1. Presentations and Group Work
Study Skills Workshops 2015
Presentations and Group Work

2. Session outline Interpersonal skills Giving presentations Group work
Considering the audience
Being prepared
Structuring your presentation
Confident delivery
Communications skills
Group work
Working effectively with others
Strategies for managing groups

3. Interpersonal Skills Discussion questions – 5 minutes
Make a list of all of the different scenarios at university that require use of interpersonal skills
Why are students asked to give presentations?
Why are students asked to work in groups?
In small groups, discuss each of the questions.
Feedback to whole group and mindmap responses

4. Giving Presentations What makes a presentation ‘good’?
What will the tutors be assessing?
- ability to summarise key information
- ability to structure an ‘argument’
- quality of preparation and delivery
- use of supporting visuals
Mindmap responses to what makes a presentation ‘good’ – ask students to consider presentations or lectures that they have found effective.
Delivery style – overcoming nerves
TASK: In pairs, do shapes exercise – Ask students to sit back-to-back and one student to describe the shapes to be drawn by the other student. The ‘drawer’ is not allowed to communicate.
What did they learn?
What features of communication did you recognise from this game?
What sort of descriptions work best?
How did you respond to being given information you didn’t understand?
How does this relate to giving presentations?

5. Consider Your Audience
Purpose?
Aims?
Audience?
Length?
Purpose?
Why have you been asked to give this presentation?
Aims?
Are you being assessed?
If so, what is their marking criteria?
Audience? Who are the members of the audience and what do they do? (e.g. assessors, peers, employers)
What interests your audience?
What is the benefit to the audience of listening to your presentation?
What do they already know about the subject?
What is the relationship between yourself and the audience?
How will what you are going to say affect them? Will you shock or upset them?
Length?
How long are you being asked to present for?
Will you leave time for Q&A at the end?

6. Effective communication
Never assume knowledge
Give an overview – introduction
Make sure your presentation is structured
Check understanding & make sure your audience are still engaged – check body language
Be aware of the language you are using
Be flexible and adaptable, use a variety of media if possible and re-cap.
Be enthusiastic!

7. Being Prepared Get your ideas down – mind maps, lists, diagrams
Structure - Introduction, main content, conclusion, references
Visual aids – power point, handouts
Prepare prompt cards
Rehearse
Other questions to consider:
What technology will be available?
Handouts:
What will you put on it?
Additional information
Diagrams/ Graphs
When will you give it to the audience?
Beginning – to make notes?
Middle– to add interest
End – as a reminder
Is it clear and helpful?
Powerpoint slides:
Title slide
Keep it simple
Font size, colour, backgrounds
Animations
Practise
Try using the presentation planner on ASK

8. Structuring Your Presentation
Title
Introduction
Main Body
Conclusion
Questions
Tell them what you’re going to tell them, tell them, tell them what you told them!
Title - make sure it's clear and relevant
Introduction - Introduce yourself; state the topic, aims or purpose of the presentation and provide an outline of the discussion
Who are you? Why are you giving this presentation?
What will be covered?
What are your objectives?
What’s in it for them?
Use an opening attention grabber...?
Main body - Make your case as you would with an essay; support your views with reasons and evidence; keep it clear, concise and direct
Details in smooth, logical order
Link and recap between points
Illustrate points with e.gs
Support points with reasons & evidence
Clear, concise, direct
Conclusion - Restate the main points, develop some conclusions and review the implications, then bring it to a clear end 
Summarise main points
Develop conclusions & review implications
Bring the presentation to a clear end
Ask for questions
Questions - Leave enough time at the end of your session for the audience to ask you questions

9. Overcoming Nerves
Often, students spend so much time worrying about the presentation, they leave little time to prepare what to say!
Preparation and rehearsals help
Arrive early
Check out the room first
Take water with you
Act confident!
Reflect & evaluate

10. Giving the talk Non-verbal communication
Speak more slowly and loudly than you normally would
Don’t apologise for anything you think could be better
Look up and make eye contact to break down audience into individuals
Use pauses to get your breath back!
TASK: In pairs or small groups, prepare a two minute presentation on ‘how to make a cup of tea’ or ‘why I came to university’ – use flip chart. Handout ‘Assessing oral presentations’
Present to whole group and offer feedback on presentations

11. Group Work
Discussion
- Identify one occasion when you were in a group that worked well. What made the group successful?
Relate to skills set needed for presentations

12. Creating a Team
What practical steps can be taken to ensure effective group working?
Have a positive attitude
Get to know your team – identify strengths
Create a productive environment
Ground rules
Group working practices
Decide on roles within the group
Check understanding of the task
Establish goals
Share contact details
Agree meeting dates
Technology can work well to maintain group projects - What’s App, Facebook groups, Skype
If problems are encountered – address them and/or speak to your lecturer

13. Resources ASK website advice on presentations & group work
student.brighton.ac.uk/ask
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