Welcome
We are excited to welcome you as a speaker for the LFX Mentorship Showcase, taking place virtually on Wednesday, January 12, during Eastern Standard Time (UTC-5).
Please see below for details about the day and additional information to help you prepare.
Please click through the tabs on this page to access information.
Day of Details + Program Format
Your actual speaking segment will be done via Zoom webinar and you will need to log into the webinar, using your personalized link, thirty (30) minutes before your segment is scheduled to begin. You will be greeted by Linux Foundation Staff members, and our production manager, Matt O’Donnell with Tantaulus Productions, will also be there to ensure there are no technical issues and will walk you through any additional instructions.
Once the program starts, Shuah Khan, Linux Kernel Fellow, will kick off with opening remarks, and from there, attendees will introduce themselves in the order indicated on the event schedule. We ask that you please make a note of who speakers before you because once they are done, you will introduce yourself. We recommend starting with “Hello, my name is ____ _____, and today I will be talking about” and then going into your introduction and presentation. You will have 10 minutes, and we recommend you use a timer to stay on track.
There will not be any type of Q+A during your talk, due to a robust schedule, but you will be able to communicate directly with attendees and other speakers via the virtual event platform, Accelevents.
**Please note that our team will also communicate with you via the chat function on when you will be presenting, so please be sure to open the chat window to see those messages.
Virtual Platform
While we will be using Zoom webinar for your particular segment presentation, you will need to sign onto the virtual platform, Accelevents, to view the other speaking segments and chat directly with attendees.
Be sure to set-up your personal profile on Accelevents, and please keep an eye out on the direct messages section as that is where attendees can message you, and you can also send direct messages within the platform too. You will receive the link to the platform via email so please keep an eye out for that.
Presentation Template and Slide Upload
An optional PowerPoint template is available to download for your use but is not required.
To upload slides:
We ask that all speakers upload their slides Sched.com for attendee reference. In addition to providing a hard copy for accessibility purposes, we find that adding the presentations before the event helps to drive interest in attending the session.
Please note that your presentation slides should be uploaded in PDF-format to Sched.com and must be formatted in 16:9.
To upload slides:
- Log into your LFX Mentorship Showcase speaker profile through Sched.com
- On the middle of the page, click “Manage and Promote Your Session”
- Click “Add Presentation”
- Click in the “Select a File” box and add the PDF document (note: there is a 50MB size limit)
- Click “Upload” and your slides will automatically be saved
If you need any assistance, or would like the content team to upload on your behalf, please contact cfp@linuxfoundation.org.
Technical Tips for Virtual Presentations
- Audio – as counterintuitive as it may sound, the single most important factor in a good video, is the audio quality.
- Eliminate ambient noise – close the doors and windows. You’d be surprised how much environmental noise gets picked up.
- Lighting – Do not put lights overhead and don’t put any lights or windows behind you as they will alter the light levels in your videos and create shadows.
- Background – don’t be afraid to show your natural environment – bookcases, plants, paintings – as long as they are not too distracting.
- Framing – place yourself slightly off-center to the left or right rather than directly in the middle of the frame.
- Camera Height – the lens should either be directly level or pointing ever so slightly downwards towards your face.
- Stand – we recommend you stand during your presentation to help project your voice and improve your posture. However, if you’re more comfortable sitting, then please do.
- Timer – Have a clock to keep track of the time you have remaining.
Lighting, Webcam and Microphone Best Practices
Best Practices for Lighting
- For best results, use natural light and supplement with additional light as needed.
- Keep natural light in front of you to avoid shadows. A bright window behind you can make you appear as a dark silhouette.
- Interior rooms with no natural light source may require additional targeted lighting, such as a ring light, to brighten the speaker’s face.
Best Practices for Webcams
- To ensure the speaker is looking directly at the audience, place the webcam at eye level.
- Avoid distracting backgrounds by checking the surroundings behind you to make sure there are no distracting colors or movement.
- Presenters should use chairs that are adjustable for height but do not swivel. Swiveling on camera creates a poor attendee experience and can be distracting.
Best Practices for Microphones
- Use external microphones whenever available, as microphones built into computers and cameras often have lower quality.
- An external microphone allows the speaker to place it in the optimal location for sound.
- Place the microphone close to the speaker’s mouth, but not in the camera view.
- Test audio levels in advance.
- Manage noise by turning off fans, phones, or speakers and keep ambient noise to a minimum.
- Do not touch the microphone while unmuted.
Dress Code
- There is no dress code for presentations, and we encourage you to be comfortable. That said, you must be aware the Code of Conduct applies to this space, both in terms of what you show on camera and what you say. We ask that you be tasteful and considerate in choosing your clothing and surroundings. Keep in mind that we are a global community. Please refrain from wearing shirts with international brand logos that are not your own. Solid colors (not white) also work best instead of prints.
Tips to Keep Your Virtual Audience Engaged
- Learn the Content: Familiarity with the content allows a speaker to focus on presenting, rather than trying to remember the points to make. To minimize worry about forgetting elements of the presentation, include notes in your presentation file and have a printout of your script or talking points.
- Practice Makes Perfect: Speakers should practice their content delivery in the environment in which they will deliver it, such as in front of a computer. Presenting alone to a computer can be awkward at first. To make speakers more comfortable, ask colleagues, roommates, or family to sit in front so they can present to familiar faces.
- Understand the Tools: Speakers should understand and utilize the content options available to them, to maximize the effectiveness of the presentation technology. It’s important to know the basic functions of the software, e.g. how to advance slides, manage Q&A or chats, before the presentation.
- Speak Up: Check audio levels before presenting, but also make sure to breathe at regular intervals to speak audibly and clearly. Maintaining a clear, even tone throughout the presentation will allow the audience to hear it without adjusting their volume settings.
- Look at Your Camera: If presenting via video, remember, the webcam is your link to your audience. Make eye contact with the camera so it appears to the audience that you are speaking directly to them.
- Don’t Fear Mistakes: Humans make mistakes, even during presentations. Realize that flubs happen and they won’t derail your presentation – unless you let them. Just keep going in your planned presentation and remember, the audience is forgiving.
- Be Prepared: During the presentation, have a glass of water nearby to sip as needed. Also, keep handy a printout of your slides or notes in case you need to refer to them.
Source: https://www.inxpo.com/assets/pdfs/litepapers/How-To-Be-An-Engaging-Speaker.pdf
Additional Resources
- Web Presenting: Gear Tips + Enhancing Your Remote Studio
- 19 Video Presentation Tips to help you give a great presentation (even if you hate the way you look on camera)
- 9 Tips for Giving Engaging Virtual Presentations | This article gives 9 tips and within each tip has folks from the tech world giving their advice in a fun/relatable way.
- PACE Acronym for Virtual Presentations
- Checklist for Speakers | This article provides checklists applicable for speakers that are live streaming.
Code of Conduct
Please read, and abide, by our code of conduct. Our code of conduct is strictly enforced. Therefore, we ask that speakers mainly review this code of conduct and be inclusive of the words and images used during their presentations.
Contact Us
If you have any other platform, speaker, or schedule-related questions, please contact us at cfp@linuxfoundation.org.