Technical Tips for Slide Presentations

Speaker's Guide for the Presentation: How to Be a Good Engineer

Technical Tips

In the following reproductions of the slides, the text of the slide is given in bold. A short outline of ideas and suggestions sometimes appear with the slide text. The slide texts are listed sequentially and are identified by a bold S-prefix alphanumeric ID to distinguish them from other numerals in the text. Each 35mm slide (and overhead foil) carries this ID as well. This functions as an orientation key. All slides are in horizontal format. If a Kodak Carousel tray is used, load the slide into the tray in horizontal format with the the ID mark furthest away from the the hub at the center, and at the top.

Place the tray on a table in front of you with slide position 1 at "3 o'clock." Hold the slide before you and orient it so it is readable. If now you rotate it 180 so that what was the top is now down, and drop it into the tray thus, it will be correctly oriented. (But see Caution below.) To load successive slides, rotate the tray, keeping the position to be filled at "3 o'clock." Note that the ID printed on the frames of slides in this set will be visible when at, or near, "3 o'clock." Note that most plastic or metal slide frames cannot be used in a Carousel having 140 positions. The 80-position style tray must be used.

Be sure to check the projection of at least one slide in the tray because some optical set-ups may invert the image relative to the commonly used Kodak slide projector. While so doing, why not check on yourself by projecting all the slides? For the usual 50 minute session, allowing time for discussion, you cannot possibly use all of the slides. Following the recommendations will result in a talk of appropriate length. Use more slides if you have a sufficient time allocation. Do not read the slides to your audience. The purpose of the slides is to focus on thoughts, and your comments should elaborate on the ideas expressed by them.

The Mechanics of your presentation--a checklist

As an alternate to the slides, masters for making overhead-projector transparencies are furnished. However, their use is not recommended except for small rooms. They may be hard to read from more than about 10 meters (33 feet). Furthermore, using slides loaded into a auto-carrier allows you to make a much smoother presentation than is possible when using overheads.

Before you begin your presentation

Visit the lecture hall. Will you need audio? If so, try it out.
Project all the slides to be sure they are all there, in correct sequence, properly oriented, and with no unwanted ones present.
Who will introduce you? Make sure that person has a brief biography for the purpose. Go over the intro with them, making sure they pronounce words correctly, etc. Where will you be seated during the introductory remarks?
Check on the timing. When is your talk? How much time will you have? How much time for discussion? Will the discussion be integrated with your talk (preferred) or is there to be a general session for all speakers? Will you or another person control the discussion? Will someone be in charge of timing and alerting the speaker?
Are sufficient quantities of handout notes available? Who will distribute them? When and how will the notes be distributed to your audience?
Is there a projector screen for the visuals? Is it built-in, and if so, how is it controlled?
How are light levels controlled in the lecture hall? Although the 35mm slides are designed to be readable even in relatively high ambient light, if you are using overhead foils you will probably need to carefully check this. If possible, maintain a light level in the audience area suitable for making eye contact and for the writing of notes.
Try out the place from where you'll speak. Is there a lectern? Can you manage your notes OK? Is there enough light to see them?

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