Communication Aids and Strategies: Understanding and Analyzing Tools of Technology You learned from the previous lessons that different tools can used to communicate certain messages. Aside from written texts, communication tools include audio-visual aids that may be developed through digital means. You may have probably used these aids to help you in class presentations. You may have done these presentations effectively because you knew your purpose, audience, and context. Inthe academic context, one way you have learned to communicate is by writing effective compositions. In Chapter 1, you wrote a reaction paper. However, aside from sharing your ideas in the written mode, some of your tasks in school can also be shared through multimedia presentations. ‘A multimedia presentation refers to the “integration of animation, audio, graphics, text, and full-motion video through computer hardware and software for education, entertainment or training” (http://www-businessdictionary.com). Bear in mind that you are not expected to incorporate all of these elements; however, you need to integrate at least three of them in one presentation. Similar to the process of writing a paper, making a multimedia oral presentation involves three stages: 4) planning the presentation; 2) delivering the presentation; and 3) evaluating the presentation. Although this process is similar in most oral presentations, the contexts that require you to present may vary. The most common types of oral presentations done in academic contexts and conferences are the following: 1. Individual Presentation This involves one person who shares relevant information about one’s research or work. This type of presentation culminates in an open forum that allows the audience to ask the presenter certain relevant questions. 2. Group Presentation This involves at least three members who take turns jin sharing relevant information on a single topic that forms the group: research. This also leads to an open forum or a Q & A with the audience.MUNICATION no a itation pe 3. Panel Pron es around three to six members with a moderator; the ov This inv : different topics that are based on a simila ists, present diffe r members, called penal recesses belong to the same research team. At the not theme. Saat the moderator facilitates the discussion between the end of the p + panelists and the audience. rkshop Presentation “we involves one or two members who act as facilitators to give jieoanes a chance to experience how a specific skill, technique, or soncept ‘can be employed; this is usually done with a small group. 5, Poster Presentation This manner of presentation employs the use of a poster in showing one's work. The audience views the posters on display while the presenters stand next to it to respond to questions or comments from the viewers. 6. Individua/Group Demonstration This involves one or more members who demonstrate how something is done or how something is used in a specific context. After identifying the different types of presentation, you may now consider the following: |. Planning a Presentation * Knowing Your Purpose: What is the objective of th , presentation? Why is it relevant? What will your audience gain by watc! hing the presentation? Analyzing Your Audience: Making Sense of Your Context: What is the ven i ue of ; '8 ita formal events Whe, paige esentation? Considerations and aq), lines have be diustments s} ‘ ign, content, and delivery of ee ould =~ make about the materials, Preser tion’* Constructing Your Presentation Slides: The use of slides is crucial in delivering an effective presentation. You can create slides with the help of software like Powerpoint, Keynote, or Prezi. In “How to Give an Academic Talk, v5.1,” Paul N. Edwards suggests the following: About Presentation Software Make slides extremely concise and visually uncluttered. Slides should be seen as maps, not as territories. They're tracking devices that let both you and your audience follow the flow of the talk. Therefore, they must not be overfilled. Six lines of text per slide is plenty. Nine lines is a lot-Twelve lines is pretty much unreadable. Bullet points should be no more than two to six words—and they should NOT be complete sentences. If you need more text, use more slides. Ono of the beauties of software is that you can make as many slides as you want. I've seen extremely effective presentations with only one word on most slides, only one image on many others. Why cram one slide full of text when you can make two or three uncluttered slides instead? Use images. People are visual creatures, and the old adage that a picture is worth a thousand words is especially apropos in presentations. Pictures, graphs, charts, cartoons, and other images can be extremely helpful. As with text, keep them simple and uncluttered. Also, avoid dark images that won't show up well on a screen. Always choose white or light-colored slide backgrounds. Why? To