Giving a Lecture on Giving a Lecture

I would suggest that not reading from slides is one thing, but how you do that is another thing altogether:

1) Know your subject matter. Know it well enough that you could present the topic without any presentation available

2) Connect with your audience - make it interactive wherever possible

3) People are there to hear YOU. You are the subject matter expert, so act like it. Be confident, use levity, and relate personal stories if possible.

I present publicly quite a bit - and I usually describe myself as "wind me up and I go". I'm very passionate and have a lot of fun with it, that's a great way to get people interested and engaged with your presentation.

 

I am a doctor and have given many powerpoint presentations on medical topics. The material can be quite dry and can get boring very quickly.

One rule I always follow is to use no more than 3-4 bullet points per slide. Each bullet point should have just a few words, otherwise the audience won't listen to you since they will be busy reading the slides. The slide text is really just a brief outline to remind you what you are discussing.

I like to use a clip-on, cordless mic so I can walk around the room. I helps keep the audience's attention. If you can ask the audience questions, that is an excellent way of engaging people. People will definitely pay attention if they know they may be called upon.

Adding images that relate to your topic also keeps things interesting. It can be images from pop culture, classical art, or whatever.

As the other poster said, knowing your topic REALLY well allows you to speak comfortably and easily field questions and to continue your talk if you have an equipment failure.

Good luck

 

+1

Except, with respect to the use of images, you want them to be appropriate and illustrative of the point, not distracting and not dominating the slide.

Raise questions and thinking points and use your slides to help the audience to answer them, that is good for keeping them engaged.

Use the principles outlined in the book "Made to stick" to make sure your presentation"sticks" with the audience:
Your points should be:
Simple
Unexpected
Concrete (very important with figures)
Credible
Emotional
and wrapped up in a Story.

If you want more details, get the book.

 

I once heard a description of defecating that I thought was very poor and inaccurate. I expressed my displeasure and criticized it vociferously.

I guess it was poo-pooing on poo-pooing.

 

No, you were pooh poohing pooing.

 

There we have to follow a sequence 1.abstraction 2.detailing 3.Time maintenance other than that your performance over there
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