Giving Students Feedback on Oral Presentations The Cain
Giving Students Feedback on Oral Presentations The Cain Project in Engineering and Professional Communication WORKSHOP SERIES
What types of presentations are your students giving? • Design – Technical – Business – Poster • Progress report • Failure analysis • PBL cases • Research – Course project – Conference talk / Poster – Defense / Job talk / Interview • Seminar paper • Chalk talk • Lab demonstration 2
Workshop goals • Discuss common problems in student presentations and how to respond • Identify strategies for providing feedback on students’ presentations • Describe Cain Project presentation materials to help you and your students 3
Common problems observed in student presentations • • • No attempt to motivate talk Weak organizational structure Poor delivery skills Weak conclusion Lack of team cohesion 4
Does student meet audience’s needs and expectations? • • Interests Prior knowledge Values Decision making criteria 5
Is presentation’s purpose clear? • Inform • Persuade • Establish credibility 6
Is the introduction effective? • Motivates interest • Defines problem – Context – Key terms • States thesis / main claim • Previews topics • Establishes credibility 7
Does organizational structure make the argument accessible? • • Problem / solution Feature / function / benefit Chronological sequence Research 8
Does research talk answer key questions clearly? • • What problem is being investigated? Why is it important? What other studies have been devoted to it? What are the key points? What materials and methods were used? What are the main results? How is the work novel or applicable? 9
Is the evidence clear and convincing? • Relevant results support key points • BIG picture little picture • Data presentation: • Describe figure • Report result • Interpret result 10
Do the transitions provide coherence? • Weak verbal cues – “And another thing” – “So” • Strong verbal cues – Sequence • “First” – Contrast • “However” • “On the other hand” – Causality • “Therefore” • “Consequently” 11
Is the student’s conclusion clearly signaled and satisfying? • • Sends cue Restates and summarizes Spells out implications Issues call for action or provide resources 12
Does the student’s delivery inspire confidence? • Stance • Gestures • Eye contact • Voice quality 13
How well does the student handle questions? • • Appears prepared Listens without interrupting Repeats or rephrases Maintains open, confident demeanor • Leads with general answer • Wraps up well 14
What can be done to help students improve their presentations? Urge them to practice to • Develop fluency • Manage time • Get feedback 15
Feedback strategies • Request presentation • Comment on draft of outlines slides • Rehearse with • Review videotape of students student’s performance – Descriptive feedback • Evaluate student focuses on process performances with a – Prescriptive feedback rubric focuses on product • Assign a reflection essay 16
Ask students what they need from you in a practice session Before practice talk: • Would you like feedback on anything in particular? After practice talk: • Are you satisfied with your performance? Why or why not? • How much time do you have to make changes? • Would you like a high-level summary of my feedback, or would you like to go through the presentation slide-by-slide? 17
Involve other students in feedback loop • Assign presentation partners • Use presentation coaches • Require peers to evaluate performances 18
Presentation materials for instructors • Giving Feedback on Students’ Power. Points • Preparing and Delivering Oral Presentations • Presentation Evaluation • High Stakes Communication: Interviews Form and Job Talks • Seven Ways to • Checklists Motivate the Audience • Guide for Team Presentations – Presentation Checklist – Chalk Talk Checklist 19
Lead through Excellence in Engineering Communication More resources are available for you • under “Engineering Communication” at Connexions at http: //cnx. org • at the Cain Project site at http: //www. owlnet. rice. edu/~cainproj • in your course Communication Folder in OWLSPACE.
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