Presentation questions

Hi all,

Some quick questions on the presentation and I would be grateful of any thoughts:

1. Stand or sit? or does it really matter once head and shoulders are visible?
2. Graphs pasted as picture or something else?
3. In the 4 hour window to do presentation I am assuming that you can continue to practice during this time, just need to upload in the window?
4. Are the slides marked as they appear alongside the video or separately? i.e. should the text be large enough to read in the small window?

Thanks

 

1. It doesn't matter whether you stand or sit. But standing often helps you to project your voice better. If you sit, sit straight rather than slouch. You want to look professional. Practise both ways and see which you find more comfortable.
2. Pasting may be better but whichever way you do it remember labels, legends and titles.
3. I'd hope you wouldn't want more practise by this stage but yes you can do more. Just don't run out of time.
4. I think they can be viewed separately as well as alongside, so I don't think the typeface needs to be massive. Choose something easy on the eye.

 

1. I would recommend standing. They want to see body language & hand gestures.
2. depends on your base template I think (can do funny things to the colours & fonts?). I've used paste as a picture so I don't have to review the chart twice
3. I used the tool to do plenty of dry runs & watched the recording until I was happy, plus a few more for memory. I think though overdoing practicing could remove some of the energy or "freshness" of the presentation.
4. The acted notes give recommendations on font size, but in general I think should be legible. However this can depend on how far you're standing from your screen & screen size, so I would also have any key facts & figures you need to refer to on a notes card for during your presentation.
Good luck!

 

Thanks to you both! very good advice

 

Surely that's crazy to only look at the slides on that tiny screen? I agree the font size should not be too small, and diagrams/charts simple, but judging by some of the past papers you'd need to view the slides as full screen on a PC/laptop to appreciate them.

 

So, what size are we talking...like is font 24 reasonable? And for EVERYTHING, including Axis numeric values, Axis Titles and Legend titles on Graphs? It seems to get abit cluttered
I like specifics, and am doing the exam very soon, so any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Hi All,
Can you help me with a couple more questions:
1. Can we use the power point themes to add color to the slides?
2. Can we use externally downloaded images or clipart images for presentation?
Thanks!

 

Hi David
Can I check something with you
I prepare my graphs and tables in excel before transporting them onto the PP slide
If I follow this approach do you know what font size I need to maintain?
Cheers

 

Hi David,

Can we use pictures from the internet in the PPT. I found the exams require no help from the internet but the examiners report use some nice pictures.

 

https://www.acted.co.uk/forums/index.php?threads/pictures-in-presentations.12981/

 

Hey guys,

On the stand-up/sit down debate.

When standing, does it look awkward when you attempt to change slide during the presentation?

Any thoughts on this, any tricks!

 

Must wonder if they do! I was sat down presenting to my webcam and did make hand gestures, not in an over the top way at all. One of them said:
"...some appropriate gestures but moving around became distracting."
the other said:
"Voice is fine but rocking motion is off putting."

I do think this shows a problem with being judged on how you speak into a webcam, where gestures can appear exaggerated, depending on how your camera is set up! It's a disgrace that we lose marks on rubbish like this - we're not professional video makers and when I did the test presentation the IFoA didn't say move your camera back or anything!!!!

Also I had to move towards the laptop in order to move the slide along etc. what on earth do these people want from us on CA3 DOES ANYONE KNOW? What does any of this rubbish have to do with actuary?

 

these comments alone won't mean you failed. Remember the pass mark isn't 100% - it's less than 70%. When you do the test, isn't that just to ensure they can play it? There's no way they will watch every test. Take heart in the positive message that your voice was fine, so a good pace and volume. And they didn't say your gestures were too bold so you did look natural. You don't know when the rocking occurred, it could be that you naturally sway a bit in presenting. I don't know. Perhaps you moved to change slides mid sentence and that's why the comment. So maybe finish your sentence then change slide. Perhaps record a few for yourself play them back and see if you notice anything. And remember, soon presentations won't be in ca3 so consider waiting to resit instead.

 

What a load of rubbish: every lost mark pushes people towards a fail! It seems you want us to disregard the poor quality going on in terms of how people are assessed. You are of course very quiet on the threads where student after student reveal evidence their two markers were way out from each other.

 

They are quoting facts. What do you want me to say in specific quoted numbers. I haven't seen the scripts. I'm trying to give help on how to move from pass to fail. I can't explain people's judgements. I don't sit in their heads. Yes you want to avoid losing marks I've given you suggestions on things to try. I'm not out to say who is wrong or right.