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

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

Poster PresentationsPoster Presentations

Platform PresentationsPlatform Presentations

Ryan E. CaseyRyan E. CaseyTowson UniversityTowson University

Platform Presentations 2

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

So you have to give a So you have to give a presentation….presentation….



PurposePurpose

““Battle Plan” Battle Plan”

– How to mentally and physically approach giving a How to mentally and physically approach giving a presentationpresentation

– Get audience to Stop, Look, and ListenGet audience to Stop, Look, and Listen



Getting Your Audience to Stop, Look, Getting Your Audience to Stop, Look, and Listenand Listen

Know Your AudienceKnow Your Audience

Know Your SurroundingsKnow Your Surroundings

Know Your ToolsKnow Your Tools

Know YourselfKnow Yourself



Three Phases of a PresentationThree Phases of a Presentation

PreparationPreparation– Turning Thoughts into SlidesTurning Thoughts into Slides

Pre-GamePre-Game– Practice and Gaining Control Practice and Gaining Control

PresentationPresentation– Delivery of the MessageDelivery of the Message



PreparationPreparation

Power QuestionPower Question

– Who is my target audience?Who is my target audience?

– Key to presentingKey to presenting

“ “Relationship”Relationship”



Knowing Your AudienceKnowing Your Audience

Gives direction as to the Gives direction as to the

– the type presentation (formal or informal?)the type presentation (formal or informal?)

– identify time constraints or other limiting factors?identify time constraints or other limiting factors?

– Design presentation (Design presentation (take home messagetake home message))



Turning Thoughts into SlidesTurning Thoughts into Slides

Two methodsTwo methods

– Write a formal paper in speech formatWrite a formal paper in speech format

– Develop an outlineDevelop an outline

In either case, remember the “circle”In either case, remember the “circle”



DesignDesign

Think “circle.”Think “circle.”

Intro

Body

Conclusion



Knowing Your ToolsKnowing Your Tools

SlidesSlides

– text, fonts, and colorstext, fonts, and colors

– pictures and animationpictures and animation

– tables and graphstables and graphs

Your voiceYour voice



Purpose of SlidePurpose of Slide

Reinforce “circle” designReinforce “circle” design

– Visual cue for speakerVisual cue for speaker

– Visual cue for audienceVisual cue for audience

• Serves as a road mapServes as a road map

• Make the map easy to follow Make the map easy to follow

• ““KISS” Principle KISS” Principle (Keep it Simple …)(Keep it Simple …)



Mechanics of Making SlidesMechanics of Making Slides

Don’t overload with textDon’t overload with text

– Keep points short Keep points short

– Highlight important textHighlight important text

FontsFonts areare reasonablereasonable sizesize!! CCoolloorrss

– Can be seen Can be seen clearly clearly and do not and do not clash clash with with backgroundbackground



Pictures and AnimationPictures and Animation

Illustrate concepts with photographsIllustrate concepts with photographs

– Description of field sitesDescription of field sites

– Laboratory designLaboratory design

Be careful not to give a slide showBe careful not to give a slide show

Be creative and use animationBe creative and use animation



vs.Sorption Isotherm

ProcedureSorption 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



Tables and GraphsTables and Graphs

Great Idea Great Idea

– A picture is worth a thousand wordsA picture is worth a thousand words

Label all itemsLabel all items

Define AcronymsDefine Acronyms


Tips, Tricks, and Strategies for Superior Platform and Poster PresentationsAudience Excitement Due to Legible

Graphs

00.20.40.60.8

1

0 2 4 6 8 10

Excitement Index

Leg

ibili

ty

Audience Interest as a Function of Graph Clarity

0123456789

10

0 20 40 60 80 100

Confusing Graph Factor

Au

die

nce

Inte

rest

-20

0

20

40

60

80

100

120



Most Important SlidesMost Important Slides

Title SlideTitle Slide

– Who are you and where are you from? Who are you and where are you from?

– Who are your co-authors?Who are your co-authors?

Topics to Be DiscussedTopics to Be Discussed

ConclusionsConclusions

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

– Thank funding sourcesThank funding sources

– Thank technical support personnelThank technical support personnel



Preparation Phase CompletePreparation Phase Complete

Presentation is written Presentation is written

Slides or Overheads are preparedSlides or Overheads are prepared

NOW WHAT?? NOW WHAT??



Pre-Game PhasePre-Game Phase

#1 Rule Before Presentation#1 Rule Before Presentation

Practice, Practice, Practice, Practice, Practice, Practice, Practice, Practice, Practice, Practice, Practice, Practice, Practice, Practice,

Practice, Practice,Practice, Practice,

PracticePractice



Get to Know Yourself…Practice!Get to Know Yourself…Practice!

Timing, pace, volume and toneTiming, pace, volume and tone

Using our voice Using our voice

– emphasizing important pointsemphasizing important points

– enunciatingenunciating

Being confidentBeing confident



How we say it Vs. Saying itHow we say it Vs. Saying it

Verbal Element (actual spoken words) -Verbal Element (actual spoken words) - 7%7%

Non-Verbal Element (body language) - 38%Non-Verbal Element (body language) - 38%

Para-Verbal ElementPara-Verbal Element (volume and rate) - (volume and rate) - 55%55%



Practice Out LoudPractice Out Loud

Where to practice?Where to practice?

– in front of a mirrorin front of a mirror

– speaking into a tape recorderspeaking into a tape recorder

– at your computer screenat your computer screen

– to an empty room to an empty room

– bribe a friendbribe a friend

Practice Practice at least 3 timesat least 3 times. No Less.. No Less.



