Guidelines and Suggestions for Preparing and Practicing your Presentations

Electronic Presentations

We'd love to help you use whatever electronic materials you've developed for your presentations.

To facilitate quick and smooth transitions between groups during the actual program we suggest the following:

1. Practice your presentation ahead of time so you know who will be pressing the advance on the computer, where they stand, who is speaking, where they move to when someone else takes their place, etc. All the "staging" you'll need.
2. We will have a computer with Windows XP, Powerpoint and Quicktime installed on it. This computer can play DVD movies, so if you have a movie you've created on a DVD, that will also work.
3. Live internet connections are not encouraged. If you need one, let us know ahead of time.
   
4. Please try to send us your powerpoint files several days ahead of time so we can get them on the computer and make sure everything is there and working properly. We will set up an ftp site where you can save them via Internet Explorer. DO NOT send them as email attachments - they are usually large files and are not very "friendly" to email server.

Powerpoint tips:

• Use standard fonts - Times and Helvetica. If you use fancy fonts, we may not have them on our computer, and it can mess up the formatting of your slides.
• If you use movies (.avi on Windows, Quicktime on Mac or Windows) be sure to include them with your powerpoint file. (Powerpoint does not embed them in the file as it does pictures.)
• No more than six lines of text, with six or seven words per line. (Or your own standards if you have some - just don't fill the screen with text!)

If you bring them on the day of the program, we can not guarantee that they will work. Please send them early so we are ready to go when you arrive.

If you plan on using something other than Powerpoint, and movies other than .avi, Quicktime or DVD's, please contact us ahead of time.

We request that you plan on getting materials to us ahead of time rather than bringing your own laptop. Time is limited in our program, and the extra few minutes it takes to switch laptops between groups extends our day, creates potential compatibility issues, and often challenges our audience to remain focused.

Stage Layout

You will be presenting from the stage in IslandWood's Great Hall. There are stairs up to the stage on both sides, with a podium with a microphone and computer on stage left (the left side of the stage when looking towards the audience) and another microphone at stage right. Your team will have to walk on to the stage and make your presentation - including someone running the computer, and changing speakers at the microphones - within our limited space, and leaving the center area open for the screen!

Our strong suggestion is that you use masking tape to mark out an area on the floor of your classroom (or gym, or cafeteria) complete with stairs , walls, screen and microphones, then PRACTICE!! (Question: "How do you get to Benaroya Hall?" Answer: "Practice!")

Here are the dimensions for our stage, and the best places to use: