Large Group Teaching:
How to Give a
Presentation
Debra Bynum, MD
Division of Geriatric Medicine
2010
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A Presentation on How to Give a
Presentation…
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Kramer’s Coffee Table Book about Coffee
Tables…
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“The successful teacher is no longer on a
height, pumping knowledge at high pressure
into passive receptacles… he is a senior
student anxious to help his juniors.”
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William Osler (1849-1919)
Goal
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Each person will evaluate their “lecturing”
and presentation style and make a plan
for improvement
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What will you stop doing?
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What will you continue doing?
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What will you consider adding?
Goal…Prevent Procrastination
Goal… Prevent Stress
Outline
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Big Picture: Why?
How to organize a presentation
Power point nuts and bolts
Preparation
Delivery
How to handle questions
Emergencies
Feedback
Key Points….
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Presentations continue to be important in
large group teaching
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Keep presentations simple, focus on key
points
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Keep slides simple
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Summarize, summarize, summarize
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Be prepared
Background
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Lecture: “oral presentation intended to
present information or teach people about
a particular subject”
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“Lecture”: “action of reading”
Big Picture: Why?
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What are the downsides to giving a
lecture?
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Why continue to give lectures?
Why?
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Transmit information
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Answer questions
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Generate interest
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Create questions
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Human touch
How to organize your
presentation…
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1. Have your goal in mind
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2. Focus on 3-5 Main Points
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3. Answer “who cares”
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4. Use small stories/case studies
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5. Follow your outline
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6. Summarize and use key words
How to Organize: Marketing
“Succes”
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Simple
Unexpected
Concrete
Credentialed
Emotional
Story
Simple
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Focus on 3-5 Main Points
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Come back to the Main Points, summarize
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Add to knowledge
Unexpected
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Build upon curiosity
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Focus on “what questions do I want them
to ask”
Concrete
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Build upon knowledge and existing
schema
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Enduring points based upon examples,
cases, stories, proverbs
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Put abstract ideas into context
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Invite people to the table
Credible
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Provide enough details and background
Emotional
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Generate “caring”
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Self interest (why should I learn this…)
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Create a mission
Story
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Mental simulations
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Use the small story to illustrate a big point
(when you see this, think of ….)
The Anatomy of a Presentation
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Opening: consider eye catcher
Goals
Outline
Content slides
Pauses
Summary and Take Home Points
Questions
References
Anatomy of presentation: eye
catcher
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Does not have to be funny… don’t do
funny if you are not funny
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Try to be creative, create questions, set
stage (can be a case, a story….)
Anatomy of a Presentation:
Goals
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Just a few and keep them simple
Anatomy: Outline
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Simple bullet points
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Follow the outline, use it as structure
Anatomy: Content slides
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Keep slides simple, bullet points
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Never have to apologize for a “busy” slide….
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Attention Span declines after 10-15 minutes:
Break it up every 10-15 minutes
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Pauses
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2 minute pauses three times during the course of a
lecture has been shown to increase retention…
Delivering Content
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Interactive Lecturing Techniques
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Asking questions of audience
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Audience response systems
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Using “multimedia”
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Using handouts (not just a copy of the
slides…)
Anatomy: Summary and Take
Home Points
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Keep simple
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Take Home Points should relate to overall
goals of presentation
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This is not the time to introduce new
material
Anatomy: Finale
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Questions
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References
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Can include abbreviated reference on a
specific slide with a quote or significant data
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Include more inclusive list of references at
end of presentation, handout
Shift and Pause…
Power Point Tips
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Fonts
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Non-serifed fonts
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Easier to read on screen/computer/web
arial
Serifed Fonts
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Used in text
More formal
Easier to read on paper
Times New Roman
Fonts
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Stick to simple
Consider bold (as long as readable)
Optimum type size for text = 24 points -32
points (this is 32…)
Minimum usable type: 16 points, otherwise not readable….
DON’T SCREAM – AVOID ALL CAPITAL
LETTERS UNLESS TRYING TO
EMPHASIZE A POINT !!!!!!!!!!
Power Point: Backgrounds…
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Keep it simple…
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Keep focus on topic, not slides
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Colors
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Dark letters on light background works best
Avoid distracting pictures/design
backgrounds
Avoid using red/green colors together
Backgrounds
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Keep it simple…
Keep focus on topic, not slides
Colors
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Dark letters on light background works best
Avoid distracting pictures/design backgrounds
Avoid using red/green colors together or in
contrasting areas
Power Point: Action
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Keep animations simple – use when needed to
make a point
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Avoid use in every slide….
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It gets very very
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Very very
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Very very annoying….
Power Points: Charts
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Please see handout
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Avoid just copying very busy charts out
of articles
Review Your Slides…
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This type of slide, where everything you
have to say is exactly on the screen, with
all the words all put together into a long,
run on sentence, and then into a long, run
on paragraph, is very very hard to read
and not at all helpful… review your slides,
delete all that is not absolutely needed,
space out bullet points, and add more
details to the note section of power
point….
Review Your Slides…
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Go through slides several times
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Add spacing
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Bold when needed
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Avoid run on sentences, paragraphs
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Keep to bullet points
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Use the Notes if needed…
Another Transition and a
Break…
Preparation
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Clean up your slides
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Practice, practice, practice
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Know your equipment
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Get there early
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Prepare your “delivery”
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Have a back up plan
Preparation
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Plan to talk for LESS than allotted time (no
more than 45 minutes)
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Practice and time your presentation
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Allow plenty of time for questions
Delivery : Have a Plan…
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Equipment
 Microphone, slides, how you will advance
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Speaking (avoid umms, likes….), pauses
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Hands : not too little, not too much
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Eye contact
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Stance
 Will you stand behind the podium or walk?
 Consider microphone, slides,
?videoconference
How to Handle Questions
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Practice and “pilot” presentation
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Anticipate questions (consider slides at end)
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Repeat the Question
 Important so that all audience hears the Question
 Gives you time to think if needed…
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Reflect it back to the audience – what do you think of ….
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Ok to say “I don’t know, that is an excellent question”
Emergencies
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Prepare for the worse
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Have a Back up plan
 Keep hard copy of slides/handouts
 Email presentation to yourself
 Email presentation to conference center
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Arrive early, set up equipment, identify
problems early
Feedback
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Get feedback on your presentation
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View video of yourself giving presentation
(very helpful for hands, speaking style,
extra words…)
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Ask colleagues for evaluation/feedback
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Ask audience at end for feedback ?
Summary : Key Points
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Presentations continue to be important in
teaching large groups

Keep presentations simple and focus on key
points

Keep slides simple

Summarize, summarize, summarize

Be prepared
Questions
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