Instructional Development Institute The IDI

Presenter Guidance

Take stock of the elements involved in a virtual presentation. Check out this helpful infographic from University of Missouri’s Jerod Quinn and Tina Fox for “Creating a Great Presentation.”
Ensure all supplemental resources are accessible. Documents should be styled for screen-reader use, videos should have captions or transcriptions, and images within your presentation should contain alternative text, per the University’s IT Accessibility Policy.
If you include visuals in your presentation, keep them simple. Limit the amount of information on each slide to key points. Be thoughtful when selecting images and diagrams—how do they add to your presentation? Are they easy to decipher on smaller screens?

Plan time for audience engagement if you're hosting a Virtual Roundtable or a longer session. Attempt to strike a balance between instructive, productive, and reflective time within the 50-minute session.
Select engagement activities strategically. Think about what format would work best for your topic and presentation structure. Would you like attendees to have reflective discussion time in breakout rooms? Will it be useful to have attendees contribute to a collaborative document or online slide deck? Communicate these decisions with your CATL facilitator.
Account for variable audience sizes. Session attendance varies (expect anywhere from 10 to 80 attendees), so prepare activities that are scalable.
Include tangible takeaways. Ensure that a part of your session is dedicated to how your results, techniques, or strategies may scale for other instructors, courses, programs, or colleges. Consider introducing the session’s learning objectives towards the start of the session. At the end, encourage your attendees to post one of their key takeaways in the Canvas discussion dedicated to your session.
Consider asynchronous viewers. Sessions will be recorded and lightly edited by your CATL facilitator. Recordings will be made available after the Institute so that asynchronous participants can engage with the video, Canvas discussion, and any supplemental resources. You may wish to draft some discussion questions for asynchronous viewers to engage with in the Canvas discussion.

Rehearse your presentation. If you can, it’s ideal to schedule a practice session with your fellow presenters. If this isn’t possible, still practice your own portion of the presentation beforehand. Feel free to invite your CATL facilitator to your dry run!
Be mindful of your pace so the audience/participants will have enough time to engage fully with the content. Time yourself while practicing your presentation to make sure you are on target for your estimated allotted time.
Familiarize yourself with Zoom meetings. Make sure you know how to use Zoom’s basic meeting controls. If you would like assistance with moderating chat, running breakout rooms, or sharing a PowerPoint presentation, communicate these needs to your CATL facilitator well in advance.
Ask for help if you need it. Your CATL facilitator is here if you need someone to brainstorm with, want a practice “audience”, or just have questions about logistics. Reach out if you have any questions or concerns.