4. Know your environment

Some aspects to consider for physical environments can be established by answering the following questions:

Some aspects to consider for online environments can be established by answering the following questions:

• What is the layout and size of the venue?
• Will you have to stand at a podium or will you be able to move around and interact with the presentation and the audience?
• For bigger and/or noisy venues a microphone is compulsory. Familiarise yourself with using a microphone, if necessary.
• Will you need to use a microphone and what type of microphones are available?
• With a lapel microphone that is attached to your body, you will still be able to use your hands and arms to illustrate while if it’s a handheld microphone you will be restricted in this regard.
• How will the lighting in the room affect the readability of your slides?
• In very light rooms you will have to use dark colours to ensure the audience can see the slides.
• What presentation tools are available such as laser pointers and speakers?
• If you will be playing music and/or videos, speakers must be available, test the sound beforehand.
• Are there distractions like traffic, aircon noise, or windows where people pass by?

• What application or platform will be used to conduct the online presentation? Examples are Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Hangouts, etc.
  
  
• What device will you be using to present?
  
  
• Does it have a webcam and a microphone?
  
  
• Is the device supported by the platform to be used?
  
  
• Is the quality of the microphone and camera suitable?
  
  
• Are you familiar with the application or platform and the device to be used?
• Suitable connectivity?
  
  
• Is your internet speed enough?
  
• Do you have enough data?
  
• Is the internet connection stable?