Information for Speakers

Tips for a live presentation

Make your presentation live if you are very comfortable with presenting and being recorded while presenting.
If your presentation is recorded and your live session is interactive:
- Consider having a prepared exercise for everyone to do, or going over any exercises you suggested in your recording.
- Be sure to have questions prepared so you can pose questions you may have heard from others and talk about these.
- Work with your Zoom host to help in posing questions should few come from the audience.
- Consider finding ways for audience members to get to know each other during the session.

If you are recording on the web, please use an Ethernet connection if one is available. If you must use a wireless connection, consider using the phone for the audio.
Remove sources of noise such as jewelry, pets, and ringing telephones.
Share your application rather than your screen.
Use a script or presenter notes.
- Welcome your audience and thank them for watching your presentation.
- At the end, tell how your audience can get in touch with you during Spectrum, and afterward if you wish.
- Invite the audience to share their experience on social media, such as Twitter.
Test your recording method. Ensure your visuals and audio are clear when played back.
You need not include video of you, the presenter.
- A thumbnail of the speaker in the corner may overlap the slides and can be distracting.
- Some speakers appear on video periodically throughout, alternating with the slides. This can be effective, but there is no need to do this.
- Consider appearing on camera at the beginning only, or showing a still photo on an opening slide.
Invite a friend if you want an audience, or present to an imaginary audience.
Remember, the presentation does not have to be perfect. Live presentations are not perfect.

Note the file format needed for videos is mp4. Use any of the following applications:

You can generate a transcript using any of these services:

Limit the content on slides to accommodate recording.
Make sure that visualizations are readable in the recorded format.
If you wish to include a video in the slides, be sure you have the rights and that the video will be clear in the recording.
Use the widescreen ratio (16:9, that is, 13 x 7.5 inches or 33.867 x 19.05 cm.).
Include a slide at the end with your contact information.

Matt has shared the video he provided for STC’s first virtual Summit in May, 2020.