Ethics: #11: Class Presentatations

[samvara]

We are all crap at sticking to 12 minutes.

My team managed to stay down to 14 which was sadly, a good time.

1. Health presentation - govt package to improve client care in hospital
2. Environmental package for consultancy – pitching to clients
3. Engineers without borders - both individual project building an irrigation system and EWB in general - really strong structure
4. Software startup building a product inspired by the desire to benefit target audience starting focussed around a powerful, inspirational personality (reminds me of OTW)
5. Landgate presentation - forest sustainability - had a lovely rainbow coloured slide, one of the students asked if there was a sekrit gay agenda - they said no and jokes were made about that wealthy gay forester demographic but a little while later I had knowledge to offer and suddenly felt very gay :p
6. Interhealth Project - Global Health Short Course - amusing presentation half acted out - very cute.

Phil came to talk to us about our assessment - UWA is applying for AACSB certification as a business school and observed in order to give us feedback on our oral presentations. Apparently they are working out how to integrate the oral communication competency.

Yay!

Given we don't get training on oral presentations - it's more an assumed skill - I am interested in how they are gong to manage this. Do they train? Do they just provide 'opportunities to practice' then assess us at the end of the course?

Feedback!

• Engage your audience! Think about the kind of speakers that keep you awake.
• Make eye contact - not just the judges
• Don't wave the hands or do weird body language
• Don't stare at your own slides, take advantage of lectern, try not to read from notes
• Vary your voice - avoid the monotone, use pauses if you need to
• Props can be good - visual aids
• Speak with clarity, try not to radiate nerves

Then we did feedback forms and ran away.... slowly because there was chatting in the carpark. M. came up to say my new hair is far more 'me,' he continues to surprise me (in the good way).