Presentation Best Practices

 

Hello Everyone! Follow Us has been working with students for a decade+, and through our experience, we’ve learned a few things about engagement, motivation, and what goes into a winning workshop presentation! This page is just a quick summary of presentation best practices that we would like to share with anyone and everyone who works with students. We hope you find this useful to make your presentations come alive!

Overall Presentation Tips & Tricks

  • Introduce yourself

  • Show some passion for the topic!

  • Relate to the students

  • Make it yours

  • Acknowledge student feelings and thoughts

  • Move around the room

  • Gather student feedback

  • Smile! You’re happy to be there :)

  • Make eye contact

  • Build rapport

  • Review material prior

Building Rapport: Self-Disclosure & Student Participation

Self-Disclosure is when you choose to reveal information about yourself.

Some people feel more comfortable disclosing things about themselves than others, especially in front of a group of students. Whatever you feel comfortable with is okay!

Do not reveal anything about yourself that makes you uncomfortable or does not contribute to the message of the presentation.

When you choose to disclose, make sure the information is:

  • Relevant

  • Aligned with the presentation objectives and content

  • Appropriate

  • Relatable

Student Participation is encouraged and preferred! When engaging the group, we hope to get reactions from the students and have them actively participate.

Acknowledge comments, thoughts, and ideas from students, but don’t let them overtake the presentation.

Find a balance!


The In-Person Presentation: Skills & Notes

Engagement is one of the most important things when giving a presentation. If students are not engaged, the material will not be well-received and the school will not be happy.

The use of appropriate tone, movement & body language, and technique will help you engage the group and help the presentation flow better.

Tone: Your attitude throughout the presentation

It is important that the students feel that you want to be there and that you believe in the material you are presenting to them. Or else, why would they want to listen?

Movement & Body Language: Form of nonverbal communication

A presenter should move throughout the presentation and show open body language with the students. This promotes the idea that you are excited to be there and helps engage the students.

Technique: Your way of carrying out the presentation in a way that feels comfortable for you, while still being effective and showing skill

Everyone's techniques may be different, which is okay!

Remember, when helping the most vulnerable student population, it is extremely rewarding and satisfying, but it is sometimes also challenging! If you are having difficulty engaging your students, don’t despair! That is normal, and have a little patience with your students.


The Virtual Presentation: Skills & Notes

“Screen” Movement & Body Language:
Even virtual learning requires strong movement and body language. The main thing to note is eye contact and facial expressions (make sure to smile and look interested in your material). This promotes the idea that you are excited to be there and helps engage the students.

Personality:
Make sure your personality shines as much virtually as it does in person. We want to stay upbeat and motivational so students remain on task and present.

Encouraging Interaction & Participation:
Ask multiple questions and encourage discussions throughout your class so the students stay alert during class time. Do not move on in the material unless students participate!

Connect Student Experience with Material:
With everything that is going on in the world, it is important that we are sensitive to student situations and experiences. Make connections so students see relevance in what you are teaching.

Live Video Virtual Environment: Where Is The Best Space To Hold Your Class?

Atmosphere

  • Comfortable: You are going to be sitting in this space for a while, so make sure it is conducive to that.

  • Quiet: You want as little distraction as possible. Using headphones can help you hear the students well and block out outside noises.

  • Lighting: Students need to see you, so you need to be in a well-lit room.

  • Privacy: Make sure that you are comfortable with showcasing what is visible on your screen.

  • People: Make sure to let those you live with know that you will be presenting to avoid them showing up in background.

Items: Have anything you could need at the ready.

Wi-Fi Connection: Check your connection before class starts so that you can rethink your live video environment if necessary


Video, Audio, & Screensharing: What To Expect & What To Do

Students will most likely opt to have their video and audio off during class.

To help with engagement, schools are encouraged to ask students to:

  1. Turn on video during class time.

  2. Use audio when participating in class discussions and asking questions. Otherwise, students should mute their audio so class material and other student comments can be heard.

Use the screensharing option so that the students can not only hear you but can see examples and illustrations!