Enhancing Group Presentations for Academic Success

Assessed Group Presentations This workshop will: - Demonstrate ways to help your group become a team - Examine the usefulness of allocating roles for preparation and delivery of the group presentation • Provide tips for producing an effective presentation Louise Livesey Academic Skills Adviser Academic Skills Advice

The development of a team The benefits of allocating roles in the team Group presentation tips General tips for effective presentations The Plan Academic Skills Advice

1.The development of a team A group is not a team: • a group of people are a number of people standing or sitting next to each other • a team is ‘a group in which the individuals have a common aim and in which the jobs and skills of each member fit in with those of others, as…in a jigsaw puzzle pieces fit together (to) produce some overall pattern’ (Babington Smith, 1979: 117-118 cited in Adair, 1987:95) • your group needs to become a team to be successful. Academic Skills Advice

1.The development of a team Consider the benefits of working in a team at University TALKING POINT • Different people mean variety is built into the presentation • Each person can take on a role that plays to their strengths, thereby improving the presentation as a whole • More expertise is available • Team members can mingle if audience activity is required • Different techniques can be employed due to increased numbers, e.g. role play • It is good practice as you will do this in employment Academic Skills Advice

1.The development of a team Academic Skills Advice

2.The benefits of allocating roles in a team TALKING POINT • Chairperson/Leader: ensures the group draws up an agenda and sticks to it; makes sure everyone has a chance to speak; keeps the group focused; sums up • Timekeeper: ensures the group sticks to its deadlines for different tasks • Record-keeper: takes notes during meetings (this could be given to each team member in turn) • Project manager: makes sure that the team’s actions are relevant to the task/assignment criteria, and between meetings everyone is doing the task that they agreed to. • Administrator (if necessary): deals with actions such as booking rooms, printing out handouts, etc. Academic Skills Advice

2.The benefits of allocating roles in a team Match the right job to the right person! Academic Skills Advice

2.The benefits of allocating roles in a team Activity 1: Jobs for producing and delivering the presentation Academic Skills Advice

2.The benefits of allocating roles in a team Allocating these roles ensures…. • Different people mean variety is built into the presentation • Each person can take on a role that plays to their strengths, thereby improving the presentation as a whole • More expertise is available • Team members can mingle if audience activity is required • Different techniques can be employed due to increased numbers, e.g. role play • It is good practice as you will do this in employment Academic Skills Advice

3.Group presentation tips • Introduce every member of the team and state their job role • Pick the strongest speakers to start and finish • Have smooth transitions from one speaker to the next • Do not look bored when your colleges are speaking • Plan how the group will handle questions • Practice as a team • Have a team member watch the practices and makes notes on how to improve keep the time. Also monitor the timing of the actual presentation • Ensure each team member practices delivering at least one other member’s section Academic Skills Advice

4.General tips for an effective presentation • Any tips or strategies you have used? • Planning and preparation are the key • Choose an ‘easy’ structure • Content and slides • Leave some info for ?s and handouts • Use bullet points with white space • Visual aids and other materials should be… • Concise and relevant • User-friendly and legible • Do not use a script TALKING POINT Academic Skills Advice

4.General tips for an effective presentation • MS PP • 1:1 • Arial, Tahoma, Calibri • No capital-only words • Do not cut anything off • Use clear labels • Subtle and consistent backgrounds Academic Skills Advice

4.General tips for an effective presentation plan for emergencies Academic Skills Advice

Academic Skills Advice Service • Where are we? Chesham Building B0.23. Give us a call or come speak to us Monday- Friday 9am-5pm (closing at 4pm Fridays). • Who am I? Louise, the dedicated workshop adviser. • Who can help me with study and writing skills? Lucy and Russell run Instant Study Skills Advice sessions every weekday and Writing Skills Clinics three times a week. You can also access self-help resources on our webpage. • Who can give me maths advice? Helen and Michael specialise in Maths support for students though clinics and pre-booked appointment. • How do I get in touch? Email: academic-skills@brad.ac.uk Telephone: 01274 236849 Academic Skills Advice

Any questions? Academic Skills Advice

Enhancing Group Presentations for Academic Success