Definition A seminar presentation means a student-led talk to fellow classmates and the professor. The discussion should analyze four or five key points from a course text, theory, or topic. Not only should it persuade, but it should also spark debate. It can have audio visual aids such as PowerPoint slides, flip charts or posters, overheads, music, props, photos, realia, videos, podcasts, and Wiki pages. In essence the student becomes the teacher delivering an oral analysis to the class. Rationale Based on William Glasser's research, we learn 95% of what we teach. When we can communicate to others what we have learned, this shows that we have mastered the concept. Speaking in front of peers like classmates and higher ups like professors, prepares us for the real world where we might gives lots of presentations in informal meetings with our boss or more formal presentations in front of large audiences. Finally, sharing the task of presenting amongst classmates encourages collaboration and a variety of perspectives. Fear Many people fear public speaking more than death itself. According to Gavin de Becker, our real fears come from what we link to fear. We fear public speaking because we link it with a fear of a loss of our identity. Our identity links to inclusion which links to survival. Not only do we fear the embarrassment of performing badly, but the loss of identity, and thus survival; performance failure, however, does not link directly to death.
Know Audience Use academic language and transitional phrases. Address your professor with formal language. With your classmates, you can address them informally by their first name. Use vocabulary that your classmates can relate to. Choose real world relevant examples that will appeal to your peers. Know Environment Does the room support technology? Do the windows or lights create a glare on the whiteboard? Do the rows and desks allow for walking around the room? Do the acoustics give off an echo? Do you have time before and after the seminar to set up and take down materials? Consider the limitations and possibilities of the room space before planning your presentation. If the room lacks a projector, then showing a PowerPoint will not work. Instead bring in pictures, posters, flip charts, or use the chalk board. On the other hand, if the room has a SmartBoard or iClicker, you might want to create an electronic jeopardy game. Basically, work with the tools the room has to offer. Research Start with a review of the current literature on your topic. You might include an annotated bibliography. Summarize sources. Use tables, graphs, or charts. Try to focus on 4-5 key points. Outline Organize your ideas into a logical order. Use repetition, enumeration, and parallel structure. Develop a narrow focused thesis. Use headings and subheadings. Prepare a one-page handout for the class. During the presentation, you can use your notes as an aid. Try not to write out your presentation word for word verbatim. Use cue cards with one point on each card. If you use PowerPoint, print out the outline page, notes page, and hand outs page as a reference for yourself and the class. Refer to your notes but look at the audience when you speak.
Introduction Greet your audience with appropriate formal and informal language. Introduce yourself and invite the class into your presentation. You need to captivate your audience's attention. Consider providing your classmates and professor with an outline on the whiteboard or a one-page handout that indicates the major subheadings. The introduction should clearly state your thesis and major points. Based on Eric Jensen's book on Brain-Based learning, "anticipation is greater than the reward". You need to hook your audience at the beginning of the seminar to get their attention. You can use similar introductory techniques as in essay writing: question, quote, definition, anecdote, or fact. You can also use a joke, role play, or game. If you have access to technology, you might consider using a video clip or song to set the tone. Audio-Visual Aids If time and technology permits, consider using PowerPoint to enhance your presentation. Not only can you incorporate photos, web links, sounds, music, and video clips into your slides, but you can maximize on the many tools in PowerPoint. For example, you can use the notes feature to make 'cue cards' for yourself. You can create a handout or outline for your audience. More to the point, your audience will focus on your slides, your voice, and your content rather than on you. If you do not feel comfortable using PowerPoint or the environment does not permit this kind of technology, you can still use lots of audio-visual aids. Write on the whiteboard. Make posters or flip chart with notes, graphs, charts, or tables. Consider bringing in photos or real objects. Write your notes on cue cards and prepare a one-page handout or outline for the class. Closing Thank the audience for listening. Sum up the thesis and major points. Provide them with ideas for future research or debate. Propose ideas to follow up on. Invite questions.
Body Language Non-verbal language can say as much as words. Facial expressions, posture, gestures, and tone of voice can convey a great deal. Practice your presentation in front of a mirror, in the company of peers, or videotape yourself. You can mask nervousness and convey confidence with proper body language. Understand that body language varies from culture to culture with the exception of the smile. Smile Always smile. It means the same thing in every culture. A smile makes everyone feel welcome and relaxed. It creates interest in your presentation and sets the atmosphere. Your classmates will you find you more approachable if you smile. Eye Contact Make eye contact with the audience. Avoid reading your notes or script. Face the class, not your PowerPoint slides. If you feel really uncomfortable looking directly into others' eyes, then look just above their foreheads at the back of the room. In North American culture, society does not trust people who do not make eye contact. Posture Stand tall with your shoulders back. Leaning on the podium or crossing your arms makes you look uninterested in your presentation. Avoid rocking on your feet nervously. If you like, you can walk around the front of the room or between the rows of desks. You can sit or stand behind the podium if that makes you feel more comfortable. Gestures Hand gestures can add emphasize to ideas. Try to point to audio visual aids as you use them. Avoid putting your hands in your pockets or playing with pens, keys, or your hair. You can place your hands on the podium, but try not to grasp it; if you cannot control shaky hands clasp them in front of you, hold them behind your back, or hold your cue cards or notes in your hands. Not all hand gestures mean the same thing in every culture, so watch North American gestures like the peace sign or thumbs up. Voice Watch volume, tone, pitch, speed, and enunciation. Make sure to speak loud enough that everyone can hear you. Try not to speak in a monotone voice; use inflection to convey excitement or change. We tend to speak more quickly when nervous, so make a conscious effort to speak slowly and to annunciate clearly. Record your voice or use the narration tool in PowerPoint to obtain feedback
Timing Your presentation needs to fit into the allotted time. If you have only 5-minutes to speak, keep it to a maximum of 5-minutes. Likewise, if you have 20-minutes to speak, make sure you have enough material to cover 20-minutes. Tape record your voice and time it. If you have PowerPoint, you can use the rehearse timings tool to gauge how long your presentation takes. Rehearsal Make sure to practice your presentation. Talk in front of the mirror. Videotape yourself and watch the play back. Use the record narration tool in PowerPoint. Ideally, practice in front of some friends of family members, who can give you live feedback.
