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sci_comm [2016/04/15 18:09] cedric |
sci_comm [2016/04/15 18:17] (current) cedric [Slide aesthetics] |
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| Presentation software includes graphical options like animations and templates. These are to be avoided! Templates are usually very ugly and animations are cheap looking. In short, they don’t bring much to understanding and it reduces the presenter’s credibility. The only acceptable animation is the "direct appearance" when, for example, we want multiple elements to appear without showing them all at once: we make them appear successively (without any strange animation). | Presentation software includes graphical options like animations and templates. These are to be avoided! Templates are usually very ugly and animations are cheap looking. In short, they don’t bring much to understanding and it reduces the presenter’s credibility. The only acceptable animation is the "direct appearance" when, for example, we want multiple elements to appear without showing them all at once: we make them appear successively (without any strange animation). | ||
| - | Colours must be used parsimoniously. It can be helpful to emphasize an important element, but we must be careful when choosing the font and the background colour. Many colour combinations make it difficult to read a text (//e.g.,// a red font on yellow background). The best colour combinations that maximize readability on a slide are: 1) black on white, 2) white on black, and 3) white on dark blue. It looks sober but colour-blind people will not have trouble reading. If you want to include more colourful slides, have a look at the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_wheel]] and the [[http://www.colourlovers.com/|COLOURlovers]] websites to explore colour palettes. You can always improve the aesthetics of a slide, but be sure to preserve its readability. | + | Colours must be used parsimoniously. It can be helpful to emphasize an important element, but we must be careful when choosing the font and the background colour. Many colour combinations make it difficult to read a text (//e.g.,// a red font on yellow background). The best colour combinations that maximize readability on a slide are: 1) black on white, 2) white on black, and 3) white on dark blue. It looks sober but colour-blind people will not have trouble reading. If you want to include more colourful slides, have a look at the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_wheel|colour wheel]] and the [[http://www.colourlovers.com/|COLOURlovers]] website to explore colour palettes. You can always improve the aesthetics of a slide, but be sure to preserve its readability. |
| If you must include images or tables that are derived from an article, pay attention to the image resolution. A simple "copy and paste" is usually not enough to render a clear image on the screen. It is very annoying to hear a presenter say: "We don’t see clearly what I wanted to show you, but…" Always use high-resolution images. To improve the resolution of an image, you have many options: | If you must include images or tables that are derived from an article, pay attention to the image resolution. A simple "copy and paste" is usually not enough to render a clear image on the screen. It is very annoying to hear a presenter say: "We don’t see clearly what I wanted to show you, but…" Always use high-resolution images. To improve the resolution of an image, you have many options: | ||
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| When presenting in front of a group, visual contact must be maintained most of the time with the audience. Visual contact creates a direct connection between the audience and you. Direct visual contact is usually perceived as a sign of confidence or honesty. In contrast, avoiding eye contact or plainly looking at the floor is usually perceived as a sign of shyness, discomfort, or a lack of transparency. In front of a small group, it is easy to briefly make eye contact with everybody. In front of a large group, a visual scan is necessary to make eye contact with a majority of people. Avoid looking over people’s heads or repeating the same movement (//i.e.,// from left to right like a machine). You must make sincere visual contact for the audience to be interested in your presentation. Avoid turning your back on the audience (a consequence of overloaded slides), because the visual contact is then broken and the speech is not directed toward the audience. | When presenting in front of a group, visual contact must be maintained most of the time with the audience. Visual contact creates a direct connection between the audience and you. Direct visual contact is usually perceived as a sign of confidence or honesty. In contrast, avoiding eye contact or plainly looking at the floor is usually perceived as a sign of shyness, discomfort, or a lack of transparency. In front of a small group, it is easy to briefly make eye contact with everybody. In front of a large group, a visual scan is necessary to make eye contact with a majority of people. Avoid looking over people’s heads or repeating the same movement (//i.e.,// from left to right like a machine). You must make sincere visual contact for the audience to be interested in your presentation. Avoid turning your back on the audience (a consequence of overloaded slides), because the visual contact is then broken and the speech is not directed toward the audience. | ||
| - | Body movements refer to posture, movement of the whole body, and facial expressions. To demonstrate confidence in front of a group, it is necessary to have a good open structure (//i.e.,// a straight back, no legs or arms crossed). We can walk during a talk, but it will be context-dependent. A speaker will usually stay behind or beside a lectern during a "traditional" talk, allowing few possibilities for movements. During a seminar or a lecture, it is a good idea to move: it will make your presentation livelier. However, do not overuse it (//e.g., go back and forth in front of a group), because it might reveal your nervousness. Also, be careful not to swing from one leg to the other. Smiling is a good way to demonstrate confidence and helps reducing nervous tension. A smiling presenter tells the audience that he is happy to be here in front of a group to talk about something that he cares about. | + | Body movements refer to posture, movement of the whole body, and facial expressions. To demonstrate confidence in front of a group, it is necessary to have a good open structure (//i.e.,// a straight back, no legs or arms crossed). We can walk during a talk, but it will be context-dependent. A speaker will usually stay behind or beside a lectern during a "traditional" talk, allowing few possibilities for movements. During a seminar or a lecture, it is a good idea to move: it will make your presentation livelier. However, do not overuse it (//e.g.,// go back and forth in front of a group), because it might reveal your nervousness. Also, be careful not to swing from one leg to the other. Smiling is a good way to demonstrate confidence and helps reducing nervous tension. A smiling presenter tells the audience that he is happy to be here in front of a group to talk about something that he cares about. |
| Clothing can be considered as body language. Most people will indirectly be influenced by the presenter’s clothing. You may probably disagree with this: the audience is here to receive some scientific content, not to judge someone’s appearance. It is true, but remember that people see you before they hear you! I am not saying you should wear a suit and tie or a formal skirt, but making a little effort never killed anyone! In scientific environments, the dress code is often not as strict as in other fields (//e.g.,// finances or law). However, it is worth dressing a little better than usual, because people will unconsciously judge our credibility. | Clothing can be considered as body language. Most people will indirectly be influenced by the presenter’s clothing. You may probably disagree with this: the audience is here to receive some scientific content, not to judge someone’s appearance. It is true, but remember that people see you before they hear you! I am not saying you should wear a suit and tie or a formal skirt, but making a little effort never killed anyone! In scientific environments, the dress code is often not as strict as in other fields (//e.g.,// finances or law). However, it is worth dressing a little better than usual, because people will unconsciously judge our credibility. | ||
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| {{coherence.png?400|The heart rate in a state of cardiac coherence is more regular.}} | {{coherence.png?400|The heart rate in a state of cardiac coherence is more regular.}} | ||
| - | It is well known that the brain, through thoughts and mental images, influences heart rate. What is less known is that the heart can also influence the state of mind (//i.e.,// the brain). This creates a vicious circle where one component influences the other, leading to increased stress. There is a breathing exercise that can help to break this negative feedback loop and to get back to a state of cardiac coherence. The principle is that you have to focus on your breathing and your heart simultaneously. Focusing on your heart and on your breathing prevents you from having negative thoughts (//i.e.,// causing stress). This exercise is not instantaneous: it requires practice to be useful. Visit the following [[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4179616/|article]] for more information and this [[https://www.heartmath.org/resources/heartmath-tools/quick-coherence-technique-for-adults/|website]] for an audio file explaining the exercise. | + | It is well known that the brain, through thoughts and mental images, influences heart rate. What is less known is that the heart can also influence the state of mind (//i.e.,// the brain). This creates a vicious circle where one component influences the other, leading to increased stress. There is a breathing exercise that can help to break this negative feedback loop and to get back to a state of cardiac coherence. The principle is that you have to focus on your breathing and your heart simultaneously. Focusing on your heart and on your breathing prevents you from having negative thoughts (//i.e.,// causing stress). This exercise is not instantaneous: it requires practice to be useful. Check the following [[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4179616/|article]] for more information and this [[https://www.heartmath.org/resources/heartmath-tools/quick-coherence-technique-for-adults/|website]] for an audio file explaining the exercise. |
| ====== A few resources and good ideas ====== | ====== A few resources and good ideas ====== | ||
