This is part 4 of my series in my tl;dr in tech newsletter on getting started with speaking at technical conferences. This week, I wanted to give my tips for creating a compelling deck.Watch/listen to a lot of tech talksHere’s a list of my favorites: https://www.joekarlsson.com/2018/01/my-top-resources-for-learning-how-to-code/Do:Vary the format of your slidesReinforce your main points in writingCite your sources, provide links to referencesInclude a question and/or thank you slideKeep to short, succinct phrasesDon’t:Start by introducing yourself. Hook them first.Make your slides a replacement for what you’re sayingUse language like “obviously” and “we all know that”Use images without attribution (if Creative Commons)Forget about the Code of ConductA good demo is:Simple and straightforwardSelf containedAnalogous to other scenariosALWAYS have a backup plan if your live demo doesn’t work. I always record a demo just in case.If you’re including code samples in your talk, you’ll want to simplify it as much as you can both so that it’s easily legible on the slide and so the audience can more easily digest the content.
tl;dr in tech by Joe Karlsson - Issue #57
tl;dr in tech by Joe Karlsson - Issue #57
tl;dr in tech by Joe Karlsson - Issue #57
This is part 4 of my series in my tl;dr in tech newsletter on getting started with speaking at technical conferences. This week, I wanted to give my tips for creating a compelling deck.Watch/listen to a lot of tech talksHere’s a list of my favorites: https://www.joekarlsson.com/2018/01/my-top-resources-for-learning-how-to-code/Do:Vary the format of your slidesReinforce your main points in writingCite your sources, provide links to referencesInclude a question and/or thank you slideKeep to short, succinct phrasesDon’t:Start by introducing yourself. Hook them first.Make your slides a replacement for what you’re sayingUse language like “obviously” and “we all know that”Use images without attribution (if Creative Commons)Forget about the Code of ConductA good demo is:Simple and straightforwardSelf containedAnalogous to other scenariosALWAYS have a backup plan if your live demo doesn’t work. I always record a demo just in case.If you’re including code samples in your talk, you’ll want to simplify it as much as you can both so that it’s easily legible on the slide and so the audience can more easily digest the content.