The Night Before The night before your presentation, get a good night's sleep. Eat well. Do yoga or light exercise. Have your notes and props prepared. Visualize yourself doing well. The Morning Of The morning of your presentation, breathe. Eat well. Do yoga or light exercise such as a short walk. Dress comfortably in something you like and feel confident in. Arrive on time.
Software A slide show can enhance a presentation with visual text, photos, charts, tables, graphs, videos, music, and hyperlinks. It can also act as a tool to record narration or rehearse timings. Further, you can print an outline, notes, or handouts for your presentation. If you want to learn how to use slideshows, but do not know where to start consider ActDen.com, Apple, or GoogleDocs. You can learn about Microsoft PowerPoint on ActDen.com PowerPoint 2007 or PowerPoint 2003. If you use MacIntosh, with your own laptop you could also use Keynote to deliver a slide show. Use the Apple Tutorials such as Keynote '09. With a Gmail account, you can use free web based GoogleDocs presentations. Another open source shareware option, OpenOffice.org, has free web based presentation software, Impress, which mimics Microsoft PowerPoint. Text Use white backgrounds and black text to make the most contrast. Use colour to create contrast but avoid backgrounds with a lot of graphics or dark colours. Limit text to a few bullet points in point form. Long passages or sentences that carry over from line to line make reading difficult. You want the key points to pop out with lots of white space rather than mirror word for word what you speak. Media A picture tells a 1 000 words, so use photos in your presentation. They can convey so much more than simply speaking. Use real world photos or videos when possible. Limit clip art, especially animated clips. Hyperlink web sites and rename them rather than use long URLs.
SmartBoards If your seminar room has a SmartBoard, you may want to create a presentation using the SmartBoard. PowerPoint has SmartAware features. The SmartBoard can facilitate a very interactive presentation. You can videotape or photograph the material on the SmartBoard screen. To practice for your presentation, you can book a SmartBoard room in BL309.
Wiki Pages Alternatively to PowerPoint, you can build a web site with all your information. If you have a MacIntosh and a MobileMe account, you can publish a web page with iWeb . You can also build a web site for free with PBWorks (formerly PBWiki), WordPress , or WikiSpaces . With a Gmail account, you can publish a web site with GoogleSites . A web site could benefit a group or collaborative class project; PBWorks Support Centre has tutorials for even the most tech shy.
Videos You can make your own videos to enhance your presentation. With Microsoft PhotoStory , you can create a video using still photos, music, and narration. Alternatively, you can use Microsoft MovieMaker to edit video clips with music, titles, and narration. If you have a MacIntosh, you can use iMovie, iPhoto , and GarageBand to create and edit still photos or video clips. Finally, you can turn a PowerPoint file into a movie by saving it as a movie file. Alternatively, you can book an appointment with IT Services to use the Video Editing Suite to make a podcast on a MacIntosh with GarageBand. On the MyTrent page, go to QuickForms and choose Media Services Equipment Request. Click on the current reservation panel, and enter a date and time.Then click on the find resources panel. Choose the Suites option, and then Video Editing Suite from the drop down list.
Podcasts You can create a podcast to augment your presentation. To do so, you need a computer, Internet connection, microphone, and recording software such as Audacity and LAME , MacIntosh GarageBand , or Microsoft Sound Recorder and GCast . After you record your podcast you need to save it as an MP3 file and create an RSS file. To host your podcast, you will need to send it to iTunes , a blog, or web page. With GarageBand, you can add photos, video, web links, and titles to your podcast; with Gcast you can add a photo. Alternatively, you can book an appointment with IT Services to use the Recording Studio to make a podcast on a MacIntosh with GarageBand. On the MyTrent page, go to QuickForms and choose Media Services Equipment Request. Click on the current reservation panel, and enter a date and time.Then click on the find resources panel. Choose the Suites option, and then Recording Studio from the drop down list.
Games Create games to enhance your presentation. To make a Jeopardy game with PowerPoint follow the instruction from eHow. com How to Create a Jeopardy Game using PowerPoint . or from wikiHow.com How to Make a Jeopardy Game on PowerPoint . Make more interactive games including a Who Wants to be a Millionaire with templates from Internet4Classrooms.com PowerPoint Games . Download all kinds of templates for Jeopardy, Bingo, Sudoku, Checkers, Tic Tac Toe, and Crosswords for PowerPoint, Word, Excel, and Visio, from Microsoft.com Games Templates . On edHelper.com, you can download free templates to Make Puzzles including board games, crosswords, and word finds; for some puzzles, make sure to scroll down to the bottown of the page for the option to make free puzzles.
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