see light text on dark slides, you'll have to turn down the lights, or even turn them off This makes it hard to see your notes, the podium, etc. Worse, it will tend to put your audience to sleep. Really. By contrast, dark text on light-colored slides can Usually be read with lights on and shades open. Don't let your host, or anyone else, manage the lighting for you—tell them you prefer to leave the lights on. If you an see it, your audience can probably see it too. If in doubt, walk to the back of the room and check. . Keep the glitz factor low. Fades, transitions, backgrounds, sound effects, ‘and so on can bo a real pitfall. Glitzing up your presentations can turn into 2 serious time sink, detracting from the far more important time you spend on content. Also, they can give your audience the impression that you care more ‘about surface than substance. Finally, they can cause breakdowns during the presentation if they don't work as you expect them to—which will be often Nothing irritates an audience more than watching somebody fiddle frantically with ‘a computer in the middle of a talk. So keep everything basic, at least until you've completely mastered the software. Always practice the final version. ‘Talk to the audience, not the screen. Everyone else is staring at the screen, so you may find yourself drawn to stare at it too. If you do this, the audience will be looking at your back, and they won't be able to hear you. Instead, have your laptop, or a paper version of your notes, in front of you. Speak from that, rather than from the slides on the screen. This takes practice, practice, and more practice.purposive COMMUNICATION IL. Delivering the Presentation Depending on the type of and understand your role as @ SP presentation you will make, you neea tg eaker. Are yOU Going tobe the ony «4 who will present everything and address your audience's queries ater 4" you one of several s| you going to start or en peakers in a team? If so, are you the main spear A id the presentation? Whatever your role is, yoy, = Se Are to remember that you have to own the stage once you are up there, He some tips from Paul N. Edwards (2013): Some Rules of Thumb Usually Better Usually Worse Talk Read Stand Sit Move Stand 4 Vary the pitch of your voice ‘Speak in a monotone Speak loudly, facing the audience Mumble, facing downward Make eye contact T Stare at your laptop Focus on main points Get lost in details Use outlines, images, and charts Have no visual aids Finish within your time limit ‘Summarize your main points at the beginning and end Run overtime Start without an overview; trail off without a conclusion Notice your audience and respond to its needs Emulate excellent speakers [lousy talks \gnore audience behavior | Emulate your advisor, even if s/he gives i ; 5 In making effective Presentations, Baker (2011) Suggests that you take Control of the material, have sufficient knowledg Control of yourself. Ihe audience, and yourself. First, make sure you oan n your topic. How well do you know your subject without reading your notes? Do you have credible Are they older, younger, or the same age as nd sustain thei hey experts in the field? How can your wr levels of interest and attention? Lastly, ‘emember that although you will uséEXPLORING TOOLS FOR LOCAL AND GLOBAL COMMUNICATION multimedia elements, you are your best visual aid. So you need to prepare yourself emotionally, psychologically, and intellectually for the presentation. To be an effective communicator, use your voice, eyes, and body effectively. Be mindful of the time allotted for your presentation and stick to it. Avoid doing anything that feels unnatural to you. Feel comfortable on stage and in front of the audience. Establish and maintain eye contact. Make sure you practice as it will go a long way. Evaluating and Reflecting on the Presentation Being an effective communicator does not happen overnight. Like any successful individual, one goes through a process that involves looking back in order to learn from experience and prepare for the next similar task. In the context of oral presentations, here are some questions to help you evaluate and reflect on your experience: * How did | perform as a speaker? Did | fulfill the role effectively? + How did | communicate my message to my audience? Did my presentation make any visible impact on them? ‘* What should I continue to do effectively? * What should | improve on for next time? Va x4 MAIN TEXT Watch a video using the link below and do the activity that follows. Link: https:/Avww.youtube.com/watch?v=ATfY8dvbuFg (C) discussion |. Describe the presentation. Is it effective or not? Explain. . Describe the speaker. What qualities does she have based on her presentation? . How does the audience react to the speaker? Cite specific instances. . Work in pairs. Based on what you have seen in the video, make a list of the Do's and Dont's in making oral presentations. Share and present your answers.