Certificate in University Teaching Teaching: Presenting Material in - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Teaching: Presenting Material in the Classroom Certificate in University Teaching

 Allow some time immediately before class to

review, prepare, and chill

 Make sure that you have prepared roughly

twice as much material (doesn’t have to be lecture) and activities as you need for the time available

 Prepare notes, prompts, etc. as required, but

do not EVER plan to READ ANYTHING VERBATIM (this includes PowerPoint Slides)

 And you SHOULD be nervous…..  Memorize the first couple of sentences….  Find a friendly face to start off with….  Start out speaking louder than is comfortable

 Don’t drink cold water right before a big

speech, it constricts your throat muscles (warm tea/coffee/water)

 If no liquid is available, chew lightly on your

tongue or run your tongue across the back of your teeth.

 Everyone knows they should do it, few know

how

 Avoid “scanning”  Don’t talk to the back wall  Begin with a friendly face  5 SECOND RULE (not much longer)  Maintain until the end of a phrase or thought  Extended eye contact feels awkward, but…  It works for rock stars  Ask a friend to help practice

 Podiums are EVIL. Talking heads are just

plain boring.

 Use the podium to hold your notes, but get

• ut from behind it.

 Without a podium, you are exposed from

head to toe (check your zipper BEFORE class)

 Mirrors before class can save major

embarrassment

 Your feet should be shoulder width apart

(keeps you from falling).

 Don’t lock your knees you might fall over.  Think about annoying body habits of others:

• Don’t rock
• Don’t pace, but change position as often as is

possible

• Finger churching and other affectations can be

distracting if overdone (eensy weensy spider?)

• Hands in pockets is generally not good.
• If you tend to play with change in your pockets get

rid of it—lose ANYTHING you play with.

 Ladies, lose the jangly bracelets and earrings,

• etc. (men too).

 If you will tend to play with it, don’t wear it.  Don’t play with yourself….

• Cher hair
• Twirly hair
• Ear mining
• Hand wringing
• Fingernail Olympics

 Be conscious of your speech  We all use filler words. Be aware of yours.  Slow down often…  Pauses make you look intelligent, not stupid  Checking your notes is normal  This does not hold for PowerPoint

 Fix the problem immediately. Leave the room

if you must.

 Laugh at yourself and they will laugh WITH you.

This goes for slips of the lip as well.

 Ignore it and you will end up with the “giggling

in church” syndrome.

 At some point in a long lecturing career, you

probably WILL fall, be happy it’s over

 A little forethought and prevention goes a long

way…

• Check your zipper
• Don’t wear button-up blouses or dangerous heels

 Give 5-10 minutes’ warning the question

period is about to begin.

 No one wants to be first.  Put up your hand and wait for an

uncomfortable period of time (10 seconds)

 Have a previous question ready.  Repeat the questions, but don’t “twist” them.  Share the love (don’t keep answering the

“discussion hog”).

 You can never prepare too far in advance  Students never tire of personal and

professional anecdotes

 Be organized and help them avoid excessive

note-taking (but don’t do all of the work for them)

 Lecture the material that is appropriate (yes,

there really is some).

 You are the salesperson, not the delivery

person

Be yourself,

they will like you!