Communication Matters Workshops

EFFECTIVE PUBLIC SPEAKING IN ACADEMIC SETTINGS
April 17, 24 and May 1, 2012

INSTRUCTORS: Doree Allen, Ph.D and Thomas Freeland, Ph.D,
              Stanford Center for Teaching and Learning

 

Effective oral communication skills have always been important to success in academia, but perhaps never more so than at this time. As Scott Morgan and Barrett Whitener write in Speaking About Science: “In an age when so much communication is tethered to technology, delivering messages face-to-face has paradoxically become even more vital to professional success.” And, certainly, this is true for every discipline and for all audiences who want clear, concise, and compelling insights into the emerging research and dialogue of their fields.

This three-part workshop focuses on improving the oral communication skills you have already begun to develop as scholars and teachers, and on adapting these skills to suit the range of rhetorical situations you will inevitably encounter in your careers. In Part I on April 17, you will be introduced to a variety of preparation strategies and delivery techniques to enhance both the quality of your professional presentations and your general facility and confidence in oral expression. This first session, a combination of lecture and active participation, will include information on preparing for different purposes, audiences, and settings, as well as discussion of organization, vocal variety, nonverbal behavior, and speech anxiety.

In the subsequent sessions on April 24 and May 1, participants will develop and deliver a brief presentation (5-7 minutes), based on your research or course work, that will be videotaped and discussed in small breakout groups. Building upon the initial session, the group will address structure--especially the importance of crafting a strong introduction--word choice, the differences between written and oral discourse, voice, articulation, body language, and use of visual aids, among other relevant issues.

Application is now CLOSED.

Note: Participants must attend all three sessions of the workshop.

 

Spring 2012 Communication Matters Workshops

Sessions	Date and Time	Location
Effective Public Speaking in Academic Settings	Tuesday, April 17 4:15 - 6:00 p.m.	Li Ka Shing Ctr, Room 308
Presentation and Feedback	Part 1: Tuesday, April 24 Part 2: Tuesday, May 1 Both sessions 4:15 - 6:30 p.m.	TBA

 

For other programs and resources aimed at developing communication skills, see the Communication Skills web page within this VPGE site.