1 Presentation Skills for Economics Students Judith Piggott Oxford Brookes University

2 Aims Improve presentation skills of Economics Students Improve presentation skills of Economics Students Why? - 3 reasons Why? - 3 reasons 1) Assessment – poor quality presentations. Often content was reasonable but it was difficult to dig it out from the presentation. 2) Feedback from Alumni – presentation skills were one of the most useful learned but more help was needed to improve the skill 3) Employability – increasingly the job market requires confidence in presenting ideas Most videos were management training and inappropriate Most videos were management training and inappropriate

3 Background Answer? Answer? Bring in professional actors Bring in professional actors 1 hour workshop last year – effect? 1 hour workshop last year – effect? Significant! Significant! General skills improved but big factor was some imagination was used. General skills improved but big factor was some imagination was used. But this is not always feasible – eg money and size of class….so… But this is not always feasible – eg money and size of class….so…

4 Website Answer: Answer: Draw on the actors skills in presentations Draw on the actors skills in presentations Bringing in Economic content eg Balance of Payments Bringing in Economic content eg Balance of Payments Using students as main actors Using students as main actors So….On the website will be: So….On the website will be: a) A film – based on Sliding Doors movie eg a good and bad presentation by the same set of people, cut in together. a) A film – based on Sliding Doors movie eg a good and bad presentation by the same set of people, cut in together. This is 17 minutes long and can be used either complete for a seminar/lecture (on a DVD or from website direct) This is 17 minutes long and can be used either complete for a seminar/lecture (on a DVD or from website direct)

5 Website…. b) Together with the DVD will be powerpoint slides highlighting the key features which can be used by lecturers with/instead of the DVD (and can be used into handouts of course). b) Together with the DVD will be powerpoint slides highlighting the key features which can be used by lecturers with/instead of the DVD (and can be used into handouts of course). c) The slides and the powerpoint will also be put together in a way that highlights the points whilst the DVD plays. Something to use either in a lecture or for students to look on their own. c) The slides and the powerpoint will also be put together in a way that highlights the points whilst the DVD plays. Something to use either in a lecture or for students to look on their own. A sample…. A sample….

6 Structure of the Presentation The Introduction The Introduction Sets the scene Sets the scene Defines the terms Defines the terms What is the Balance of Payments? What is the Balance of Payments? Then…. Then….

7 Powerpoint Check with lecturer first Check with lecturer first Is PowerPoint allowed? Is PowerPoint allowed? Keep it simple Keep it simple Dont let it detract from the presentation Dont let it detract from the presentation Dont put too much information on the slides Dont put too much information on the slides Keep it relevant and necessary Keep it relevant and necessary

8 Presentation content 1. Introduction 2. Key points to think about in a presentation (actors workshop) 3. Group preparation 4. Data Preparation/presentation 5. Powerpoint 6. The Presentation itself a. The start b. content c. Group behaviour/mobile phones! d. Voice projection e. The ending f. Questions

9 Other elements 10 Top tips for presentation skills 10 Top tips for presentation skills Frequently asked questions (with answers) Frequently asked questions (with answers) Any other ideas? Any other ideas?