Tips for a
    “good”
  technical
   seminar
Srinivasan Raghavan
MRC, IISc

- With inputs based on discussions with the MRC audience
- I have deleted the cartoons and images I used in the presentation at
MRC to avoid possible copyright violations, if any.
• These are only TIPS
  not RULES

• If you are nervous before
  or during a seminar,
  YOU ARE NOT ALONE
Tip 1:
  Learn Spoken English

• The first step in doing
 so is to accept that there
is nothing to be ashamed
of in not being able to
speak good English.
Tip 2:
Know your Audience

I – Introduction
B - Body : Experimental details,
           Results, Literature survey
T- Technicalities: Analysis, Discussion,
                   New Theories etc.



General audience : School Kids (90 I + 10 B)
General technical audience: Entire Materials Department (40 I+ 40 B +
  20 T)
Conference audience: Short technical Seminars (20 I +40 B + 40 T)
Very Focused audience: Long technical seminars (10 I + 40 B+ 50 T)
Tip 2A:
• Set goals for the talk

  Frame questions that you would like the
  audience to know answers to at the end
  of your talk.
Tip 3
Talk to your audience.



 Don’t talk to yourself. You are giving a
 seminar/talk, not delivering a speech
Tip 4
You have to be the master
of what you are talking about
Tip 5
Don’t have anything on your slide that you
don’t intend to talk about
Tip 6
Keep it simple



Items per slide = f (time per slide)

If many, introduce them one at a time
Tip 7
A picture = A 1000 words
Tip 10
A slide is only an aid to the presentation
Tendulkar style has been compared to early 90's legend,Bradman. Tendulkar is
ambidextrous, he bats, bowls and throws with his right hand, but prefers to write
with his left hand. He also practices left-handed throws at the nets on a regular
basis. He is described by Cricinfo columnist Sambit Bal as the "most wholesome
batsman of his time".[8] His batting is based on complete balance and poise
while limiting unnecessary movements and flourishes. He is strong in hitting the
ball to all parts of the field with a large variety of shots, although Bal believes that
           If you are reading out a slide you
Tendulkar's back-foot punch is his signature shot.[8] He appears to show little
preference for the slow and low wickets typically produced in India, hitting
               are doing something wrong !
numerous centuries around the world including the hard bouncy pitches of the
Carribean and Western Australia.[8]
Sir Donald Bradman, regarded as the greatest batsman of all time, regarded
Tendulkar to have a similar style to him. In his biography, it is stated that "He [Sir
Donald Bradman] was most taken in by Tendulkar's technique, compactness and
his shot production and had asked his wife to have a look at the Indian as he felt
that Tendulkar played like he had. Jessie agreed that they appeared similar. "
Tip 11
ALL Text should be large enough to read
Can you read thi
Can you read this (8 point)
Can you read this (10 point)
Can you read this (12 point)
Can you read this (14 point)
Can you read this (16 point)
Can you read this (18 point)
Tip 12
Have enough for the time allotted to you


Neither less   

nor EVEN A LITTLE more
Tip 13
Practice, Get Feedback, Get Better

Work on flow and transition
On answering questions:
•      During a question answer session, if you don’t know the answer just say “I don’t
       know.”
•      Learn to manage questions. If you think the question is relevant to communicating
       your ideas tackle it. If you think it is not, then put it off for a discussion at the end.


        On managing time:
    • Practice is the best way for 15 minute talks.
    • For longer seminars, tutorials etc. you may have to do dynamic time management.
    Depending on the audience response in the form of questions/interest/discussions you
    may have to delete certain portions of what you had planned to talk about or include
    information that you had but did not plan to talk about.


          On being nervous
     Prepare as if you are going to speak to a much more learned audience
     Present with the confidence of one who is much more learned.
Some sources
1. http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~scot/giving
   Talks/sld001.htm
2. http://www.cse.psu.edu/~yuanxie/advice.
   htm
3. http://www.eng.unt.edu/ian/guides/postsc
   ript/speaker.pdf
Tips for the audience
• It’s OK to question
• It’s OK to comment and
• It’s OK to disagree with the speaker……
                                      ….Politely
• Not to make fun of the speaker
• Not to show your superiority……..
                           …….This is uncivilized
  Ask a question only to understand the speaker
                        better!
Final thoughts
•   Learn English
•   Think about the audience
•   Keep it simple
•   Practice
•   Talk to the audience

