Oral presentation
Oral presentation of your work is as important as your written report. If you can present your project effectively, then only there will be an impact of the work. So, you should prepare yourselves for the oral presentation in a very systematic manner.
In the last Congresses we have seen children getting into trouble in each step by trying to cover everything in the project report in the allotted 8 (eight) minutes. Assuming that you can highlight (speak on) one point/idea in one minute, then 6-7 ideas can be presented effectively. Effective presentation means presentation done patiently, making it audible and understandable by the audience. So, it is important to select the most important points to be highlighted during the presentation. A person interested in your project will go through it in details and evaluate it as a whole.
As you start your presentation, tell the names of your group members, name of your school/organisation and place to which you belong to. Then come to the main work directly (avoid unnecessary introduction). Tell the title of the project and start speaking on why you are doing it (the need), how you have done it, the results obtained, conclusion(s), probable solution to the problem.
Use of posters (charts) during the project presentation is compulsory. You may also use models etc., if you have made any. The poster should be clear and simple. You should never try to cramp a lot of information into the posters. While presenting do not ever try to explain all the things given in the posters. In the Children’s Science Congress you can use transparencies (on OHP i.e. Over Head Projector) or LCD projectors. However, LCD/OHP is not advisable at District Level Congress.
Quite often it is seen that the children memorise a speech of about 8 minutes and try to reproduce it during project presentation without getting involved with the presentation. Such a presentation carries no appeal and the audience normally gets bored. So, it is important to take help of the posters during the presentation. Some children bring along sheets of paper and read these out during the presentation. This is not a presentation, but reading (Note the difference between paper presentation and paper reading!). In National Children's Science Congress we want you to be smart orators as well. So, take care of this aspect.
Never get excited during the presentation and avoid unnecessary movement of your body. Such actions reduce the impact of your presentation. Dramatization may be necessary during the debate or a mock parliament; but in NCSC, the audience wants clear and sober presentation.
Avoid the use of difficult words and ornamental language. Unnecessary use of ornamental language eats up the time allotted for presentation; it also makes the presentation fussy.
As you take your stand to present your paper, establish eye contact with the audience. Never concentrate on a particular group of people or inert objects (such as doors, windows, ceiling and outside). If you do so, the overall impact of your presentation will be much reduced even if your way of expression is of the highest order.
There will be some time allotted for interaction (question-answer) after your presentation. Listen to the questions attentively and think before you answer. Do not lose your temper even if a question is totally irrelevant. You should try to remain as alm and pleasant as possible. If you get excited/irritated, then you create a negative impression among the audience.