Associate Director, University Teaching Services (UTS)
Office: Room 443 University College
Telephone: 204.474-9753
E-mail: benbow@cc.umanitoba.ca
Home Page: http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~benbow/
Dr. Benbow teaches physical geography,
focusing upon environmental change and the application of Geographic Information
Systems (G.I.S.). Her research currently focuses upon the environmental,
technological and cultural implications of zoos and aquariums. One of her
particular interests is how to make teaching and learning at University
more effective and more compelling; here are some of her suggestions on
how
to learn new computer software packages.
One of her particular interests is how to make teaching and learning at University more effective and compelling, and in most classes she uses PowerPoint to achieve this. Here are some of her tips for using PowerPoint.
Tips for presenting your PowerPoint presentation:
It is useful to realize that the fear of public speaking is probably one of the most commonly cited fears. The secret to a great presentation is to deal with the basics; these are best summarized in the original book on public speaking "How to Develop Self-confidence and Influence People by Public speaking" by Dale Carnegie originally published in 1926. Outlined here are some of the Dale Carnegie's best suggestions with a few additions that are most relevant to PowerPoint presentations.
1. Be enthusiastic about your presentation - the subject, the audience, the experience and the purpose of your presentation. Enjoy yourself by adding in interesting graphics, facts or features into your PowerPoint presentations.
2. Be prepared. Make sure that your thoughts are assembled and arranged clearly. Know what you are going to say and do not use notes. Review your PowerPoint presentation and imagine what you will say at each slide.
3. Develop a clear message - a single sentence to describe your main point.
4. Practice - you will remember what to say during your presentation if you practice regularly. Practice over a number of days rather than many times on the same day.
5. When planning your presentation find out how long it should be. Make sure that as you practice you do not go over time. Once you have produced your PowerPoint presentation, make a mental note of which slide marks the middle point of your talk; once you reach that slide during your presentation check the time and compensate in the speed of your delivery.
6. Let your presentation develop over time - come back to it over a number of days.
7. Act confidently - if your body language, eye contact and manner are purposeful and confident you will reduce any nervousness that you have. Point the screen of the computer towards yourself while you present and speak toward the audience rather than looking at the screen.
8. You will always be a little nervous before the beginning of a presentation - get used to that feeling. Generally, initial nervousness disappears during the first few minutes of a presentation. Attractive pictures, an unusual title and information about yourself are useful distractions that allow you to regain your composure.
9. Delivery describes the "flavour" of the words you use and how you say them. Speak in conversational tones but with a more direct and assertive approach. Without notes your speech will be naturally varied and more appealing to the listener.
10. Make sure that if you use any terminology that it is absolutely necessary and that it is clearly explained. You can use the "hidden slide" facility to bring in definitions if you feel that your audience is confused.
11. Introductions to presentations are difficult - begin with a story, an illustration or a shocking fact. An outline following the introduction describing the structure of the talk will calm a fidgety audience - make sure that you use the same titles as provided in your outline.
12. Plan
the end of your talk carefully - try summarizing or restating the main
point, tell a joke (be careful if you don't know your audience and it must
be relevant) or end with a high point. Only use "in conclusion" once
- anyone who goes to presentations likes to know that the end is coming!