Please take a minute to respond if you have insight, feedback, or strong feelings about teaching presentations. I could use some help.
My ninth graders gave presentations this week. Here are some things I noticed:
- They talked to the screen (SMARTBoard) instead of to their audience.
- They appeared to be reading their presentations for the first time; they didn’t have a facility or familiarity with their topic.
- They crowded their slides with clashing colors, animated gifs, and too much text.
I realize that students should be taught how to present, but everything I learned about presenting I dug around and found online. Here’s a good example.
I admit I feel frustrated because so much already falls on the English department, and I cannot be the only teacher who is asking students to present. I just don’t believe that. I also admit it didn’t occur to me to do direct instruction in teaching presentations—a mistake I will not make again, I assure you. So how would you recommend teaching students good presentation skills?