Recently we had students present some posters that they had made for an activity in class. It made me think about presenting and speaking in front of an audience and how even though we have students do it, they don’t really understand how to do it effectively. Many presentations they do are informal, but even so they should be practicing the skill of speaking in front of an audience in a meaningful way. I know this can be something very scary for students, and then there are some students who it doesn’t seem to phase, but I was just thinking about how I need to address this more and have students practice those speaking techniques more consciously (eye contact, volume of voice, etc.) So I was wondering if you have students do presentations in your class, what do you expect of them as far as the speaking and presenting goes? Do you make students aware these techniques and or just expect that they do it? Or is more like students just present information and you are only interested in the content? Any tips to help them practice these skills?
Laura,
ReplyDeleteI think that ideally, if time, it is important to explain exactly how students should be presenting (i.e. volume, eye contact, mannerism, etc.). Generally, my students do very small and simple presentations because they really aren't able to present things in a way that other students are really going to get much out of it. The only exception I've found to this lack of being good presenters is when they present on something about themselves, not content from class. They usually have a better understanding of themselves rather than new content.
When I student taught, we did presentations on historical figures. It was part of a rubric that they present clearly and loudly, maintain eye contact with audience for at least part of the time, and ask the audience questions or get them engaged in some way. If students are simply presenting, it gets pretty monotonous! I think ways to practice are just like other lessons, model it and have exemplary students model it as well. Then let them try it out!
I use some theater/acting techniques sometimes to get them to concentrate and relax. I get the students into a circle and have them visualize a ball of energy. Then we toss one energy ball around the circle and everyone has to concentrate or they are "out". I also have them do some theater movement to show me what is good posture, and act it out, and bad and act it out. I have them get up to do charades or other games to take the fear out of getting up in front of the group. Sometimes those help. Getting them to loosen up is important so they know they can try and control their stress and stay relaxed.
ReplyDeleteI agree--I think presenting is an important skill to have, but tricky when you have 32 kids in a classroom and like Eric pointed out, the other students (at least at the middle school level) don't get THAT much out of other student's presentations. In 8th grade, students do a presentation on a future career they would like to have and their future life (budget, where they will live etc...). Back to Eric's point-I think it works well because the students are presenting information about themselves-which is something they know pretty well. In terms of teaching the skills, one thing I have done is for me to model a good presentation and a bad presentation. (They get a kick out of the bad one). Also-I let me them practice a specific skill with a partner both in a good way and bad way.
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