Presenter Tools

• SPSP 2024 is available to registered attendees only.
• The sharing of login information (email and/or password) to the conference platform, Whova, is strictly prohibited. Likewise, sharing any Zoom links, login information, or other access information to conference-related content (sessions, networking events, mentoring opportunities, etc.) is not allowed.
• Any sharing of content outside of our secure platform opens all attendees up to serious security risks (e.g. Zoom bombing, spamming). Please help to keep our conference safe by not sharing any conference content.

Read more about our Code of Conduct

If you are presenting a poster, please use the Poster PowerPoint template. If you are presenting any other type of session, please use the Presenter PowerPoint Template. Please refer to our guidelines below for additional details.

Poster PowerPoint Template  Presenter PowerPoint Template

These templates should be used for consistency and to ensure accessibility. Some additional tips and suggestions:

• Keep text and images on the top two/thirds of the page to allow for closed captioning.
• Keep information concise. Avoid text-heavy content.
• Limit each slide to one clear idea or topic.
• Use visually appealing slides to keep attendees engaged (provide a new visual every 30-60 seconds, change the type of visuals you are providing, etc.)
• Do not use copyrighted materials or content that should not be shared publicly.
• Be engaging!
• Start off strong! Most people decide to continue watching within the first minute.
• Use storytelling to deliver your content. Adults connect with stories, which makes learning more impactful.
• Avoid the first 3 minutes on housekeeping and introductions; instead sprinkle those details throughout the session.
• Consider the Accessibility Guidelines in the section below.

Presentations will be recorded by the presenters using their own technology. More information and the links to upload the various types of presentations can be found in the presenter guidelines linked above.

Presenters may record using the method with which they are most comfortable. Some tips for recording: 

• Camera should be placed at eye level.
• Background needs to be presentable and without distractions.
• Natural lighting in front of you is best.
• Use a microphone separate from your computer. Headphones with microphone capabilities are recommended.
• Film horizontally for a better viewing experience.
• Recording in Zoom is a simple and familiar way to record your session.
• Record a short test video.
• Mute anything that may ring, buzz, or beep.
• Log out of programs that may have pop-up notifications on the screen.

Helpful link

How to make your PowerPoint presentations accessible to people with disabilities - by Microsoft Office

Formatting text

• For people who have dyslexia or low vision, make sure to reduce the reading load
  • These people may benefit from familiar sans-serif fonts such as Arial or Calibri
• Avoid using all capital letters and excessive italics or underlines
• Include ample blank space between sentences and paragraphs
• Use large font size—20 points or larger

Using accessible text color

• Use dark text on a white or off-white background or reverse it and use white text on a dark background so people with low vision can see and use the content. This is also helpful for audience members with dyslexia
• White and black schemas make it easier for people who are colorblind to distinguish text and shapes

Set the reading order for slide contents

• When someone who can see reads a slide, they usually read things, such as text or a picture, in the order the elements appear on the slide. In contrast, a screen reader reads the elements of a slide in the order they were added to the slide, which might be very different from the order in which things appear.
• To make sure everyone reads the contents in the order you intend, it’s important to check the reading order.
• Steps to follow:
  • On the home tab in the drawing tab, select arrange
  • In the arrange menu, select selection pane
  • In the selection pane, to change the reading order drag and drop items into the correct order

Create alternative text to images

• Alternative text is helpful for people who cannot see the screen enough to make out the image, but can read okay.
• Avoid using images as the sole method of conveying important information
• When using images, it is helpful to provide an alternative text which describes the image or verbally describe the image
  • To add alternative texts to images, right-click on the photo, select format picture, then select alt text and edit the text box to reflect what is presented in the photo
  • More info: Adding alt text to images - Microsoft Office

Screen Reader Tips

• Blind audience members sometimes use screen readers which read tables by keeping track of the location in a table by counting cells. The screen reader can lose count if there is a table nested within another table or if a cell is merged or split.
• Screen readers use header information to identify rows and columns
  • Click inside the table, select the design tab, then in the table style options on the left of the tab, select the header row check box, then type in the header columns.

You will receive an e-mail from Whova ([email protected]) asking you to create your profile. This will allow attendees to get to know you and encourage greater networking. Details to include are affiliation, job title, biography, profile picture, social media handles, topics you want your audience to discuss before or after your talk, and links to publications/news/articles. Consider using the “unofficial” bio within your profile.

Virtual Meet-up

• Poster presenters may schedule a Virtual Meet-up in Whova to continue the discussion (30 people max). Presenters may promote the Virtual Meet-up during the Q&A portion of their session.  
• Go to the Community Board and find Meet-ups and Virtual Meets. Tap “Suggest a Meet” to input the details. It is required to use Whova to ensure all events are safe, accessible, and easily found within the official program.
• Attendees can find the Virtual Meet-up by going to the same place. Find the meetup you are interested in, join directly, or click into it to see more details, and then click “RSVP.” 
• When the meetup starts, click “Join meeting room” to start chatting!

Presenter Profile

• When setting up the profile, presenters will be prompted to create a discussion topic which appears on the Community Board in Whova. This field is optional.
• If utilized, SPSP requests that only one topic be submitted as there is no system to categorize topics.

Polls

• Presenters can create up to (5) polls per session and/or subsession.
• Polls can be opened by the attendees immediately or scheduled for a specific date/time.  

Presenters are welcome to share their recorded presentations publicly. As in past years, presenters can share their poster or talk by uploading it to the Open Science Framework (OSF).

Link coming soon