by The Open University
Available in 42 free installments
Owner:
Have you ever had to stand in front of an audience and give a presentation?
Perhaps it was in an informal setting, such as a tutorial, day-school or residential school, and you stood there, armed with only a flip chart and marker pen. Or you may have had to present data to colleagues during a presentation at work. Even when you reprimand your children, or show them how to do something properly, you are presenting information: it is one of the most basic flows of communication.
In some cases, you may have been anxious about giving a presentation, although the degree of anxiety will have depended not just upon the actual situation, but on your own experience and temperament.
We can call upon many different skills in order to communicate effectively and professionally, and to make a successful presentation. You will already possess many of these skills, even if you are unaware of them; with practice and know-how, they can be developed further.
Although nothing can replace practical presentation experience, working systematically through the activities in this unit will give you a sound framework on which to build both the content and the style of your presentations. The unit can also be a handy reference for future use: you can click in and out of the individual sections and search for help and information as you need it. That is why we have created the checklists and activities.
It is important to understand that effective presentation skills can be practised and learned. It is the content of your presentation, and the simple delivery of clear and reasoned arguments, which will help you to achieve your objectives. This is why the unit places a strong emphasis on preparation for the presentation to ensure that everything goes as you have planned.
You may find it worthwhile to click through the sections first to get an overview, and then identify the areas which interest you most. However, you will probably benefit most by working through the material systematically. Once you have completed an activity, reflect on what you have done and consider how the material relates to your own individual needs. The activities have been designed to engage you in the materials, so that you will ultimately present your ideas in a clear and effective manner.
Presentations can be made less threatening and more enjoyable if you confront the issues that cause you anxiety and make an action plan for each. One way of tackling a presentation is to break down the issues into manageable chunks and deal with them one by one: this is our approach in this unit. As the reader, you can be selective and strategic about using this unit and use whichever parts you feel are most beneficial. By working through the exercises (either in their given order or as you see fit), we hope you can increase your confidence in communicating your ideas to a wider audience.
Good luck!
