Teaching Evaluation Resources

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Presentation Ability 

--the ability to show interest in students

--the ability to project a dynamic and energetic presence

--the ability to cultivate a confident and effective presentation style


MTSU Resources

Things to Know about Enjoying Teaching (Teaching Excellence Module)
Presentation via Powerpoint


LTITC Resources

The following titles are in our library--

NEW!  DVDs from the Derek Bok Center Series on College Teaching
The Act of Teaching, Part 1 Theater Techniques for Classrooms & Presentations; Part 2 Physical and Vocal Exercises.

The Art of the Lecture & The Art of Discussion Leading

How to Speak, Lecture Tips from Patrick Winston & Technically Speaking, Making Complex Matters Simple

and...

Improving College Teaching. MaryEllen Weimer

 McKeachie’s Teaching Tips: Strategies, Research, and Theory for College and University Teachers.

Taking Teaching Seriously

Leaving the lectern: Cooperative learning and the critical first days of students working in groups. McManus, Dean A.

Teaching at its best: a research-based resource for college instructors

Teaching with Your Mouth Shut. Donald Finkel.

The Art of College Teaching, Kallet & Morgan

The J oy of Teaching, Filene

What the Best College Teachers Do , Ken Bain

Check our online catalog to examine all materials on presentation.

Suggestions from Ken Bain (What the Best Teachers Do)

• Tap into childhood curiosity (with enthusiasm, caring, and meaningful course construction)
• Students are most likely to learn deeply when they try to solve a problem that is relevant to them, to current events in their lives, etc.
• Find and ask the .big questions. that students will find intriguing.
• Use stories, case studies, etc. and get students involved first, then introduce theory and concepts.
• Ask yourself, 'what are the mental paradigms that I will want to get my students to chall enge? How can I create an expectation failure that they will care about?'

The Challenge: pose that one question to a colleague and see if they would take your course.
Ken Bain's book is available to borrow from our library.

Online Resources

Invigorate Your Classes! Watch this short 8-minute video demonstration of a professor modeling several techniques to engage students and reveal their thinking. Courtesy of Iowa State University teaching center.

--Improving Presentation Style ”Effective lecturers combine the talents of scholar, writer, producer, comedian, showman, and teacher in ways that contribute to student learning” Wilbert J. McKeachie, Teaching Tips

--Design Your Visuals for Maximum Impact:  “In the hands of a skillful presenter, Powerpoint slides can be a powerful tool.  But if you misuse them, slides can have all the impact of alphabet soup.  How can you make sure your visuals are helping—not hindering—your presentation?”

--Why Use Handouts?  “They provide more detailed information than you would put on a slide; they give your audience something to take away to review later; they remind your listeners of you and your key messages.”

--Creating Visual Aids That Really Work!  “Used wisely, Powerpoint and similar programs can be an effective tool to help audiences remember your message, while allowing you to prove, reinforce, and support your claims.”

--Clark, Donald. “Making Presentations that Audiences Will Love.” PowerPoint Presentation. http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/hrd/templates/presentations.ppt.
---.“Monthly Speaking Tips.” LJL Seminars. http://www.ljlseminars.com/monthtip.htm.
--“Common Visual Aids.” Faculty Development Committee. Honolulu CC. http://www.hcc.hawaii.edu/intranet/committees/FacDevCom/guidebk/teachtip....
--“Creating Visual Aids That Really Work: Designing Effective Slides Using PowerPoint.” Effective Communications Group (ECG), Inc. http://ecglink.com/newsletter/visual.shtml. “Presentations.” Teaching and
Learning Center. Eastern Kentucky University. http://www.tlc.eku.edu/tips/presentations/.

The Berkeley Compendium "Suggestions for Teaching Excellence in Presentation" breaks down presentation into 7 areas--focus, define, rephrase, memorable examples, demonstrate over describe, empathize and acknowledge--and offers suggestions for each area. Also see suggestions for  One of the best on academic web.

--Good Teaching:  The Top 10 Requirements
-- Selecting A Delivery Strategy

--Improving Lecturing Skills

Check out the LT&ITC Delicious Bookmarks on presentation!

Online Literature

The Impact of Teacher Presentation Styles Information on student expectations where teacher presentation styles are concerned (e.g., volume, proncunciation, pace, etc). Prepared by Kathryn Brillinger, Conestoga College. Sammons, Martha. “Students Assess Computer-Aided Classroom Presentations.” The Journal Online May 1995. http://www.thejournal.com/magazine/vault/A1071.cfm.

Edwards, Paul N. “How to Give an Academic Talk: Changing the Culture of Public Speaking in the Humanities.” School of Information. University of Michigan. http://www.si.umich.edu/~pne/PDF/howtotalk.pdf.