Page 388 - Effective group discussion theory and practice by Adams, Katherine H. Brilhart, John K. Galanes, Gloria J

Making Public Presentations of the Group’s Output 371

Demonstration: Showing your audience a demonstration can be an effective visual
aid. One of our students showed how to build an attractive wren house.
Maps: Just because your small group knows where a city is, your audience may
not know. Maps are quick references and can show comparative location.
Transparencies: Placing an outline of your presentation on a PowerPoint
slide allows you to talk to the audience while showing the image. Keep your
images simple; do not overload them with information, fancy fonts, or special
effects. Reveal the information as needed. Use these only as cues for your
presentation— do NOT read material off them because you will bore the audience.
Charts: Charts are useful for showing statistics. They provide a concise way to
present this kind of information. Different kinds of charts, such as pie or bar
charts, can show comparisons. Make sure you explain how to interpret the chart
images.
Handouts: Many visual aids can be placed on handouts. Often speakers give the
audience a hard copy of slides of their PowerPoint presentation so that audience
members can take notes during the presentation. Be careful, though— if you don’t
manage handouts well, the audience will focus on the handout instead of your
presentation.
Chalkboards: These are still used in presentations, especially ones in classrooms
without the technology for video and PowerPoint presentations. Use them to
illustrate something that you are saying at the same time. Audiences should not
have to wait while you place information on the board. Also remember that
writing on a chalkboard turns you away from the audience, whereas transparencies
and PowerPoint slides let you show the information while you still face the
audience.
Multimedia: Many different kinds of computer presentation software are
available, such as Microsoft PowerPoint and Adobe Persuasion, which can
make your presentation polished and professional. You can present verbal and
visual material in any number of ways. In addition, you can access the Internet
and show video clips. Make sure in advance that your speaking environment
has the materials you need (television monitor, computer- projecter table, or an
LCD panel).

Organize Materials and Your Presentation
Map out your presentation. As with any road map, directions should be clear so
that the audience understands how and why you are taking them through the
chosen topic. Audience members can more easily follow a well- organized presenta-
tion. If your presentation is based on a written group report, you can probably use
the same organization used in the written report as a guide for your oral presenta-
tion. Typical organization— including an introduction, body, and conclusion— is pro-
vided in Table B.4.

gal37018_appB_363_380.indd 371 3/30/18 11:13 AM