5.7 Guide for Effective Professional Demonstration (Presentation)
Continuing Education Option
Identifying Appropriate PD
Guide for Effective Professional Demonstration (Presentation), Lesson 5. Section 7.
As you develop your growth through your professional development plan, you will provide a professional presentation of what you have learned. You will be required to submit to the EPSB as an artifact of your CEO Portfolio a PowerPoint (PP) you have designed for the presentation. The PP must comply with the guidelines that will be established later in these lessons. Below are suggestions and resources for an effective presentation.
- Know your audience. The materials you present must be geared toward the particular group to whom you are speaking. Just as not all lesson plans are a one-size fits all, your presentation materials need to focus on your particular audience.
- Be well prepared. Ensure all materials are organized in the order in which you plan to use them. It is frustrating for an audience to wait or search for the materials.
- Be clear and concise. Avoid lengthy personal experiences. However, using pertinent, precise real-life examples to demonstrate points of discussion help enrich the conversation.
- Include your audience. Depending upon your topic or method of delivery, giving your participants time to reflect and discuss in pairs or small groups provides for a more engaged learning experience.
- Monitor your voice tone. Use multiple tones depending upon the emphasis you need for particular sections. Use effective pauses to highlight specific focal points.
- Monitor the speed of your presentation. If you speak too quickly, you will lose your audience. Many may be trying to decode what you’ve already said and miss your current information. Tape record your practice session. You may find this will strengthen your entire presentation.
The following Websites may assist you in developing an effective demonstration:
Your professional presentation may be presented to a wide array of audiences. Your first choice of audience should be for those who will gain the most benefit. Below are some suggestions for contacts as you schedule your presentation.
- Colleagues: Teachers and other educators whose students will benefit from the information presented.
- School administrators: Your principal will already know of your plan and the effects your presentation may have on other teachers in the school.
- District administrators: Contact the district’s Professional Development (PD) coordinator and request to serve as a presenter at the next series of PD meetings for the district. Initially, if you need to increase the coordinator’s knowledge about your area of expertise, there are probably other teachers in the district who may have the same need and would benefit from your knowledge.
- State educational organizations: There are often calls for presenters at conferences and workshops. Presenters are usually assigned to present at conferences six to twelve months before the conference. You should not be afraid to take this step. Once you have reached the refinement stage, you will have the confidence to share new-found knowledge with others.
- Local Businesses: Your work in the school will have a direct impact on possible future employees
In addition to a public demonstration, you should contribute to various publications to showcase your work.
- Newsletters
- Newspapers
- Magazines
- Professional Journals