Resources
Virtual Class Presentations
The Rise of Virtual Presentations
With today's focus on public health measures, virtual presentations are more important now than ever. Your professors expect you to pre-record and send your final presentations to them or to present virtually during class in Zoom or Blackboard. Where do you start? How do you organize and plan what you'll say with your team? How do you voice-over your slides to create a dynamic presentation? Delivering your ideas without the advantage of face-to-face cues can be challenging. Here are a few tips to make it easier to get a polished and professional result.
Technology Tips - If you're pre-recording an individual presentation on PowerPoint.
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If you have one, use a headset with a microphone
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Minimize background noise
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Keep voice levels steady
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Minimize pop and hiss with a foam shield on your mic
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Unplug your laptop charger
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This reduces noise from the power outlet
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Place your laptop on a stack of books to bring the camera to eye level
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Steadies your computer
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Avoids tilting or shaking
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When you're ready to record a file to send your professor
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On the PPT Task Bar, select Slide Show, and then Record Slide Show
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Pro tip: PPT lets you pause after a slide and then begin again with the next slide, so you don't have to start over if you make a mistake
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Do several test runs to check the sound
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Don't have the mic too close to your mouth
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When you're finished, select "Play Narrations." Then, under "File" select "Export" and then MP4 as your File Format
Pre-Recording Tips for Using Zoom
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PRO TIP: Zoom is a better choice than PPT for pre-recording
IF YOU'RE PART OF A GROUP PROJECT -
Sign into Zoom. Instructions are provided at the end to set up your American University provided Zoom account.
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Send your teammates the Zoom link and meet in Zoom at the date/time you want to practice.
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The host opens the PPT slides on their desktop and selects "Share Screen" from the task bar so all team members see one screen. The host also advances the slides for all members.
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Select "Record" and then "Record to the Cloud." Zoom will send a link to the host when the meeting ends that you can send to your professor.
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Be aware that you are visible on the recording even if your thumbnail photos are minimized, so be professionally dressed, don't fidget or frown, and ensure you're correctly "framed" (see tips below under "Prep for Presentation Day").
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Mute yourself if you're not speaking. If the audience is using the speaker view, you can suddenly become the "speaker" if you cough or shuffle papers.
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Record rehearsals. Your team should rehearse together, as well as individually. Record a rehearsal to see how you really look and sound on screen.
Speaking and Slide Design Tips
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Prepare a shared script for your team narration.
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If wi-fi connections fail and a team member drops off, other team members can easily fill in - you'll know all parts of the presentation and not just "your" slides.
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PRO TIP: Outline talking points for each slide (don't write down every word), but do script the final line of each slide so the person advancing the slides knows when you're finished. Professionalism is increased when you don't have to say "Next slide".
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Write practice questions and answers to prep for Q & A.
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Speak slowly and clearly, avoid "filler words" (uhhs, likes, and umms) and know it's okay to pause briefly between sentences.
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Practice your timing and animation clicks to fit the time allowed.
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Your voice is critical in virtual settings, so vary your pitch.
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Put a little 'music' into your voice.
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Your voice should rise and fall conversationally as you speak.
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Your slides are visual aids and not speaking notes.
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Use the Rule of Five: No more than five bullets per slide and only five words per bullet.
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If you're using Zoom - download the presentation to your desktop for a more stable experience. Zoom can lag if you're using Google slides.
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If you're using Blackboard Collaborate - do not animate slides, and download as a PDF. Collaborate can garble your slide spacing.
Prep for Presentation Day
- Find a quiet space from home to join your team online.
- Sit up straight at a distraction-free, with a tidy desk.
- A light, clean, clear background behind you is best.
- Dress professionally and neatly.
- Pay attention to your distance and position from the camera.
- Aim for the camera to catch your shoulders, neck, and head.
- The camera should be placed to promote eye contact.
- Place your laptop on a pile of books so the camera is at eye level.
- If you film from above or below we'll see mostly your neck or your hair - and you will look out of proportion.
- Talk to the camera lens not the gallery view. Our natural tendency is to want to make "eye contact," but your audience will feel more engaged with you as a speaker if you're talking to the camera above your screen and not to your screen display
- Avoid lighting that falls directly above you (creating harsh shadows) or light positioned behind you - people won't see your face, just an outline. A lamp or window in front of you is best.
Configuring your Zoom Account
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All AU students can sign up for a free Zoom room to practice individually or in teams.
- Visit https://american.zoom.us.
- Configure your account by clicking the Sign in button.
- After you've logged into the website, you can download, install, and launch the Zoom application.
- Choose Sign in with SSO to log in with your AU credentials.