- Phases of a presentation
- exercise
Learning goals:
- The participants know how a presentation is structured.
- The participants can independently prepare, carry out and prepare a presentation.
Information
The process behind a presentation consists of the phases preparation, sequence and evaluation:
1. Preparation of a presentationIt is important to answer the following questions:
- How do I want to present?
- Who are the listeners?
- How can I include the audience?
- How much time is available for the presentation?
Once the initial preparations are finished, the method for giving the presentation must be selected. The content of an illustrative presentation should be given in a comprehensible, interesting and vivid way. Visualization techniques must be used to explain the content.
A tip: In order not to read the whole presentation, type key words on small cards. This ensures that the voice does not become monotonous (which can happen very quickly while reading).
2. The flow of a presentationIn the introduction, the audience will be welcomed and the topic and the timetable must be presented. The entry may be e.g. a provocative statement or a quote to activate the listeners.
In the main section, all content must be systematically presented. It is important to keep eye contact with the listeners and to speak clearly and intelligibly. Even a hectic run is not conducive to listeners’ attention. Furthermore, sufficient time must be left for questions and feedback. The speaker should also take feedback of the audience into account He/she needs the feedback in order to check whether the schedule is in line with the listeners’ expectations or needs to be changed.
The conclusion at the end offers the opportunity to obtain opinions and feedbacks as well as reviews from the audience.
3. The evaluation of the presentationThe evaluation of a presentation offers the opportunity to present strengths and weaknesses and to improve one’s own presentation behaviour. Questions to find out this can be:
- Have the objectives of the presentation been achieved?
- Were the listeners pleased with the presentation?
- Was the content of the topic correct?
- Was the use of media and tools appropriate?
- How did the presenter feel?
- How did the presenter deal with time?
- What was the discussion at the end of the presentation?
- What are the implications of this presentation for the future?
PresentationThe participants should give a short presentation in front of the group (duration 5-10 minutes). They should use the previously learned tips for the preparation, execution and follow-up of a presentation. In order to prepare the presentation the participants get 1.5 hours’ time. They should choose a theme from which they think the other participants are interested. The participants have to consider how the outline looks, how the listeners can be involved and what content should be visualized. The presentation will carried out by using metaplan, flipcharts, cards, pens, pins, etc.
At the end of the presentation, the audience should give feedback to the speaker. Was the structure plausible? Were the contents conveyed in a comprehensible manner? How was the visualization? How were the speech rate and speech volume? How were gestures, facial expressions and body language? What can be improved at the next lecture?