Oral presentations

Presentation slide guidelines and tips

Your presentation slides play a huge role in your presentation's success. To make sure your visuals are on point, keep the following in mind:

Presentation format: Presentations must be prepared using Microsoft Office PowerPoint (PPT) compatible with the Windows operating system.
NB. Executable files such as Adobe Flash, Google Slides, and Prezi are not compatible with our presentation management system.

To ensure your presentation displays optimally on screens and projectors, we recommend using the provided slide template. If you choose to use your own template, keep in mind that they are optimised for widescreen 16:9 ratio (wider image display). Adjust your slide size by choosing the "Design" tab, clicking on the "Page Setup" button, and selecting Widescreen (16:9) from the top navigation menu.
NB. It is not possible to convert the standard 4x3 aspect ratio presentation once onsite.

Optimise size: Large files can be difficult to transfer and may not display properly. To optimise your PowerPoint size, compress any images and videos.

Embed files: Ensure your presentation looks the way you intended, regardless of the computer being used, by embedding special fonts and media files when saving your presentation. Don't rely on Wi-Fi/Internet access to stream YouTube clips during the session; instead, embed a video file by selecting the "Video online" or "Video on my PC" option after clicking the "Insert" button in the top navigation menu.

Consistency: Use a uniform background colour, text size, text colour, and font throughout your presentation to help attendees follow the flow of your ideas. Consider building your presentation using the slide master.

Typography: Use sans-serif fonts like Arial, Helvetica, Calibri, or Verdana in at least 18-point font size. Align text left or right, rather than centring it. Use dark text on a light background for readability. If using a dark background, increase font size by two or three points.

Minimal words: Keep your slides concise with no more than five to eight lines of type with no more than five to seven words per line. Keep custom animations and slide transitions simple and use them sparingly.

Slide count: Use a maximum of one (1) slide per minute and leave blank space between lines of print.

Effective presentation practices

Conference is exciting but can also be mentally tiring for both presenters and attendees therefore it’s crucial to provide clear and concise information as well as keep them engaged by active involvement. Check out these helpful tips for delivering a presentation that captivates and informs:

Explain data: Keep in mind that attendees may not be familiar with the data you're presenting. To help them grasp your point, be sure to explain what they should be looking for.

Repetition: Repetition is key! Use it throughout your presentation to help attendees understand the facts.

Introduction and conclusion: A well-crafted introduction and conclusion will help tie everything together and leave a lasting impression on your audience.

Live polling: Live polling, a valuable tool for boosting attendee engagement and reinforce learning, is supported via the conference mobile app. If you intend to include live polling:

  • Limit the number of live polling questions to no more than two throughout your presentation.
  • Ensure that answers to live polling questions are either multiple choice or single choice; free text responses are not supported.

Due to onsite limitations, live polling must be arranged in advance and slots may be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. It is not possible to add live polling to presentations once onsite. Additionally, include your polling questions directly on your PowerPoint slides to signal to both the audience and the AV team when you plan to pose the questions. You may also consider displaying the correct answer on the subsequent slide after the poll has closed. All live polling questions, answers, and corresponding slide numbers must be compiled and submitted to the Conference & Events Team no later than 13 May 2024

Time constraints: Please refer to your presentation type to ensure you stick to the allotted time. Only include information or data that can be properly explained.

Repeat questions: If a question is posed, repeat it for the benefit of all attendees.

Lengthy replies: For questions that require a lengthy reply, suggest meeting after the presentation to take the discussion offline.

The big day: Time to share your expertise

Excitement is in the air as the moment we've all been waiting for has finally arrived! You're gearing up to share your brilliant research and expert knowledge with your peers at the conference. To make sure your presentation goes off without a hitch, it's essential to keep the following important details in mind for your onsite presentation:

Arriving at the venue: On arrival to the venue, simply head to the registration desk to collect your conference lanyard and check-in. 

Check-in with the Presenter Prep Hub: Don't forget to check in with the Presenter Prep Hub team at least three (3) hours before your session starts.

Arrive early: To ensure a seamless presentation, presenters should arrive at the session room least 10 minutes prior to the start of the session to check their presentation and meet the session chair and volunteers who will be assisting with your presentation.

Room set-up: Each room will have mixture of seating styles, including, but not limited to theatre (rows of seats facing forward), cabaret (round tables with seating facing forward) and standing room, allowing attendees to choose a seating option that best suits their preferences and needs.

Equipment: Each room is equipped with a lectern, lectern microphone, projector/screen, and speakers as a minimum. Additionally, all session rooms support PowerPoint presentation view, allowing you to view your presentation notes. Please ensure you have familiarised yourself with the audiovisual (AV) system in the room and on the screen before starting your presentation. This will help prevent any technical difficulties during the session. Due to logistical considerations and technical limitations, please note that only the in-house laptop and audio-visual equipment provided must be used; outside equipment cannot be accommodated.

Introducing yourself: To keep the session running on time, we encourage presenters to briefly introduce themselves. Attendees can view presenter biographies on the conference website program and conference mobile app.

Time keeping: To ensure a fair and respectful program, presenters will not be allowed to go beyond their allocated presentation time. Please practice your presentation to ensure your content fits within the timeframe without having to rush. Session chairs will provide prompts using timecards at 5 minutes, 2 minutes, 1 minute, and the end of allocated time to signal the time remaining for your presentation, indicating when you should start wrapping up. If necessary, they have the authority to conclude the presentation if you run overtime. If you find yourself running out of time, we encourage you to invite attendees to approach you during the break to discuss further.

Technical assistance / additional support: We understand that technical difficulties can occur, and we want to ensure that the session runs smoothly. If you encounter any technical difficulties during the session, please do not attempt to fix them on your own. Notify a student volunteer who will locate technical support staff to assist. We want to minimise any disruptions to the session, so please seek assistance as soon as possible.

Go green with your resources: A reminder that SPA will not be arranging and discourages the use of hardcopy materials. Instead, resources will be accessible through the conference mobile app. 

Attendee feedback: All attendees are provided with the opportunity to fill out a session evaluation after your presentation via the conference mobile app.

Follow up with attendees: Offer to exchange contact information, follow up with additional information, and keep in touch with attendees who share similar interests.

Presentation slide template

This template is designed to ensure consistency in formatting and layout, optimised for widescreen 16:9 ratio to look its best on screens and projectors.