Why Don't Students Like Presentations?
by Dan Priest
1. Information is not relevant and students lack interest in the material.
1.1. Hook students with an introduction and return to this introduction after presentation for students to explain using their new information.
2. Lack of experience with content.
2.1. Play to student's strengths and weaknesses.
2.2. Make sure students have enough prior knowledge to understand problem.
2.3. Information should be at a level that is not too difficult and not too easy.
3. Presenter assumes too much about students' abilities to pay attention.
3.1. Repeated images and key phrases activates students' memory, allowing them to build on this new knowledge.
4. Presentation is boring.
4.1. Keep it simple.
4.2. Shift topics often and monitor student attention.
5. Presenter does not anticipate how the presentation will actually work when given an audience.
5.1. Have a "script" (an outline) that provides the cues and anecdotes that will not be on any screen.
5.2. Practice the timing and verbal cues, and take notes on what works (and anticipate what won't).
