CA Career Briefs: Practice Presenting

“Preparation is the magic bullet to public speaking success. ”

- Ruth Sherman

 

CA Career Briefs

Did you know?

In today’s workplace, poor presentation skills can have serious career repercussions. As more and more work becomes teamwork, what a person knows is less important than how well he/she can communicate it. Consequently, employers are looking to hire and advance young employees who are good communicators. That includes the ability to make effective presentations. Since oral communication and presentation skills transcend disciplines,  making a class presentation is an appropriate assignment in almost any course.  In doing these presentations, students have an opportunity to prepare, practice and improve a skill that may prove key to their workplace success. The ideas in this activity will give students some general guidelines that will put them at ease at the podium.

Do this…

• Ask students questions about class presentations.
  How many class presentations have you done this semester?
  Are you comfortable making presentations?
  Why are good presentation skills important in the workplace?
• View video.
• Distribute the Student Activity, review the directions and complete.
• Share responses.

Add an Experience!

Locate a Toastmasters International Club  in your area. Consider giving students extra credit for attending a meeting and then reporting back to the class on the experience.