How do you design and deliver data and evidence-based technical presentations online?

1 Choose the right tools

The first step is to choose the right tools for your presentation. Depending on your goals, audience, and content, you may need different software, platforms, and devices to create and share your presentation. For example, you may use PowerPoint, Google Slides, or Prezi to design your slides, Zoom, Skype, or Webex to host your meeting, and a microphone, webcam, or screen recorder to capture your voice and visuals. Make sure you test your tools before your presentation and have a backup plan in case of technical issues.

2 Plan your structure and content

The next step is to plan your structure and content. A good presentation has a clear introduction, body, and conclusion, and follows a logical flow of information. You should also consider how to use data and evidence to support your main points, persuade your audience, and answer their questions. Depending on your topic and purpose, you may use different types of data and evidence, such as facts, statistics, graphs, charts, diagrams, images, quotes, testimonials, or case studies. Make sure you select the most relevant and reliable data and evidence for your presentation, and cite your sources properly.

3 Design your slides

The third step is to design your slides. Your slides should be simple, clear, and consistent, and avoid clutter, distraction, and confusion. You should also use visual elements, such as colors, fonts, icons, and animations, to enhance your data and evidence, and make them easy to understand and remember. For example, you may use contrast, alignment, and hierarchy to highlight key information, charts, and graphs to show trends and patterns, and icons and images to illustrate concepts and examples. You should also use captions, labels, and legends to explain your data and evidence, and avoid jargon and acronyms.

4 Practice your delivery

The fourth step is to practice your delivery. Your delivery is how you convey your data and evidence through your voice, body language, and interaction with your audience. You should practice your delivery several times before your presentation, and record yourself if possible. You should also pay attention to your tone, pace, volume, and intonation, and use pauses, emphasis, and variation to keep your audience engaged. You should also use gestures, eye contact, and facial expressions to show your confidence and enthusiasm, and avoid filler words, ums, and ahs.

5 Engage your audience

The fifth step is to engage your audience. Engaging your audience is crucial for online presentations, as you may face more challenges in capturing and maintaining their attention and interest. You should use different strategies to engage your audience, such as asking questions, polls, or quizzes, using stories, anecdotes, or humor, providing examples, scenarios, or applications, and inviting feedback, comments, or questions. You should also monitor your audience's reactions, responses, and behaviors, and adjust your presentation accordingly.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?