February 6,2012

        The due date for the Capstone project presentation is nearing, and there is still much work that needs to be done. While that doesn't seem to provide too much of a worry for me, the presentation itself is making me a bit nervous. The criteria for the senior project has changed, and the professors are expecting much more of the seniors this year. Last year, a friend of mine made a poster and a short PowerPoint and a poster for his senior project. While this was enough for last year's criteria, I feel that the judges will expect much more of us this year.
       I plan on using a PowerPoint presentation to display the data I have obtained in a non-biased manner, and I want to use a website to provide information to any interested parties.
While this is my general plan, several websites I have gone to have given me some ideas for what to do to enhance my presentation.
Some of these ideas include:

• "Present Only Through Images
  Let a couple of pictures tell a story instead of using graphs and lots of text to make your presentation. You may use pictures that are not literal, but metaphorically represent what you are trying to say. This idea can be used particularly if you are presenting a project on current affairs or social issues such as peer pressure and the like. You will definitely have to take the help of your mentor to do this, but it is an idea worth considering. Honestly, not many people are interested in graphs and statistical figures. If you have the confidence to memorize your presentation and speak through the series of images you are presenting, this idea is sure to be a hit. You will not need any further material to make this idea work; just a slide show of some great images, and the power of your speech."
• http://www.buzzle.com/articles/senior-project-presentation-ideas.html 
•  "Be sure to have a back-up plan. Technology doesn't always work, so if you're doing a PowerPoint presentation, be sure to print out the slides just in case."
• http://www.enotes.com/documents/tips-for-great-presentations-senior-project-23609
• "Don't use flashy graphics for information, keep it simple to prevent the reader from being distracted."
• Prof. J. Kennedy, statistics professor at Richland.
• Begin your presentation with something that catches the judge’s attention.  Do a quick demonstration.  Tell a joke appropriate to the career field you researched.  Choose something that suits your personality, but that quickens the interest of the judges and students in the room.
• http://eltee.wordpress.com/senior-project/senior-project-presentation-tips/

• "Tip 6: Visual mnemonics:

  Having problems trying to remember what you want to say? Try using graphic elements to trigger your memory about key points."

  • http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/powerpoint-help/10-tips-to-enhance-presentations-HA001188725.aspx