Two years ago, my students gave a
powerpoint presentation based on the topic of the
research projects they chose. Teaching students how to give effective presentations is really a learning skill. The nice advantage of using powerpoint is that it is a relatively easy tool to work with and kids catch unto it quite quickly. From their last research project on endangered animals, I've learned from them quite a few things.
One
group started the presentation by placing a stuff panda bear on the desk and asked the class: What do you know about the Panda? That was a memorable
lead-in.
All of these and more are excellent teaching strategies, some are more effective than others. By hooking your audience, you've given your presentation an effective start. You need to also know how to keep your audience and of course, end it with an
after thought, a clue, a rhetorical question; there's endless possibilities.
At one online workshop I conducted, I shared with my forum of teachers all the teaching strategies for conducting effective presentations. I actually took the
creative ideas from regular lesson plans I've taught all throughout the years and very little from actual student presentations. On the forum, teachers vouched for their (in)effectiveness and explained why. Can you add to the ongoing list? Have you used any of these?
- Bring tangible items.
- Pass around a bag and have kids guess what is the topic of the presentation.
- Start with a question or a famous quotation.
- Begin with a short musical tune. (if appropriate)
- Show a picture or digital image of some kind.
Interactive presentations can be made more interactive by engaging a subtle element of interpersonal connection. By this, I mean rethinking the nature of powerpoint presentation and going beyond their digital format; These teaching strategies are obviously not suitable for every context.
