Videotape Your Students' Presentations

Guess what is one of the American public’s greatest fears? Flying, death? No, actually the number one fear of adults is public speaking, this need not be so. It’s great to give your students experience speaking in front of groups and a classroom of peers is a comfortable environment in which to enhance one’s public speaking skills. Give each student a rubric including the basics upon which they will be graded. Include: eye contact, voice, body language, clarity of speech, content and use of visual aides. Make it fun and have each student select their own subject, after you approve the topic, provide a few tips to students. Suggest that they dress comfortably, eat a good breakfast that day and take time to really practice their presentations with their skills in mind. Borrow a school video camera, if not available, use a tape recorder. After each student gives their presentation, find a time to review the video/audio on an individual basis with each student. Ask them what they did well and what needs improvement. Give them a chance to make the presentation again. Public speaking gives students an opportunity to share useful knowledge, establish themselves as an expert in a certain area and gain real confidence. We all need this skill even if we are not making formal presentations. Practice makes perfect!

Professional Development tip for June 19, 2008