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Tech seminar

  • 1. Tips for a “good” technical seminar Srinivasan Raghavan MRC, IISc - With inputs based on discussions with the MRC audience - I have deleted the cartoons and images I used in the presentation at MRC to avoid possible copyright violations, if any.
  • 2. • These are only TIPS not RULES • If you are nervous before or during a seminar, YOU ARE NOT ALONE
  • 3. Tip 1: Learn Spoken English • The first step in doing so is to accept that there is nothing to be ashamed of in not being able to speak good English.
  • 4. Tip 2: Know your Audience I – Introduction B - Body : Experimental details, Results, Literature survey T- Technicalities: Analysis, Discussion, New Theories etc. General audience : School Kids (90 I + 10 B) General technical audience: Entire Materials Department (40 I+ 40 B + 20 T) Conference audience: Short technical Seminars (20 I +40 B + 40 T) Very Focused audience: Long technical seminars (10 I + 40 B+ 50 T)
  • 5. Tip 2A: • Set goals for the talk Frame questions that you would like the audience to know answers to at the end of your talk.
  • 6. Tip 3 Talk to your audience. Don’t talk to yourself. You are giving a seminar/talk, not delivering a speech
  • 7. Tip 4 You have to be the master of what you are talking about
  • 8. Tip 5 Don’t have anything on your slide that you don’t intend to talk about
  • 9. Tip 6 Keep it simple Items per slide = f (time per slide) If many, introduce them one at a time
  • 10. Tip 7 A picture = A 1000 words
  • 11. Tip 10 A slide is only an aid to the presentation Tendulkar style has been compared to early 90's legend,Bradman. Tendulkar is ambidextrous, he bats, bowls and throws with his right hand, but prefers to write with his left hand. He also practices left-handed throws at the nets on a regular basis. He is described by Cricinfo columnist Sambit Bal as the "most wholesome batsman of his time".[8] His batting is based on complete balance and poise while limiting unnecessary movements and flourishes. He is strong in hitting the ball to all parts of the field with a large variety of shots, although Bal believes that If you are reading out a slide you Tendulkar's back-foot punch is his signature shot.[8] He appears to show little preference for the slow and low wickets typically produced in India, hitting are doing something wrong ! numerous centuries around the world including the hard bouncy pitches of the Carribean and Western Australia.[8] Sir Donald Bradman, regarded as the greatest batsman of all time, regarded Tendulkar to have a similar style to him. In his biography, it is stated that "He [Sir Donald Bradman] was most taken in by Tendulkar's technique, compactness and his shot production and had asked his wife to have a look at the Indian as he felt that Tendulkar played like he had. Jessie agreed that they appeared similar. "
  • 12. Tip 11 ALL Text should be large enough to read Can you read thi Can you read this (8 point) Can you read this (10 point) Can you read this (12 point) Can you read this (14 point) Can you read this (16 point) Can you read this (18 point)
  • 13. Tip 12 Have enough for the time allotted to you Neither less  nor EVEN A LITTLE more
  • 14. Tip 13 Practice, Get Feedback, Get Better Work on flow and transition
  • 15. On answering questions: • During a question answer session, if you don’t know the answer just say “I don’t know.” • Learn to manage questions. If you think the question is relevant to communicating your ideas tackle it. If you think it is not, then put it off for a discussion at the end. On managing time: • Practice is the best way for 15 minute talks. • For longer seminars, tutorials etc. you may have to do dynamic time management. Depending on the audience response in the form of questions/interest/discussions you may have to delete certain portions of what you had planned to talk about or include information that you had but did not plan to talk about. On being nervous Prepare as if you are going to speak to a much more learned audience Present with the confidence of one who is much more learned.
  • 16. Some sources 1. http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~scot/giving Talks/sld001.htm 2. http://www.cse.psu.edu/~yuanxie/advice. htm 3. http://www.eng.unt.edu/ian/guides/postsc ript/speaker.pdf
  • 17. Tips for the audience • It’s OK to question • It’s OK to comment and • It’s OK to disagree with the speaker…… ….Politely • Not to make fun of the speaker • Not to show your superiority…….. …….This is uncivilized Ask a question only to understand the speaker better!
  • 18. Final thoughts • Learn English • Think about the audience • Keep it simple • Practice • Talk to the audience