Abstracts-2015

Guide for Presenters

Thank you for joining the teaching core at the 2017 NARHC. Our attendees look forward to participating in learning. Striving to meet their needs, we ask that you review the following guide in preparation for your presentation and consider reading the guide’s references, Presentationzen and How to Write, Publish, and Present in the Health Sciences. Developing a presentation should be a creative process. The intent of the guide is to enhance the design and delivery of your presentations.

Questions you should ask during the planning phase are:

  • How much time do I have and what is my venue?
    • Workshops are 45 minutes total with the last 10 minutes for questions
    • Oral presentations are 10 minutes for presentation, 5 minutes for questions
  • Who is the audience and what do they expect of me (us)?
  • What is the fundamental purpose of my session?
  • What is my story?
  • Most importantly: What’s my main point and why does it matter to the audience? If the audience could remember only one thing, what do I want it to be? Ask yourself the tough questions throughout the planning process

Storyboarding:

  • Plan your presentation by “storyboarding” on paper rather than starting in Powerpoint. This can be done with paper strips or sticky notes representing each potential slide
  • Start by identifying the main objective of the presentation. The central theme should be the thread running through the presentation
  • Typically a presentation has 3 acts: the introduction and stated objectives, the body, and the conclusion/summary
  • Effective presentations often have an element of story that connects with the audience. Sharing personal stories or examples can help explain complex ideas

Slides:

  • Text that reads well on a page seldom reads well on a slide. Slide images are generally more effectively retained than is text
  • If need for text, use bullet points limited to the 6×6 rule: use no > 6 words / line and 6 lines per slide
  • Keep within the allotted time. Try to limit the number of slides to 1 per minute
  • Repetition through consistent use of background or fonts is encouraged
  • The occasional use of quotations can be an effective technique if short and legible. Consider displaying a quote within a photo rather than placing the quote beside or above the image
  • Charts or graphs are preferred to tables
  • Consider putting in blank “place holder” slides that allow you to talk without a distracting image
  • Include a summary slide with your “take-home” points, often similar to your early overview slide

Presentation:

  • Practice, practice, practice
  • Remove barriers between you and the audience. Avoid podiums if possible. Use a wireless microphone and the remote control for advancing slides so you can move freely and naturally

References:

Lang TA. How to Write, Publish, and Present in the Health Sciences: A Guide for Clinicians & Laboratory Researchers; American College of Physicians. Philadelphia, PA 2010; 313-346.

Reynolds G. Presentationzen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery. New Riders. Berkeley, CA. 2008.

Oral Presentation Guidelines

  • A laptop, screen and flip chart will be provided in each presentation room
  • You must bring your presentation to the conference on either a USB key/flash drive
  • All presenters will use the conference equipment provided. Personal computers are not permitted
  • Internet access is not available in presentation rooms
  • It is the presenters responsibility to copy and provide handouts if required
  • Oral Presentation length – 10 minutes, followed by 5 minutes for questions and answers

Workshop Guidelines

  • A laptop, screen and flip chart will be provided in each presentation room
  • You must bring your presentation to the conference on a USB key/flash drive
  • All presenters will use the conference equipment provided. Personal computers are not permitted
  • Internet access and sound systems for video presentations are not available in workshop rooms
  • It is the presenters responsibility to copy and provide handouts if required
  • Workshop lengths – 45 minutes with the last 10 minutes for questions.

Poster Guidelines

Size: Posters for Canadian Refugee Health can be no longer than:
0.9 m (3 feet) high by 1.8 m (6 feet) wide (horizontal)
Velcro and/or push pins for posters will be supplied