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Class Presentation Fundamentals
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Class Presentation Fundamentals Elements of a Successful Class Presentation Published February 15, 2006 by Meg Bartlett
Did you know?You can videotape the class presentation rehearsal then review and critique yourselves
TakeawaysUse visual aids to engage your audience!Be prepared.Consider giving your aduience a quiz to see how much they learned.
Presentations are about sharing information. Whether working in groups or presenting individually, the process offers tremendous value as a learning tool. Push for clarity in the prime topic or objective as this will provide a strong starting point. If working in groups allow extra time for group dynamics and developing a fluid presentation.
Groups are fun to work in because each person brings a unique perspective. Assess the group you are working with for strengths and weaknesses. Is someone a good artist or public speaker? Does anyone enjoy research and analysis or have a special interest in the topic? Brainstorm about special connections that might exist, for example if you are doing a class presentation on the ancient Aztec civilization, does anyone in the group have Mexican descendants? An oral history or story would be a great way to spark audience interest. It is equally important to assess weaknesses. If someone is petrified of public speaking perhaps they could pass out the outline or spend more time on research and writing. Generally, groups are dynamic enough to offer all the required skills for a successful class presentation.
Once the group is assembled and surveyed for strengths then the topic can be explored. Again, the objective of the presentation should be well understood and it is important to ask the instructor or teacher to clarify any questions you may have. For example, if the assignment was to research the native habitat of the Carolina Hunting Spider, you would want to know does that include food supply, climate, mating, and predators. Identify the sub topics and assign them to group members. After some initial work is done the group can discuss their assignments and compare notes. It is very important to avoid redundancy – do not overlap- in the presentation. This will annoy and bore the audience. Work and re-work the information until everyone is satisfied that the topics are well covered without repetition.
Coordinate the presentation topics with visual aids, handouts and pc presentation if used. An outline is helpful for everyone to follow. Design the outline for group use but also as a handout so the audience may follow along (unless you are using Power Point and this becomes the outline). Create visuals to refer to during the presentation – it is true that a picture is worth a thousand words – and your audience will appreciate the visual aids. Another presentation tool is the use of interactive methods to involve the audience. Group presentations that include games and quizzes keep the audience engaged while making good use of the group energy to move the presentation along. It helps with presentation jitters too. If you can organize the group to cover the topic completely while engaging the audience your presentation will be a huge success. Individual class presentations are different than group presentations in several ways.
Individual presentations must also stick close to the topic, covering key points. Without the extra horsepower of a group to do research and planning, the solo presenter must focus on the highlights of the topic. This includes analyzing the subject and identifying the most interesting and important topics. Consult with the instructor if you want to be sure you are on track with your analysis.
Though you may be able to employ the help of a classmate for your presentation, brainstorm ways to keep the audience interested without trying to do too much in the allotted time. In other words, you must cover the topic so try to design a quiz that brings out the key points. Any audience will tire if the presentation extends beyond the 30 minutes allowed so be conscious of time. To address those topics you may not be able to fit in, include a handout for later reference. This will impress the teacher because they’ll realize you were very well prepared.
Whether working alone or in a group, it is critical to practice your presentation. Rehearsing will develop flow between topics and presenters; you can videotape the rehearsal then review and critique yourselves. Proof read the presentation for accuracy – to lose credibility based on an error is embarrassing and detrimental to the grade. Avoid repetition. And, did I say, avoid repetition?
Class presentations are designed to teach students more than how to research and understand a topic. They are about learning to work in groups, speaking publicly, designing appropriate visual aids and connecting with the audience. With careful planning and proper rehearsal your class presentation will be a resounding success.
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