Wednesday 6th November

This morning we have spent time observing and giving constructive feedback to first year students following their presentations.   I had to rate on a scale of 1-5 for criteria including voice volume and pitch, body language, use of notes, use of language, slides and general.   I feel I did give some constructive feedback on what was good and what could be changed in future presentations.   My notes are shown below from the presentations.   I was confident giving the feedback, conscious of not giving all negative and ensuring positive feedback was given.   One girl I could see was terrified.  She reminded me of myself she just couldn't relax or think about anything until it was over.   She did infact cry after her presentation, probably with relief given the pressure.  I want so passionately to tell people who are so like me sometimes that it does get less fearful the more times you do it.  But I know from experience, that no matter what anyone said to me, it wouldn't have taken away those feelings of fear and terror during my presentations prior to me having presentation training.  It was during that training that I saw a video of myself giving a presentation and thought I wasn't anywhere near as bad as I imagined I was.  Also, the training taught me that if you're presenting on a topic you know well, it's so much easier.  

 I then had to reflect on my own presentation skills.   Using the criteria on the critique sheet I have noted the following comments about my own presenting skills:

• voice, both volume and pitch are ok - generally a little shaky when I start but once I hear people laugh I relax a little (if there is stony silence it's worrying!);
• the speed at which I speak possibly may be a tad fast;
• my body language hopefully is smiley and relaxed, and in the past I have moved around too much.  
• I do use notes appropriately, I was taught to use index cards with a few key words on.    
• My slides are professional, and possibly predictable, and I saw today some interesting layouts form the year 1 students so I will try out different layouts.  This professional approach comes from my previous life so now I'm a creative I could seriously do something less corporate!
• Generally, I am fairly calm about doing presentations.  I get nervous immediately beforehand, but today was a reminder of how nervous, and fearful I used to be.  I would spend weeks worrying about it whereas today, I don't think about it in that same way.  

I practice my presentations beforehand, because I discovered that typing up a presentation and then actually saying it are two different things and sometimes what i've written doesn't sound right when it comes to presenting it.   Where possible, I sometimes practice it in front of someone else to get feedback.

So today has been interesting; I really felt for the first years; I know how they felt because I too was once that terrified.   Age is of benefit alongside life experience!