Quantitative Physiology: Cells and TissuesLecture 28: November 16, 2005 How to prepare an oral presentation1Oral Presentations:How to translate data into an oral presentation6.021JFall 2005Written Reports• Random reading order (can re-reference text)• Reader controls pace• Message is archival• Reader must actively read• Feedback not possibleOral Presentations• Linear (cannot “go back”)• Speaker controls pace• Message presented in the moment• Audience can be passive• Feedback possible (questions)The goal of oral presentations and written reports is to explain a technical finding . . . BUT . . . they’re not the same. . .Quantitative Physiology: Cells and TissuesLecture 28: November 16, 2005 How to prepare an oral presentation2Step 1: Organize your & data locate trendsStart with figures:• Summarize findings in plots + figures• Print hard copies of your figures or sketch figures you’d like to have• Locate trends in resultse.g., Does velocity ↑ when temperature ↑ ?• Identify “stories” and “messages”Then use words:• Summarize what you’ve done in a few sentencesStep 2: Analyze constraintsWho is the audience?– Technical expertise - size of audience– Level of interest - familiarity with content= 6.021J peers: not much HH background neededHow much time do you have?– 7-8 slides for a 12 minute talk– Budget under timeEquipment constraints or other considerations?–PowerPoint or bring your own laptop– Multiple HH speakers on same dayQuantitative Physiology: Cells and TissuesLecture 28: November 16, 2005 How to prepare an oral presentation3Step 3: Draft the presentation“Story-board” method:– Sketch candidate slides– Develop 2-3 bullet points for each slide– Integrate slides into a story-board– Revise slides and bullet points to better fit story-board– Add slides to fill in gaps– Remove slides to eliminate redundancyQuantitative Physiology: Cells and TissuesLecture 28: November 16, 2005 How to prepare an oral presentation4Results• Approximately 2-3 relevant figures • Distill information about each figure into 2-3 bullet points• Include key words in figures to remind yourself (and audience) of each bullet point• Figure should allow listener to fill in gaps due to lapses in attention• Use title “real estate” to add meaning e.g., Results: Resting Potential vs. External Potassium ConcentrationQuantitative Physiology: Cells and TissuesLecture 28: November 16, 2005 How to prepare an oral presentation5Quantitative Physiology: Cells and TissuesLecture 28: November 16, 2005 How to prepare an oral presentation6Quantitative Physiology: Cells and TissuesLecture 28: November 16, 2005 How to prepare an oral presentation7Methods• Approximately 1-2 slides • Use backup slides for additional details• Distill Methods to key procedures– HH will use theoretical methods• Do not show equations (unless they are extremely simple and friendly)• Visual representations of methods are easiest to comprehendQuantitative Physiology: Cells and TissuesLecture 28: November 16, 2005 How to prepare an oral presentation8Discussion• Approximately 1-2 slides• Limit discussion points to most important details (related to your Results)• Relate discussion points to your research purposeQuantitative Physiology: Cells and TissuesLecture 28: November 16, 2005 How to prepare an oral presentation9Introduction• Approximately 1 slide • Explains the goals and purpose of the project• Ideally, these goals and purpose relate to the Discussion points• Show logic of ideas in words or text• Hypothesis not needed• Meaningful graphic OK; bullet points OKNo outline slide!Introduction Question: Will action potentials propagate faster at higher temperatures?Pro: Rates of many chemical reactions increase with increasing temperature. Therefore it seems reasonable that the electro-chemical reactions underlying neural conduction would occur morerapidly at higher temperatures.Con: However, excessive heat leads to stroke, which represents profound neurological failure. Goal: Develop a mathematical model for effects of temperature based on the Hodgkin-Huxley model of neural excitation.Quantitative Physiology: Cells and TissuesLecture 28: November 16, 2005 How to prepare an oral presentation10Titles are mini-abstracts•Informative• Specific• Understandable at a glance• Your name and partner’s name•Date• Institutional AffiliationStep 4: Edit the Slide Show• Edit slides for coherence • Check for irrelevant bullets, plots.• Check for balance and coherency in story-board• Spell-check and proofread• Are figures / captions readable?Quantitative Physiology: Cells and TissuesLecture 28: November 16, 2005 How to prepare an oral presentation11Step 5: Prepare for Q&A• Anticipate questions not covered in the presentationTypical questions: extend an idea, refute an idea• Brainstorm, considering audience & scope• OK to acknowledge gaps in knowledge• OK to prepare extra slidesQuantitative Physiology: Cells and TissuesLecture 28: November 16, 2005 How to prepare an oral presentation12Step 6: PRACTICE• Make sure that you meet the time limit.• Practice speaking slowly. Breathe.• Know your quirks. Work around your nervous habits.• Use visuals as cues, not note cards.• Know how to use the equipment.Step 7: Deliver the Presentation• Arrive early• Check equipment• Check voice projection • Have a printed copy of your presentation + backup• If you use the pointer, do not block the screen• If you get lost, stop and regroup. Your audience wants you to succeed.Quantitative Physiology: Cells and TissuesLecture 28: November 16, 2005 How to prepare an oral presentation13– Rough draft : Nov. 23 Due at 10am= slides, bullet points, 1 page extended abstract= submit electronically, in PDF format– Until the HH dry run= critique one peer group’s first draft (directly write on