Presentation Techniques
Using Power Point:
Key points - Make pictures and text clear and easily identifiable. Never show the whole slide as your students will read ahead (cover the parts of the slide you are not using with a piece of paper or if on powerpoint use the wizard to delay the timing of each line/picture). Use a variety of colours and pictures to keep the slides interesting. Turn your projector off when you are not using it, it can be very distracting. Make sure you turn turn the lights back on at regular intervals to keep any snoozing students awake!
Basic prinicpals when using visual aids:
Clarity - visual aids are only useful if they can be understood - e.g. if you have written something on the board, make sure your writing is legible!
Timing - If you produce a visual aid too early i.e. if you have your entire session on one slide of a powerpoint you will find that your student/s will read ahead of the point you are teaching them. Alternativelty if you get your model catamaran out of your bag & put it on the desk you will find your student is completely distracted by the wonder of what you are going to be using that for and when they get to play with it!!
Display - Try to make sure that all of your displays/visual aids are located in a good, clear position i.e. The sun beaming down behind you when you are talking so your students are squinting trying to see you, or perhaps your TV/DVD or projector screen is set too low so only the students on the front row can see it etc.
Involvement - Try to get your students involved in the session as much as possible, this can be done by many methods, from something as simple as using a student to write on the board, to demonstrating an activity under your direction or perhaps just the ability to 'touch' the models you may be using and see how they work i.e. 'dummy flares' etc
Use the other 'human senses' -Rather than using one method of teaching (i.e. talking/writing) you may find it very beneficial to utilise all of the human senses to get the most rewarding learning experience for your students i.e. they can operate/touch a 'dummy flare', watch & listen to a clip of a DVD, feel the wind blowing on their faces etc.
The instructor/Yourself - You are the most effective visual aid of all ! In the most basic of senses - if you smile at your student/s you will get a reaction, if you are miserable they will sense it.. but more relevant than this perhaps is the fact that for the majority of the time they will be waiting for you to lead the session - so by expressing yourself in a clear, concise & positive manner and providing them with a variety of teaching techniques you will get the best & most enjoyable performance from your students.
Delivering the presentation:
- Make a good strong start. Make sure you have your students attention and then give them your well prepared opening. This should calm your nerves.
- Do not read out long sections of text. Use your prompt cards, but only as prompts.
- Try to make eye contact with all of your students. Try not to talk to the back wall or only one person.
- In most situations, your normal speaking voice will be fine as long as people can hear and understand you.
- If you feel confident enough, you can ask your students questions and get tham as involved as possible.
- Have a good, strong prepared ending. Do not drift out.
On completion of any presentation you should hopefully have done the following:-
- TOLD your students what you're going to talk about
- TOLD your students about it
- TOLD them what you have told them again!
- QUESTIONED for understanding
Assessment checklist:
Content:- Knowledge of subject, Appropriate structure and content, Fit for purpose and audience, Good variety of presentation techniques, Clear handouts and visual aids.
Delivery:- Strong start, Clear voice, Good eye contact, Not too much 'reading out', Strong finish.