Virginia Junior Academy of Science Presentation Overview

Spring 2013

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Introduction

• Welcome to the Virginia Junior Academy of Science! We look forward to seeing your research projects at our conference at Virginia Tech

• The following document has been compiled based on the VJAS Committee’s past experience presenting research with an objective to provide guidance on the presentations

– We will discuss the overall flow of the presentation

– We have provided a sample PowerPoint template for students’ presentations

– We have also provided additional presentation tips

• If you have any additional questions, we will be available to answer those questions at the assembly on [tbd date]

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Overview

General TipsSample PowerPoint

TemplatePresentation Tips

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The flow of the presentation

Section Chair introduces Presenter

Speaker presents

Section Chair will ask if Judges have questions

Judges Q&A

Section Chair will ask if others have questions

General Q&A

Section Chair Closes

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The number one rule of any presentation is to own the content- you are the person who knows your project the best

Face your audience directly …. and … Maintain Eye Contact

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Professional Attire makes a presenter more confident

Professional Attire Casual Attire

Yes No

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Overview

General TipsSample PowerPoint

TemplatePresentation Tips

Author

School

Date

Title

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Introduction

• Explain the background concepts that your audience needs to understand your research

• Describe why you chose your project and its purpose

• State the question and concise objectives

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Experimental or Project Design

• State the independent (manipulated) variable

– Levels of the independent variable

– Control group

• State the dependent (responding) variable

• Note the constants

• Note the repeated trials

State your hypothesis

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Methods and Materials

• Outline the steps you used and the materials you needed to collect your data

• Use pictures to describe your procedure when possible and then describe the pictures to your audience

• Include the safety guidelines you followed

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Results

• Summary Data (do not show raw data) that you present should include:

– Numerical Data (see next slide for tips on graphs)

• Tables, Charts, Graphs, or

• Pictures and Photographs

– Verbal Summary

• A summary of your findings with reference to the applicable tables, graphs, or pictures

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Bar charts are for comparing countable data between categories or over time

20.4

27.4

90.0

20.4

30.6

38.634.6

31.6

0

20

40

60

80

100

Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 4

Group 1

Group 2

Results of Analysis

Footnote: [Any footnote you feel is necessary]

Note that all values are to

the same decimal place,

even if the decimal place

is zero

Keep this slide

simple without

additional text

to avoid

confusing

your message

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Results (Data Analysis)

• Evaluate the data presented for general trends and variability, using an appropriate method of analysis, such as

– Measure of Central tendency

– Measure of variation

– Statistical Analysis

• Demonstrate an understanding of the analysis you used, by describing:

– How it was done

– What it means

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Discussion

• This is where you interpret your results

– State major findings

– Compare your findings to other research

• Your statistical analysis should support the conclusions that you are able to draw from your data and the explanations that you propose

• Be sure to include the major reasons (including any necessary citations) that explain the major trends found in your data

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Conclusions

• State your conclusions clearly and concisely

• State whether the hypothesis is accepted or rejected

• Suggest any improvements that could be made

• What are the ‘next steps’ in your research?

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Literature Cited

• The sources you used should be cited

– This can be done in a separate slide of on each slide where it is necessary as a footer in the slide

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Acknowledgements

• This slide is reserved for those individuals that you would like to thank

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Overview

General TipsSample PowerPoint

TemplatePresentation Tips

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PowerPoint Advice

• Do use color but be careful that the text is legible once projected (avoid fluorescent colors and red)

• Do use a font that is easily legible

• Avoid animation; yes, it is a neat tool and demonstrates your familiarity with PowerPoint but it is not professional

• Do use pictures and other visuals; feel free to show a picture of you completing your research

• Do not read your slides; Eye contact is much more powerful

• Do keep your slides simple with 4-5 key points

• Practice your presentation ahead of time in front of family members, classmates, or friends

Remember that you need to tell your audience what you’re going to tell them, tell them, then tell them what you told them

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Colors that work in PowerPoint

• Black/White

• Navy

• Forest Green

• Bright Yellow

• Bright Red

• Orange

• Light Pink

• Lilac

• Highlighter Green

Colors that Work Colors that do not Work

These colors are

difficult to read

from a distance

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Fonts that work in PowerPoint

• Arial

• Times New Roman

• Bookman

• Helvetica

• Bradley Hand ITC

• Script MT Bold

• Forte

• Gill Sans MT

• Papyrus

• Felix titling

Fonts that Work Fonts that do not Work

These fonts are

difficult to read

from a distance

Once you select a font, be sure that you use it throughout your presentation

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Animation is really left best to cartoons

• Animation is very

distracting to your

audience

– They will be

watching the effects

and often stop

listening