All Levels
The Art of
Speaking in Public
Are you considering pre- senting at a local, state, or national art education conference? Here are a few
personal reflections and guidelines
that I hope will be helpful to you in
planning and executing a memorable
presentation.
Ken Vieth
Planning Content
Think of ideas about which you are •
excited or lessons or activities that
have been successful in your classroom.
Think clarity, brevity, and simplic- •
ity in the use of text and imagery.
Share anecdotal stories regarding •
students’ experiences and responses.
Show that your work is relevant as •
you share what you have learned.
Consider the graphic design aspect •
of the images you are sharing such
as the use of text, size, style, and
readability.
Make sure your ideas can be rep- •
licated in another teacher’s classroom.
Prepare handouts or a Web address •
where the materials can be down-loaded.
Check out Pre- •
sentation Zen at
www.presenta-tionzen.com for
other good ideas
to incorporate.
As your audience arrives, start with •
a slide that shares your name and
the title of your presentation.
Consider using a remote control in •
order to have more mobility during
your presentation.
•;Make;sure;all
images are in
focus.
•;Presentations
should be about
the presenter and
not the images on
the screen.
Images amplify the content of the
message.
Avoid the use of too many images •
because they may overwhelm your
audience and draw attention away
from your main points.
Use text selectively and have •
smooth transitions in your presentation. Avoid too much text, and do
not read all of it to your audience.
Continued on page 58.
Here are a few personal
reflections and guidelines
that I hope will be helpful
to you in planning and
executing a memorable
presentation.
Using Technology
Arrive early to set up. Line up tech •
support in case it is needed.
Be sure you have all the connectors •
you need. Bring an extension cord
just in case.
Know your computer. Run through •
your presentation ahead of time.
As backup to your laptop, also bring •
your presentation on a CD or flash
drive.
