Presentation Principles: Clearly Making Your Point

Presentation Principles: Clearly Making Your Point Kevin M. Johnston MSU TA Programs kmj@msu.edu

Meaningful Learning: Your Ability to Provoke it Purposes of this session: • Inform you of basic presentation principles. • Show you how you can take steps to improve your teaching now. • Link basic “teachnique” to larger, “Heart” of teaching issues . 2006 MSU TA Seminar on College Teaching

Higher Education Today: Why is the “old” way not always the best way? • University teaching has begun to change considerably in the last 20 years (Or, has it?) : • Teaching and Learning Research • Teacher-centered to Student-centered classes • Need to demonstrate teaching effectiveness when applying for jobs 2006 MSU TA Seminar on College Teaching

Principles of Powerful InstructionSteve Yelon, (1996) MSU Professor Emeritus • Meaningfulness, Prerequisites • Open Communication • Organized, Essential Ideas • Learning Aids • Novelty • Active Practice • Safe Spaces/Encouraging Places • Consistency • Original assumptions that are no longer valid 2006 MSU TA Seminar on College Teaching

Professor Yelon’s Presentation Principles • Motivate • Review/Summarize • Explain • Demonstrate • Question • Share Feedback 2006 MSU TA Seminar on College Teaching

The ART of Presenting art \ärt\ noun: skill acquired by experience, study, and observation • Set attainable goals – ORGANIZATION • Use the best format/materials to meet those goals - IMPLEMENTATION • Assess your progress regularly – SUMMARY and EVALUATION 2006 MSU TA Seminar on College Teaching

Setting Presentational Goals • What’s your point? • Why is it important? • What should your students know? 2006 MSU TA Seminar on College Teaching

Key Principles of Good Presenting • CLEARLY IDENTIFIED OBJECTIVES: Identify Key Points First! • SENSITIVITY and ADAPTABILITY: Show interest, listen, be open to change • PERIODIC SUMMARY: What have we just covered? Why was it important? 2006 MSU TA Seminar on College Teaching

Presentation “Stages” • Introduction – including connections to prior material • Material Body – 15-minute segments • Periodic Summary – after each 15-minute segment • Conclusion – End with a bang, connect to upcoming materials 2006 MSU TA Seminar on College Teaching

THREE KEYS to Good Presenting • Tell them what you’re going to do. • Remind them of what they’re doing while they’re doing it. • Tell them what they just did. 2006 MSU TA Seminar on College Teaching

The “He(ART)t” of Presenting • Who are you as a mathematician, philosopher, scientist? • Who are you as a teacher? • Who are your students to you? 2006 MSU TA Seminar on College Teaching

You Have Extraordinary Power • To Influence, Shape, Create, Motivate • To Connect, Assist, Share • To Learn (To teach yourself through DOING) 2006 MSU TA Seminar on College Teaching

Present Like You Mean It ! • Prepare and Practice – But Be Willing To Let Learning Happen • Share Your Passion – And Recognize the “Light bulb” When it Goes Off. • Enjoy the “Space” Good Presenting and Good Teaching Creates for You and Your Students. 2006 MSU TA Seminar on College Teaching

Presentation Principles: Clearly Making Your Point