Presentation Skills

Full course description

This course will help you to prepare for future presentations during your studies as well as in your professional career. Apart from a general introduction to fundamental presentation skills in the opening lecture, this course is based on learning-by-doing. Each student will give four presentations: one 5-minute presentation on an informal topic determined by the course coordinator and three 15-minute presentations of an academic nature. Students choose their own topics for their academic presentations; preferably topics they are interested in and have already researched. Fellow students provide extensive oral and written feedback after each presentation.

Students will receive feedback on their presentations from their peers and their tutor, with regards to e.g.

• Delivery: speech pace and pauses; tone of voice; body language such as posture, gestures, movement.
• Structure: providing an introduction, body and conclusion, with clear transitions between different sections of a presentation, using a logical sequence of information, with main points and subpoints.
• Content: providing sound descriptions and interpretations of the main topics, supported by relevant academic methods and theories and other reliable sources, and clarified with examples or metaphors.
• Visual Aids: using slideware that supports, and does not distract from, the content of the presentation, including key words, clarifying images such as (photo)graphs, and entertaining touches like cartoons.
• Audience: tailoring the form and content of one’s message to the audience; interacting with the audience during the presentation as well as adequately responding to their questions afterwards.
• Feedback: providing and receiving constructive feedback on presentations to/from fellow students.