SIOP Presentation Suggestions for Master Tutorial Sessions

Master Tutorial. The primary purpose of the master tutorial is to provide current information and to educate the audience about a topic. As examples, tutorials might be developed to provide an update on a specified content area, discuss a new statistical technique, or describe how knowledge from another discipline can be applied to a problem or topic. Topics that are not appropriate include descriptions of products that the presenter is marketing. Proposals for tutorials should describe the specific content to be taught in the tutorial and indicate whether coverage of the material will be basic or advanced. A limited number of tutorials will also be selected to carry continuing education credit. 

Suggestions for Effective Master Tutorial Presentations

*     If Co-Presenting, Have Your Presentation Done Early Enough to Send to Other Session Members. 

o      The best sessions are those that have a coherent theme and are well integrated.  This is best accomplished when session members have advance notice of each others presentations.  Do not wait until the last minute to make these accessible.  A common rule of thumb is to have the presentation/paper available 2 weeks before the conference.  Doing so not only gives you more time to practice but also is far more considerate of other session members. 

*     Preparation of Visual Aids. 

o      Visual aids can greatly improve the effectiveness of a presentation. While increasing an audiences interest, well prepared slides or overheads can be extremely useful for clarifying and supporting key points in the presentation.

o      If you need to refer to a particular slide more than once, prepare duplicates of the slides such that you do not need to scroll back and forth during the presentation.

o      A picture is worth a thousand words. When feasible, including figures will more effectively communicate your message than a large, extensive table or words. 

*     Error Check Visual and Computer Aids Beforehand.

o      There is nothing so distracting to a presentation than presenters fumbling with technology (e.g., projector, LCD) while the audience patiently waits.  If at all possible, error check any visual or computer-based aids you intend to use before the session starts. 

*     Ask Yourself, Whats the point?

o      A visual serves one main purpose:  to help make a point.  This concept sometimes gets forgotten, and tables or charts are included in the presentation for no apparent reason.  It is better to figure out your message and then determine the best way to share that message. 

*     Interpret; Dont Just Report.

o      As the presenter, you are the expert on the subject being discussed.  The data speak for themselves is a common expression.  The trouble is, they oftentimes dont and they often say different things to different people.  Your job is to use your expertise and insights to help others understand the information. 

*     Summarize.

o      Do not forget to allow time at the end of the presentation, and prior to giving suggestions for further research, to summarize the main points of your presentation.  Keep in mind, many of your audience members, during the presentation, may have been engrossed in one particular element of your presentation, and missed other key points.  An overhead for this purpose can be useful. 

*     Please Pay Careful Attention to Time Limits.

o      Please respect the time limits for the sessionit is the polite and courteous thing to do.

o      As a general rule of thumb, plan on spending roughly one minute per slide. Therefore, if you have 12 minutes to present, you generally dont want the number of slides in your presentation to exceed 12-15. 

*     Bring Plenty of Handouts. 

o      Audience members will probably expect something to take home from a Tutorial.  Handouts can be used as workbooks as one goes through the material.  Make sure you bring plenty of copies.  You might want to check about the room size for your session.  You will probably also want to have a sign-up sheet available in case you run out.  If instead you prefer to post your materials online to be downloaded, please bring mailing labels or cards that contain your Web site.  Asking participants to write down long Web addresses will almost ensure that mistakes will be made. 

*     Remember, They are Visual Aids.

o      The most important part of the presentation is you, the presenter.  Visual aids may be a very important tool, but your words and conduct are primary.  Be particularly careful about the number and amount of information in your visuals, and the number of handouts.  After all, if the entire message is on the visuals, why do we need a presenter? 

*     Accessibility of the Presentation. 

o      SIOP is committed to ensuring that conferences are accessible to people with disabilities.  Each and every member of your audience deserves the opportunity to benefit from your presentation.  Please help us with this effort by using the following guidelines: 

*     Assume that There Will be Some Members of Your Audience with Disabilities.

o      Remember, disabilities are not always obvious.  Some people will likely have difficulty seeing your visual aids and/or hearing your presentation.  Be prepared.  Design presentation materials that will be user-friendly to your whole audience. 

*     Describe the Information Presented in Your Visual Aids.

o      Help the audience see the information by describing and summarizing whats being presented. 

*     Whenever Possible, Offer Materials that are Easy to Read.

o      Handouts with black print on white paper are generally preferred.  If possible, provide large print copies of your presentation when requested. 

*     Make Yourself Visible to the Audience.

o      For the benefit of those who are deaf or hard of hearing, your mouth and face should be in direct view of the audience throughout the presentation.  When speaking, avoid turning your back to the audience and standing in dimly lit areas of the room. 

*     Use the Microphone.

o      Even if many audience members can hear you without it, the hearing limited may not.  Also, each presentation is recorded and sold, and if you are not using the microphone, it is often difficult to be heard on the audio. 

*     Turn Audio/Visual Off When Not In Use.

o      This will reduce background noise that is potentially distracting to your audience. 

