Teaching requires clear communication, whether face-to-face or virtual. Knowledge of PowerPoint is just part of what makes a successful presenter; rather, it's the ability to connect with and captivate an audience that makes all the difference. Presenting is a core competency for teachers. Whenever time an educator addresses a gathering of kids, parents, or other educators, they apply their presentation skills.
In comparison to presenting in person, doing it online is very challenging. Students get distracted easily. You can’t read the room. Often, you can’t even see them, because they turn off their camera. Because of this, it is hard to get and maintain their attention and keep them interested in learning. Yet, it’s not impossible. Below we offer you some simple and easy tips on how to upgrade your online presentation skills and keep the attention of your students:
Less is more
Don't show too many slides to your online students or they may get confused or bored. If you have more to say, you might want to split the presentation into two or more parts. Also, make your slides minimalistic. Ideal is to have one idea, one quote, or one number per slide. This will make the information easier to understand and draw students' attention to what you're saying instead of making them read a lot.
Source: https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/online-education-concept_4470731.htm#query=teacher%20online%20presentation&position=18&from_view=search&track=ais
Make sure your slides look good
Visual aids can shorten the time it takes to learn, make it easier to understand, and help learners remember what they've learned. Think about how movie clips, infographics, and even GIFs can make the content more interesting.
Start strong
Get your students' attention from the very beginning of your presentation. Start your lesson with a strong statement, story, thought-provoking question, or number that has something to do with the topic.
Interaction keeps the attention
No one wants to listen to someone talk for a long time. Even less so for students who have to sit still for hours at a time. Don't just talk through your presentation without any breaks. Use questions, role-playing, and discussions in small groups to get the students involved. This will help you keep their attention for longer.
Wrap-up
At the end of your presentation, you should wrap up by putting a summary of the most important points and lessons on a separate slide. You'll show how everything fits together, and your class will get a good summary of what they've learned.
… and at the end some small technical details to keep in mind that can also have a big effect on your online presentation:
- Familiarize in advance with the software you will be using
- Join the online classroom 5-10 minutes before the official starting time
- Equip with good quality microphone and camera
- Ensure proper lighting
- Be aware of your surroundings and what is visible on the background
- Put the camera at eye-level or a bit higher
- Dress appropriately
Try to reduce side noise and mute your phone
In this great video, Garr Reynolds (author of the best-selling book on the art of presentation, Presentation Zen) offers 13 tips that can be applied by anyone in order will help improving their online presentation skills and get their message across in an engaging, dynamic, and memorable way. The video is conveniently divided into parts (key points) and easy to follow and clear steps.
Most of the good tips for giving an effective presentation in person can also be used for online presentations. The same rules apply, but there are a few things that are different about online presentations that make the experience much harder. For example, students have even more distractions during an online presentation than when they are sitting in a real classroom. Students are known to have short attention spans, but they are even shorter online. So, teachers should do everything they can to keep the presentation going in the most interesting and engaging way possible. This may require additional time and efforts at first, but in long term perspective, it will elevate your teaching skills and will improve the learning experience for your students.