While some elements remain similar to traditional face-to-face presentations, the specific channel by which digital presentations take place is primarily what makes them so unique. As a result, there are some fairly standardized best practices for ensuring that a digital presentation looks and sounds its very best. By implementing these best practices we work to ensure that audience members are engaged from start to finish and perceive both the presentation and the presenter as both dynamic and credible.

Zoom Basics

Zoom is a video conferencing tool available to all faculty, staff, and students at UNO. You can use Zoom to record videos of meetings automatically, share your device's screen, international video call others and more. In this course, you will use Zoom to record you speaking to a group of your classmates in real-time. Please note that Zoom requires a webcam and microphone which can be found on most laptops. If you do not have a webcam and microphone on your computer external ones can be purchased separately.

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If you are having problems with Zoom or have questions please call the UNO helpdesk at 402.544.4357 or email them at unohelpdesk@nebraska.edu

Looking Good on Camera

Size and scope.

The ideal environment does not need to be overly vast. In fact, most speakers will want to frame themselves with a professional background that has clearly defined parameters (i.e. small office spaces). The presenter should not move around during the shoot, so viewers will only see a small area of the environment. This means the presenter will need to prepare an area that is no more than approximately 10 square feet. Nevertheless, this area should be free of clutter and any unnecessary items.

Light and sound considerations.

Spaces that are rather large or that lack materials to absorb sound may present challenges for capturing quality sound. A presenter should try to identify an environment that they can exert a great deal of control over.
Tip: If the room you are setting up in has a lot of natural light, you’ll want to avoid setting up in front of that window. Instead, try to utilize that natural light as your fill light, likely meaning that the window will be adjacent to one side of the presenter.

Establishing a distraction-free zone.

The ideal environment should be free of extraneous disruptions and distractions. It is important that both the presenter and members of the (synchronous) audience make an effort to eliminate all potential disruptions during a video-based presentation. Common distractions include pets and interruptions from others in the household. Remember that you should remain professional and maintain focus on your speech in the event of unplanned distraction.

Camera positioning.

- The camera should be adjusted to the same height as the presenter’s eye line, which helps to ensure they are looking straight into the camera, as opposed to looking up or down at the audience. Next, the camera should be positioned approximately body length away from the presenter. You’ll want to consider using a handheld clicker to advance slides to be an adequate distance away from your webcam and look as professional as possible. The bottom of the frame should begin around the middle of the presenter’s chest and the presenter should be positioned slightly closer to one edge of the frame.

Nonverbal movement, expressions, and vocals.

Presenters need to be aware of the boundaries of their camera frame and should not move outside of these boundaries. During a traditional face-to-face presentation, we would expect a dynamic presenter to move gracefully in an effort to command attention from different parts of the room, however, this is not something that should be directly adopted into digital presentations.

Wardrobe Considerations.

Identify what color the background of your shot frame is going to be and be sure to select colors that will complement each other well. Avoid wearing the same color as the background as it will blend in and not help distinguish a good contrasting effect for the presenter. Next, stick to solid patterns and traditional styles when possible. Even the slightest patterns on clothes can create some visual distortion on screen, making the image look fuzzy. Jewelry can look good on camera, but it can also be the source of unwanted noise, thus, avoid bracelets or dangly earrings that might produce noise that can be easily picked up by microphones.

Sounding Professional.

The sound of a presenter’s voice can also have a significant influence on how the audience perceives the presentation and its messages. One thing that presenters can do to create an engaging auditory environment for their attendees is to be vocally dynamic. Vocal dynamism involves appropriately varying the sounds of the voice including: tone, pitch, volume, and rate of speech. Vocal delivery that is considered to be monotone and lacking in dynamism is perceived by listeners as a lack of interest and can quickly disengage even the most loyal audience members.