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Practice Using Presentation Aids

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Recall our discussion of Steve Jobs’s annual keynote presentations in chapter 11. Clearly, Jobs rehearsed his presentations, including his use of presentation software and other technological aids—in fact, he knew it all well enough to work around the inevitable technological glitches when they arose. When practicing with your presentation aids, consider the following tips:

Eliminate surprises. If you’re using any kind of technology, practice with it long before you deliver your speech. A skipping DVD or an MP3 clip that didn’t download properly may stall your presentation.
Test the facilities in advance. Be proactive. Will the classroom PC be able to read files created on your Mac? It should, but you’ll rest easier if you test it out beforehand. Likewise, you should do visual and sound checks for video and audio clips to make sure that the entire audience will be able to see and hear them.
Write notes to yourself. In your outline, make sure that you provide delivery cues to let yourself know when to move to the next item or slide or when to show an image or play a clip. This will help you avoid rushing ahead to get to a particular aid, as well as ensure that you don’t forget any.
Rehearse any demonstrations with a partner. When your presentation aid is actually a live prop (for example, a student in your class), you’ll need to practice with this person in advance of the presentation.
Have a backup plan. What will you do if something malfunctions during your speech? If a video clip won’t play, can you present the information as a story? You might have a handout prepared for your audience members, just in case your software doesn’t work.