*     Allow Extra Time for Reviewing Information Presented on Visual Aids.

o      Assume that some members of your audience will need time to look at the visual aids and then focus their attention on you for further information. 

*     Show Enthusiasm for Your Presentation.

o      If you cannot be excited about your topic, how can you expect anyone else to be?  To the extent you feel comfortable doing so, show that you are excited (e.g., Now here is the cool part, Would you look at this?  Can you believe this is what we found?).

o      Your first few comments will set the tone for the entire session.  If you can show excitement for the session, it is more likely that the audience will as well. 

*     Preparation is the key to success. 

o      Planning for the session and helping presenters prepare will contribute to an interesting and informative session overall. 

*     Plan the Use of Time.

o      Start and end the session promptly.  Prepare an overall plan and approximate time schedule for the session before the conference. 

*     Try to Encourage Active Audience Participation.

o      Although you may have some pre-arranged points to discuss, involve the audience from the beginning.  If possible, ask them some general questions up front, and try to tailor your presentation to their interests. 

*     If Co-Presenting, Help Other Presenters Prepare.

o      Offer to review the presenters presentation, plans, visuals, or handouts.  Note any duplication in the content and suggest revisions to avoid excessive repetition. 

o      Try to practice the delivery of the tutorial in advance, if possible.

o      Have volunteers, or volunteer yourself, to place overheads for presenters. 

*     Assist with Seating of those with Disabilities.

o      Ensure that each member of the audience can see and hear the presentations.  Reserve a couple of seats in the front and back of the room for persons using wheelchairs, canes, crutches, or motorized vehicles. 

*     Count the Number of People in the Audience.

o      Estimate the number of people attending the session.  Provide this information to the Program Chair after the session. 

*     Moderate the Audience Discussion.

o      Provide a clear description as to the nature of the session as soon as it starts, to orient the audience to the issues.

o      Repeat each question or comment before responding so that all can hear.  For taping purposes, this will also ensure that the question or comment is recorded.  A few minutes before the session should end, announce the next question will be the last.  If necessary, politely interrupt the speaker.

o      Try to encourage a friendly feel to the session. 

*     Ensure that All Co-Presenters Receive the Materials with Sufficient Time to Review Them.

o      As a general rule of thumb, presenters should have their materials to each other at least 2 weeks before the conference. 

o      One useful technique is to set up an e-mail list that includes all session members.  This makes it easier to communicate, and ensures that everyone has access to the same information. 

*     Work Collaboratively With the Other Presenters.

o      Together, can you come up with an interesting spin to the session?  Are there unique perspectives that can be addressed? 

*     Ensure Session Members Audio/Visual Needs are Met.

o      Check with each presenter to ensure that his/her audio/visual needs have been met.  However, please realize that no new requests can be made at this late date.  Further, SIOP discourages the use of video projectors (e.g., as hooked up to a laptop) because of the excessive cost. 

*     Be Constructively Critical. 

o      Remember, you are in this session because you are the expert.  Now is the chance for you to demonstrate your expertise and provide insight into the domain of study.  Use this opportunity to provide critical insight. 

o      Try to find strengths and weaknesses of different perspectives, and implications for research and practice.

o      Overall, focus on the positive. 

*     Have General Discussion Points Prepared Beforehand.

o      The best way to guarantee an interactive session is to have a set of discussion points that strike to the heart of the session.  Preparing these points before the session ensures that the session moves along smoothly.

o      If possible, consider making some handouts that convey this information.

o      Please have at least a couple of questions ready for the audience (e.g., has anyone found this in your own research?). 

*     Realize That You Might Not Have Much Time.

o      Sometimes one or two questions can dominate a session.  Anticipate thiswhat would be the one or two comments you would want to make sure everyone hears?  

Distributing Papers.  A good presentation entices others to read the complete paper.  In the past, distribution of papers occurred at the conference.  Many people still use this method and it is, by far, the surest way to make your research available.  Recently, however, the flexibility of e-mail and the Internet for distributing such papers has lessened the need to carry as many papers to a conference.  Nonetheless, the following guidelines will help make the process of obtaining electronic copies of your papers easier for others and yourself. 

*     Provide a Clearly-Marked Place for the E-mail/Mail Addresses of those Requesting Your Paper. 

o      In many sessions, business cards are scattered all over, making it difficult to know who requested your paper.  Provide a large envelope clearly labeled as Requests for XYZ paper.  This not only ensures that all requests stay in the same place, but also that you dont lose any business cards.  

*     Provide Your Own E-mail Address or Web Address/URL. 

o      It is difficult to correctly write down long URL or e-mail addresses, especially in a crowd of people.  You can make this process easier by having your own business cards available in sufficient quantities (usually 40 minimum). 

o      If you administer research via the Web and your business cards do not have your Web address, consider printing this address on the back of your cards, providing slips of paper with the address, or printing the address on mailing labels for others to take with them. 

*     Check for Potential Copyright Violations Before Posting Any Article to the Internet.

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