Assessed Group Presentations

Louise LiveseyAcademic Skills Adviser

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

The Plan

1. The development of a team

2. The benefits of allocating roles in the team

3. Group presentation tips

4. General tips for effective presentations

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.

1.The development of a team

Consider the benefits of working in a team at University

• 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

1.The development of a team

TALKING POINT

1.The development of a team

Challenge Solution

Being aware of people’s feelings including anxiety

Always be constructive when passing comment. Ask how everyone feels so they can vent any potential nervousness or concern, and share their worries

Make ground rules and set clear boundaries

Directly address any anxieties mentioned. Discuss and agree attendance, punctuality and commitment parameters; any behaviour or comments that would be unacceptable; and what to do if someone dominates, does not fulfil their role or ignores the ground rules. Ensure everyone knows where the support services are for any assistance so no-one is too deeply drawn in to any personal difficulties.

Plan to prevent difficulties Write down the ‘advantages’, ‘potential difficulties’ and ‘ways to deal with these difficulties’ of working as a team to be forearmed if there are any problems in the future.

Decide and be clear about what you are there to do

Maintain focus on the purpose of the team. Decide and be clear about what each meeting will cover. Arrange meeting dates well in advance and so that everyone can attend. If the team does not seem to work properly, address this directly and ensure everyone suggests solutions (re-distribution of tasks, be more considerate of feelings, etc.)

Every individual is responsible for the team

Everyone has responsibility for solving out any issues. If there is any ‘sabotaging’ going on (chatting, repeated lateness, generally not paying attention, etc.) keep bringing the team back to the reason for meeting – the assessed presentation – and focus on solutions.

Consider the roles necessary for the smooth running of meetings and so everyone participates

Chairperson/Leader: ensures the group draws up an agenda for each meeting and sticks to it; makes sure everyone has a chance to speak and that their opinions are heard; keeps the group focused on the agenda items; sums up what has been discussed and agreed at the end

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.

2.The benefits of allocating roles in a team

TALKING POINT

Match the right job to the right person!

2.The benefits of allocating roles in a team

Activity 1: Jobs for producing and delivering the presentation

2.The benefits of allocating roles in a team

Role Actions Skills/Personality

Deliverers/speakers Spoken delivery of presentation Confidence, clear voice, engaging

Resource makers (handouts, etc.) Development of or acquisition of paper and other resources (models, etc.)

Attention to detail, IT or practical skills, ingenuity

Demonstrators Demonstrate use of an object or method of a skill

Confidence, dexterity

Role players Act a situation or event alone, in pairs, or as a group

Confidence, good memory, acting ability

Creators of slide show/PPp Development of slides or PP presentation

IT skills, artistic talent, attention to detail

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

2.The benefits of allocating roles in a team

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

Any tips or strategies you have used?Planning and preparation are the keyChoose an ‘easy structureContent 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

4.General tips for an effective presentation

TALKING POINT

MS PP−1:1−Arial, Tahoma, Calibri−No capital-only words−Do not cut anything off−Use clear labels −Subtle and consistent backgrounds

4.General tips for an effective presentation

plan for emergencies

4.General tips for an effective presentation

Academic Skills Advice Service

Where are we? Chesham Building B0.23

What do we do? Support undergraduate students with their study skills by running clinics and workshops, having bookable appointment slots, and enabling students to drop-in for Instant Advice.

Who are we? Michael and Helen specialise in Maths Support; Lucy and Russell advise students on study skills; and I (Louise) deliver the workshops

When can you come for help? Everyday both face to face and on-line

How do I get in touch? Email: academic-skills@brad.ac.uk or website www.brad.ac.uk/academic-skills

Any questions?