Search Results for: Science

Number of Results: 52

Presentations fail because even more science.

You don’t even read the slides you are reading. Part of your brain soon recognises that it isn’t possible to read a whole slide and that the important information is contained in the title. The bigger bulletpoints contain something of…
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Presentations fail because science (2)

Presentations as they are routinely delivered fail because they break well established scientific principles.There are numerous studies that have compared student responses to a lecture given with identical audio tracks (p1) but comparing the standard “powerpoint” slides full of text…
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Presentations fail because science

There is a feeling that this improved approach to presentation is principally about style. No, it is principally about science. The reason that the majority of presentations fail is because, by their construction and delivery, they break well established scientific…
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Schrodinger’s slides

Schrodinger’s slides are both there and not there at the same time. Sadly, this analogy describes many presenters’ approach to their supportive media; It is either there or not there. The decision rests with the audience. Schrodinger’s slides are either there and we will read them (because of science) or they are not there as the speaker ignores them. In this thought experiment, the audience will stop listening and default to reading Schrodinger’s slides.

Your message

Your message should identify the objective of the presentation. It is from your message that the audience will reconstruct the details of the presentation and may change their behaviour towards the desired objective. Your message is key to the translation of aim to objective.

Is there anybody out there?

Is there anybody out there? Sometimes, when you’re all alone in the office, staring at the green dot, reciting meaningless text to an unresponsive void as an online presentation, you start to question your life choices. Is there anybody out…
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Font choice matters

Font choice matters; they change the impact and meaning of your message. You may not be as aware as your audience but that doesn’t change the impact. The particular choice that you make is important; do not simply accept the…
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Screens are not books

Screens are not books. Reading from a screen is not the same as reading from a book. A recent research paper adds to the evidence that a presentation (or its supportive media) should not be viewed as some form of…
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Presentation is not data transfer

The purpose of a presentation is not data transfer. If you believe as though it is, you will be disappointed. This fact should change how presentations are constructed, delivered, and received. Data transfer simply does not work; we cannot broadcast…
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Conference template

Scientific organisations frequently prescribe a specific conference template. Do not use templates. Templates steal real estate in slides, they are visually distracting and unnecessary. If requested, use the template for the first slide and while answering questions. Conference templates are…
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