Presentation Skills
Agenda
y Peer Assisted Learning
y How to make presentations
y Next PAL session
Peer Assisted Learning
y Peer Assisted Learning is a scheme that promotes cross‐year support between students on the same course
y What PAL is not
y Teaching of a subject by other students
y Targeted at weak students
y A way to reduce student‐tutors contact time
Maintaining Control is the Key
y Audience
y Material
y Resources
y Yourselves
Stick to the Rules and Your Topic
y What is your core message?
y Develop content and structure
y Stick to the timing
y Do not answer some different question ‐ only the one that has been asked of you
Tell the Story – 3 Parts
y Opening – tell them what you are going to tell them
y Main content – tell them
y Closing – tell them what you told them
Introduction
y Define key terms
y Give general overview
y Provide a tentative conclusion
y “Say something at the outset that will make them sit up and listen to you – because you are saying something interesting and you have an interesting way of saying it.”
Main Part
y The sandwich method:
y present one important point
y illustrate it y draw a conclusion
y then present the second point in the same way etc.
y The pile method:
y present all your important points one after another
y illustrate y draw conclusion which is not identical to the final conclusion
Conclusion
y Give a brief summary of your main points
y Mention issues you could not discuss
y Ask questions the audience should think about
y Allow for Q&A – anticipate questions and prepare answers
Speaking Characteristics
y Volume – use vocal variety
y Clichés – avoid overly familiar phrases
y Diction – pronounce and enunciate words
y Slang – never a good idea
y Humour – carefully used and neutral
y Acronyms – useful if familiar to the audience
y Don’t speak to your notes or the slides
It’s All In How You Say It...
y It’s not a race
y Project your voice without shouting
y Use conversational approach
y Be precise, use your words effectively
y Address everyone, not just the friendly faces
Body Language Dos
y Smile!
y Show enthusiasm
y Eye contact across whole audience
y Relaxed posture
y Head up
y Facing audience
y Arms hanging comfortably
y Open gestures
Body Language Don’ts
y Hands covering face
y Clenched jaws or fists
y Feet set wide apart
y Hands on hips
y Stern/sullen expression
y Jabbing or pointing gestures
y Tapping, swinging limbs, jingling pockets
Managing Nerves
y Be prepared, know your material well
y Know your opening
y Relax upper muscles before you start
y Use pauses for deep breathing
y Control your hands – keep them in the imaginary box
y Look for a couple of friendly faces
Distracting Habits
y Saying ‘um’ and ‘err’ between words and sentences
y Repeating words and phrases –
‘actually’, ‘obviously’, ‘as I said’, ‘ok’
y Physical – some hand movements, scratching, swaying
y Nervous gestures – unnecessary laughing, exaggerations
Responding to Questions
y Don’t let your audience take over
y Anticipate
y Be well prepared
y Give yourself time to think:
y I’m glad you asked...
y That’s a great question...
y Keep eye contact with questioner
y Answer the whole group
PowerPoint
y Less is more
y No more than 7 lines per slide and 7 words per line
y Pictures should have a purpose
y No animation
y Keep it clear
y Use simple fonts (e.g. ARIAL), 24‐72 pt
Next PAL Session