Study Skills
Workshops 2014
Presentations and Group Work
Session outline
• Interpersonal skills
• Giving presentations
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Considering the audience
Being prepared
Structuring your presentation
Confident delivery
Communications skills
• Group work
– Working effectively with others
– Strategies for managing groups
Interpersonal Skills
Discussion questions – 5 minutes
• Make a list of all of the different
scenarios at university that require use of
interpersonal skills
• Why are students asked to give
presentations?
• Why are students asked to work in
groups?
Giving Presentations
• What makes a presentation ‘good’?
• What will the tutors be assessing?
- ability to summarise key information
- ability to structure an ‘argument’
- quality of preparation and delivery
- use of supporting visuals
Consider Your Audience
• Purpose?
• Aims?
• Audience?
• Length?
Effective communication
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Never assume knowledge
Give an overview – introduction
Make sure your presentation is structured
Check understanding & make sure your
audience are still engaged – check body
language
• Be aware of the language you are using
• Be flexible and adaptable, use a variety of
media if possible and re-cap.
• Be enthusiastic!
Being Prepared
• Get your ideas down – mind maps, lists, diagrams
• Structure - Introduction, main content,
conclusion, references
• Visual aids – power point, handouts
• Prepare prompt cards
• Rehearse
Structuring Your Presentation
• Title
• Introduction
• Main Body
• Conclusion
• Questions
Overcoming Nerves
Often, students spend so much time worrying
about the presentation, they leave little time to
prepare what to say!
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Preparation and rehearsals help
Arrive early
Check out the room first
Take water with you
Act confident!
Reflect & evaluate
Giving the talk
• Non-verbal communication
• Speak more slowly and loudly than you normally
would
• Don’t apologise for anything you think could be
better
• Look up and make eye contact to break down
audience into individuals
• Use pauses to get your
breath back!
Group Work
Discussion
- Identify one occasion when you were in a
group that worked well. What made the
group successful?
• http://www.learnhighergroupwork.com/episodes.php
Creating a Team
What practical steps can be taken to ensure
effective group working?
1. Have a positive attitude
2. Get to know your team – identify strengths
3. Create a productive environment
4. Ground rules
5. Group working practices
6. Decide on roles within the group
7. Check understanding of the task
8. Establish goals
9. Share contact details
10.Agree meeting dates
Resources
• ASK website advice on presentations & group
work
– student.brighton.ac.uk/ask
• Learn Higher Resources
– http://www.brunel.ac.uk/learnhigher/giving-oralpresentations/
– http://www.learnhigher.ac.uk/groupwork//index.
php