Tips for Virtual Programs

Tips for Virtual Programs Bureau of International Information Programs

U.S. Department of State

visuals Background, Lighting and Position

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Background

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Avoid backlight from windows Place a light source in front of your computer (like a lamp) Choose a professional/neutral background - avoid clutter or very personal objects like beds, family pictures, etc which can be distracting

Position

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Avoid looking down on your audience Lower your chair or raise your laptop (books can be handy) to look at your audience instead Sit a natural distance from the camera - avoid leaning in and being a floating head

presentations Slides/Graphics/Videos

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Good Slides

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Reinforce your talking points. Don’t duplicate them with lots of text.

Have high quality images Keep things simple to keep your audience’s attention

Slideshow templates & Links to free images ❏ ❏

Free templates for your slideshows Stock Photos in the Public Domain. Check out.... ❏ ❏ ❏ ❏

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Google Usage Rights Filter for images. Stick to…. ❏ ❏ ❏ ❏

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Pexels.com Unsplash.com Pixabay.com Picnoi.com Labeled for reuse with modification Labeled for reuse Labeled for noncommercial reuse with modification Labeled for noncommerial reuse

Flickr Creative Commons images. Note usage/attribution requirements.

Wikimedia Commons images. Note attribution for slides.

THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF A BAD SLIDE. A really bad slide. Please don’t make your slides look like this. Your audience will get distracted/annoyed and you will lose their attention. INSTEAD, follow the advice on the other slides of this presentation. Ok? ❏ Distractin backgroun ❏ Nevr write a paragraF ❏ Make sure you check for spelling Errors!

❖ Avoid Clipart/bad images ❖ Avoide too many colors and Fonts ❖ Your font and Graphics

Another Example of a Bad Slide Paragraphs of plain text with lots of words and no images Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.

Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum."

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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit

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Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation

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Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate

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Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem.

Tips for Engagement How to connect with your virtual audience

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U.S. Speaker presentation for an audiences in Dushanbe and Qurghonteppa, Tajikistan Bureau of International Information Programs | Connecting People With Policy

Your Presentation ❏

Timing: Aim for no more than 15 - 20 minutes of slides. Less is more. Faces are usually more interesting than slides.

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Take breaks from showing slides/take breaks for Questions throughout your presentation, if possible.

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The U.S. Embassy can show/distribute supplemental materials - graphs, maps, videos, etc.

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Audience in Jalalabad, Afghanistan listening to a U.S. Speaker presentation Bureau of International Information Programs | Connecting People With Policy

U.S. Speaker presentation for audience in N’jamena, Chad Bureau of International Information Programs | Connecting People With Policy

Know Your Audience ❏

Work with the U.S. Embassy to understand the situation on the ground

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Before your presentation: Make sure the U.S. Embassy prepares invitees to be active participants

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After your presentation: Leave your audience with resources/materials

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U.S. Speaker presentation for audience in New Delhi, India

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Tech Requirements Bureau of International Information Programs | Connecting People With Policy

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Laptop or desktop with internal mic and cam. Preferably somewhat new computer.

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Wired internet connection or stable WiFi connection (at least 4/mbps up & down).

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Ability to do a technical test before your program date - must be at same location as live program.

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Back-up option such as a phone connection in case connectivity issues arise.

U.S. Speaker presentation for audience in Nicosia, Cyprus