Presentation PhasePresentation Phase Things you can do to ensure your audience Things you can do to ensure your audience

enjoys your presentationenjoys your presentation

– know your comfort levelknow your comfort level

– know your skill levelknow your skill level

– know your surroundingsknow your surroundings



Know Your Comfort LevelKnow Your Comfort Level

Feeling nervous is Natural Feeling nervous is Natural

Remember to Remember to

– plant your feet but keep your knees bentplant your feet but keep your knees bent

– make eye contact with your audiencemake eye contact with your audience

– speak slowly speak slowly

– BREATHE!!BREATHE!!



Know Your Skill LevelKnow Your Skill Level

Be aware of distracting foesBe aware of distracting foes

– take change out of your pocketstake change out of your pockets

– put that rubber band or pencil downput that rubber band or pencil down

– it’s a laser point not a crowd control device it’s a laser point not a crowd control device

Are you forgetful?Are you forgetful?

– Use notes but be discreteUse notes but be discrete




Find room earlyFind room early

Take notesTake notes

– SizeSize

– Podium locationPodium location

– MicrophoneMicrophone

– Lights Lights (for reading notes or distracting light)(for reading notes or distracting light)

Identify distracting featuresIdentify distracting features



Gaining ControlGaining Control

Things to rememberThings to remember

– You’re the bossYou’re the boss

– Identify the things you can change to make you Identify the things you can change to make you feel more comfortable and feel more comfortable and

– Don’t worry about things you can’t changeDon’t worry about things you can’t change



Keys to a Successful PresentationKeys to a Successful Presentation

Remember the “Battle Plan” Remember the “Battle Plan”

– PreparationPreparation

– Pre-gamePre-game

– PresentationPresentation



Getting Your Audience to Stop, Look, Getting Your Audience to Stop, Look, and Listenand Listen

Know YourselfKnow Yourself

Know Your AudienceKnow Your Audience


Know Your ToolsKnow Your Tools



Evaluating SlidesEvaluating Slides

What is the important information?What is the important information?

Does my slide communicate this Does my slide communicate this information?information?

Does extraneous material distract from Does extraneous material distract from the communication?the communication?



Pee Dee Pore/Bulk Results

0

100

200

300

400

500

1 2 3 4 5 6 7Core Number

Den

itri

fica

tion

Denitrification in Matched Denitrification in Matched Macropore/Bulk Soil Samples Macropore/Bulk Soil Samples

from the Pee Dee Sitefrom the Pee Dee Site



Denitrification is Elevated in Macropores from Matched Pee Dee Macropore/Bulk Soil

Samples

0

100

200

300

400

500

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Core Number

Den

itri

fica

tion

ug

N2O

-N k

g-1 h

-1 Bulk

Pore

*

*

**

**

**



Simplified Nitrogen Cycle

Atmosphere

AquaticTerrestrial

Aerobic

AquaticTerrestrial

Anaerobic

NHNH33

NONO22-- NONO33

--

OrgOrg NN

Fixation

Assimilation

Nitrification

Decomposition

NONO33-- NONO22

-- NN22OO NN22

Denitrification

NN22



Evaluation of Nitrogen Control Strategies on Golf Courses

•Constructed wetlands

•Alternative fertilizer application practices

•Subsurface denitrification systems



Slide Techniques Specific to Slide Techniques Specific to Computer Projected PresentationsComputer Projected Presentations

AnimationAnimation– A great opportunity for enhancementA great opportunity for enhancement

– A great danger for distractionA great danger for distraction



02040

6080

100120

140160180

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35

Strain

Str

ess

(MP

a)

Slope

Maximum

Area



Recommendations to Turf Recommendations to Turf ManagersManagers

Modification of N applicationsModification of N applications Apply less materialApply less material

Use slow release forms of NUse slow release forms of N

Slow release N is less soluble (sulfur Slow release N is less soluble (sulfur coated urea, composted organic N)coated urea, composted organic N)

Higher assimilation efficiency in turfHigher assimilation efficiency in turf



Recommendations to Turf Recommendations to Turf ManagersManagers

Modification of N applicationsModification of N applications Apply less materialApply less material

Use slow release forms of NUse slow release forms of N

Slow release N is less soluble (sulfur Slow release N is less soluble (sulfur coated urea, composted organic N)coated urea, composted organic N)

Higher assimilation efficiency in turfHigher assimilation efficiency in turf



Wrapping it all up…Wrapping it all up… Don’t lose your audience!Don’t lose your audience! Evaluate your presentations, overall and Evaluate your presentations, overall and

piece by piecepiece by piece– What is the important information?What is the important information?

– Does the slide/poster segment/presentation Does the slide/poster segment/presentation communicate this information?communicate this information?

– Is there extraneous material that detracts Is there extraneous material that detracts from the communicationfrom the communication



HAVE FUN!!HAVE FUN!!



AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

Wendy Kuhne, Wendy Kuhne, Colorado State UniversityColorado State University

Mrs. Mimi Meredith, Mrs. Mimi Meredith, WordsmithsWordsmiths

Dr. Bruce C. Thompson, Dr. Bruce C. Thompson, US Geological Survey, US Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division, New Mexico Cooperative Fish Biological Resources Division, New Mexico Cooperative Fish

and Wildlife Research Unit, Las Cruces, New Mexicoand Wildlife Research Unit, Las Cruces, New Mexico Ms. Julie Seton, Ms. Julie Seton, New Mexico State University, New Mexico State University,

Department of English, Las Cruces, New MexicoDepartment of English, Las Cruces, New Mexico

Documents

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