Due Date: April 2 by 11:59 pm ET
Video Submission: Upload your video to YouTube. In your second milestone report, include the URL to your YouTube video. This URL will allow us to access and review your video as part of your submission. Detailed guidelines for the second milestone report can be found here.
With the increasing adoption of virtual formats in major conferences, video presentations have become a key skill for your research career. If your paper gets accepted for publication, you may be asked to create a video about it. That is why we are practicing this skill in class.
Your video should be a 3-4 minute summary of your work, with a strict limit of 4 minutes. We will not watch beyond the 4-minute mark. Your video should visually capture the essence of your project while highlighting key technical details. Include diagrams, figures, and charts to effectively illustrate the insights you’ve uncovered from the data. The speaker(s) need to be visible while presenting.
Considerations for a Strong Presentation
By considering the guidelines below, you can create a clear, engaging, and professional presentation of your work.
Enhancing Your Narrative
Whenever possible, use creative and engaging visualizations to enhance your narrative. These could include:
- Insightful Diagrams: Visual representations that clearly convey the core findings of your analysis.
- Detailed Data Examples: Show specific examples of data that could not be fully covered in your milestone report, particularly those that highlight key patterns or trends.
- Live Demonstrations: If applicable, include demonstrations that showcase how your analysis or data-driven solutions work in practice.
Lighting
- Position your light source in front of you.
- Avoid overhead lights or windows behind you that may cause glare.
- Indirect natural light is best. Record facing a window when possible.
- Artificial Light Tips: Keep lights out of the camera frame and not too close to your face.
Environment
- Choose a quiet location free from distractions.
- Avoid background noises such as music, road sounds, or voices.
- Turn off notifications on your phone and computer.
- On Windows 10, enable ‘Focus Assist’ to ‘Alarms Only’ during recording.
Backdrop & Attire
- Create a professional atmosphere.
- A plain white wall is ideal, or use a neat bookcase or another simple, uncluttered background as a backdrop.
- While casual dress is common, your appearance affects presentation effectiveness.
Audio
- Use a dedicated microphone for significantly better sound quality.
- You don’t need an expensive mic. Headset, USB, or lavalier microphones work well.
Recording Your Presentation
- Use a virtual laser pointer (mouse) to highlight key information.
- Basic Recording Tools (No Editing Needed):
- Zoom: Simple to use for live and recorded presentations.
- PowerPoint Recorder: Convenient for recording slides with voice narration.
- Advanced Editing Tools:
- ScreenPal (https://screenpal.com/): Works on Windows and Mac, offering more editing capabilities.
- OBS (https://obsproject.com/): Recommended for Linux users, as ScreenPal is incompatible. Provides extensive customization and recording features.
