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Mumbling voice shuffling feet averted eyes fidgeting fingers on crumpling note cards These are the common elements of a student struggling to give an oral presentation in front of a class of their peers. As oral presentations and public speaking continues to be an important part of the curriculum at all levels, finding a way to ensure students are capable of confidently delivering information in front of audiences is paramount to academic success. Both teachers and students can follow a few guidelines in preparing to deliver oral presentations.

1. Start Simple. On the first day of class, have students stand and introduce themselves to the rest of the class, including something they think is interesting about themselves. This encourages oral communication from the very start, and establishes speaking in public as an expectation of the curriculum. Continue the culture of oral presentation by consistently asking students to stand and face the class when answering simple checking for understanding questions. As the curriculum becomes more interactive and the students feel more relaxed about speaking aloud to the group, teachers can expand upon opportunities for presentation. If two students disagree about a story element, for example, have them stand up before the class and present their sides of the argument in an impromptu debate. By making simple, short and unrehearsed presentations a natural part of the curriculum, students will become more comfortable with the idea of speaking in front of a group.

2. Audience Rules. Establish strict guidelines for the audience from the very beginning. Those listening to a presentation should be respectful of the speaker. There should obviously be no talking or distractions from the audience. Do not allow as an instructor, or condone as a student, teasing presenters for any reason. Everyone should remember that they would want respectful treatment when they are presenting. Questions and comments should be made after the presentation in a respectful manner. For longer presentations, students in the audience should be expected to take notes or keep presentation logs. Presentation logs are especially useful because they encourage attentiveness and allow the audience to analyze the effectiveness of the presentation, which in turn gives them insight in how to improve their future presentations.

3. Research. The content of a formal presentation should be well researched and documented. Like

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