Presentations – advice and resources

Glossophobia, the fear of public speaking, affects 3 in every 4 people, a surprising statistic, as most college courses require some element of public speaking ability. Here are some tips to help you feel more confident.

A quick fire guide on presenting information in 5 steps:

1. Smile at your audience.  There is nothing that draws your audience into your presentation than a good old fashioned smile.  Be happy; you’re about to teach your entire class something they didn’t know before.
2. Feel confident about your presentation. When you give your class a presentation, your tutor is essentially inviting you take over their job for a little while. Your aim is to try to ensure everyone understands what you are trying to tell them.
3. Make eye contact. Nothing is more boring than listening to a presenter who looks at the floor or at note-cards: relax!  Your audience is made up of your friends and you talk to them all the time; talk the same way now.
4. Be sure to have inflection in your voice. Your goal is to engage your audience, not put them to sleep. Be animated about your topic. Talk about it as if it was the most interesting thing in the world. Your classmates will thank you for it.
5. Use hand motions. Move your hands as you talk, using them to emphasize points and keep the audience interested. It will also help you to channel your nervous energy into a better place.

Remember to try and relax when doing any presentation!

Advances in technology mean that there are now many ways to present information to an audience.

Inspiration: Inspiration is a ‘mind mapping’ software tool installed on all PCs in HE library.  It enables the user to build presentations, from the idea stage up to the finished article. There is so much that can be done with the programme – diagrams, outlines and maps – plus templates and images are provided. You could even use it to create a colour-coded essay plan.

Useful PDF: How to mindmap

Power Point: PowerPoint

NB: We recommend you ensure you use the method of presentation specified by your tutor, however, for your consideration: https://www.techradar.com/best/free-presentation-software

Poster presentations

Poster presentations