Week 1 - Post b - October 18 - How can you become a more effective presenter?

Two of the most important things about becoming a more effective presenter is being prepared and learning from great presenters. One of my classes includes a group presentation and an individual presentation, as a midterm and a final exam respectively. I provide my students with the necessary material and instruction on how to prepare a presentation, but most importantly I emphasize the importance of preparation and performance. Each semester, the group presentations are interesting to watch as it quickly becomes apparent which students have put in the time and effort and which have not. The students that have prepared often put on a great show and try to emulate a famous presenter, such as Steve Jobs, and use a lot of gestures, as well as stress and intonation in their speech. However, the class also benefits as they are able to recognize the best individual presenters and learn from them. So, when it comes to the final individual presentations all of the students are better prepared and more effective presentors.