Project Presentations

Most of the Centers require students to return at ingatherings in the middle or at the end of the semester, and present their projects to the Learning Community. This not only reinforces each student's reflective process in learning, but also brings the community together and helps students to feel less isolated. Many people are not immediately comfortable with the idea of presenting anything in public, let alone something as personal and important as the field work they have chosen to pursue. But there are ways to make it easier on yourself. Here we have, courtesy of the East Asian Center, some guidelines for speaking to a group, followed by an outline of the process of Preparing a Presentation.

TIPS FOR SPEAKERS The purpose for presentations is to help the audience understand new information-- not to present what you know.

DECIDE ON YOUR OBJECTIVES FIRST.
Know one or two major points you want to communicate. Then plan the best way to get them across.
PUT YOURSELF IN YOUR AUDIENCE'S PLACE
Recognize how you and most of the audience differ in attitudes, interests and familiarity with what you are talking about. Then speak to them on their terms and in their language.
DON'T MEMORIZE, DON'T READ
Except for a few carefully chosen gems-memorable phrases or examples you know will work well-be as spontaneous as possible. Don't rehearse to the point you find yourself saying things exactly the same way each time. Use brief notes to keep yourself organized.
SPEAK TO ONE PERSON AT A TIME
Looking at and talking to individuals in the audience helps keep you natural. Usually it's comfortable to look at someone for about 15 seconds.
TRY NOT TO THINK ABOUT YOUR HANDS AND FACIAL EXPRESSIONS
Concentrate on what you want to get across and let the nonverbals take care of themselves.
BE RELAXED
The audience has a lot of information processing to do. Help them. Slow down, pause, and guide the audience by delineating major and minor points.
SPEAK THE WAY YOU TALK
Speak as you do in casual conversation with someone you respect. The audience is interested in your speech, not in your speaking.
PRACTICE AND GET FEEDBACK BEFORE THE PRESENTATION
This is often overlooked because it feels strange to practice a presentation by speaking to one person. However, it can make a difference between an OK speech and a very good one. DO IT.

		PREPARING A PRESENTATION
I. Go over Tips for Speakers [above]
II. (purpose restated) The purpose for presentations is to help the
audience understand new information-not to present what you know.
	A. Brainstorm a topic list for your presentation.
	B. Choose two.  Ask a few people what they would be interested 
	  	     in hearing about.
	C. Write 2 objectives:
	     	1. The audience will____ (fill in your objective, i.e. know, 
		    be able to, understand, increase their awareness, etc.)
	      	2. Get feedback from two people on your objectives
	D. Content
		1. Write down five points that you want to cover in your
		     presentation
		2. Are they too many or too few?  It can depend on the
	             content itself.
	E. Create an interesting approach (gimmick)
		1-demonstration: simple and quick
	  	  -story: directly to the point
	  	  -fun test: make audience feel safe
	  	  -puzzle: make audience feel safe
	  	  -skit: simple, no heavy costumes, etc.
	  	  -song: performing
	  	  -visuals: few colors, readable, a few charts
	  	  -handouts: given at the end of session
	  	  -whatever you feel would capture this particular
			    audience's attention
		2. Decide if the approach should come early in the
		    presentation or at the end. Also consider 
 		    length of the approach (gimmick).
III. THE BODY OF A PRESENTATION
	A. 	1. Introduction: tell what is going to be done.
		2. Body:         do what you said
		3. Conclusion:   tell what you did
	B. Write an outline: couple of points each
		1. Introduction
		2. Body
		3. Conclusions
	C. Get feedback on your outline!!!!!!
	D. Practice and get more feedback!!!!!
	E. Then forget about it for a short while.  The day before 
 	  	  your final presentation, practice once or twice.

Workshop Discussion Sparks

Inspired and Creative

Rigorous Training

Use the mirror to practice the Speaking Tips
Each time you get feedback on a part of your presentation beforehand, you are practicing it.

AAAAAGGGHHHH!

These are all people who are involved in doing the same thing you are doing. This makes it easier for you to empathize with them, but it also makes it easier for them to empathize with you. Take the last point in the outline ("forget about it for a few days") seriously.

See Also

Contribute to the Portfolio Resource Guide!!!

Previous Page Up to Category Next Page

Contents Index Front Page

Friends World Home