unCOILed 2011: Get Schooled!

Presentation Style: What’s Hot and What’s Not!

Presented by: Ona-Lou Britton-Spears

"This session focuses on elements of public speaking style, such as eye contact, voice pitch, and transitioning between showing material on a computer screen and talking to a group.  It will also cover some elements of creating effective visual materials such as Powerpoint slides or handouts.  New instructors and some more seasoned often make similar mistakes on these elements when they present.  I propose doing a humorous mock presentation incorporating many of these problematic behaviors.  Then I will have the attendees identify the problems and in groups devise ways to fix the problems.  This session should be both entertaining and instructive.”

This sounds like something I could have used when I first started out as an instruction librarian.  I was so nervous at first- I think some of the techniques you mention here will be really valuable.

Can we also talk about Jargon and how to avoid it? it can be a struggle not to lapse into Librarian-ese, especially on the more complicated issues.

Ooh!  Sarah, I need this session!    All those things I had to learn in my undergrad speech class were so long ago (visual aids have changed a lot too!)