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I had my committee meeting via Zoom today! For other people who& #39;ll be having online meetings and defences, here are my suggestions. [1/10] @AcademicChatter #acchat
1. Before the meeting, include some slides on your PPT with guidelines. For example: (a) Ask people to change the thumbnail so only the presenter is on the screen, (b) mute themselves during the presentation, (c) how can they message you if things go wrong? [2/10]
2. When making the PPT, leave an empty corner (like top right) on each slide, where you don& #39;t put any words or figures. Ask people to move your thumbnail to that corner so it doesn& #39;t obstruct the presentation, and they don& #39;t have to keep moving your face to see the figure. [3/10]
![2. When making the PPT, leave an empty corner (like top right) on each slide, where you don& #39;t put any words or figures. Ask people to move your thumbnail to that corner so it doesn& #39;t obstruct the presentation, and they don& #39;t have to keep moving your face to see the figure. [3/10]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ET6BMczXQAEMlPu.jpg "2. When making the PPT, leave an empty corner (like top right) on each slide, where you don& #39;t put any words or figures. Ask people to move your thumbnail to that corner so it doesn& #39;t obstruct the presentation, and they don& #39;t have to keep moving your face to see the figure. [3/10]")
3. Before and after the meeting, move the committee members to a Zoom "breakout room", where you are not present, so they can have their pre- and post-meeting discussions. Once they& #39;re done with the discussion, they can go back to the main room (where you are). [4/10]
![3. Before and after the meeting, move the committee members to a Zoom "breakout room", where you are not present, so they can have their pre- and post-meeting discussions. Once they& #39;re done with the discussion, they can go back to the main room (where you are). [4/10]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ET6Bfo9WAAYsEx8.jpg "3. Before and after the meeting, move the committee members to a Zoom \"breakout room\", where you are not present, so they can have their pre- and post-meeting discussions. Once they& #39;re done with the discussion, they can go back to the main room (where you are). [4/10]")
4. In PowerPoint, MAKE USE OF THE PEN/MARKER or laser pointers! Draw on your slides during the presentation to draw attention to what you& #39;re saying and what part of the figures you& #39;re talking about. [5/10]
![4. In PowerPoint, MAKE USE OF THE PEN/MARKER or laser pointers! Draw on your slides during the presentation to draw attention to what you& #39;re saying and what part of the figures you& #39;re talking about. [5/10]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ET6BxoqWkAMIyGs.jpg "4. In PowerPoint, MAKE USE OF THE PEN/MARKER or laser pointers! Draw on your slides during the presentation to draw attention to what you& #39;re saying and what part of the figures you& #39;re talking about. [5/10]")
5. Lay out a contingency plan. If someone loses their connection, what can they do? If they are unable to reconnect to the internet, how can they rejoin the call via phone? [6/10]
![5. Lay out a contingency plan. If someone loses their connection, what can they do? If they are unable to reconnect to the internet, how can they rejoin the call via phone? [6/10]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ET6CAd3XQAc8Q9O.jpg "5. Lay out a contingency plan. If someone loses their connection, what can they do? If they are unable to reconnect to the internet, how can they rejoin the call via phone? [6/10]")
6. If there are any departmental documents to be signed, share it with the committee prior to the meeting via Google Docs or email. [7/10]
7. In person meetings are hard enough, and online meetings are even harder, ESPECIALLY if you need to take notes in the middle. Ask your committee if you can record the meeting - that way, no one needs to divide their attention with note-taking. [8/10]
8. If required, you can use the "subtitles" feature on PowerPoint when sharing your screen, so that it& #39;s easier to follow in case your voice gets cut off due to shaky internet. [9/10]
