am, N21-E Lagomarcino.