My grade depends on the group presentation! Help!

My grade depends on a group presentation! Help!

We’re well into the last half of fall term, when group presentations are on the syllabus. All the joys and otherwise of group work, and all the joys and otherwise of standing up in front of the class (or webcam), knowing that up to half of your mark depends on these 10 to 50 minutes.

In this blog I’m going to share with you the fears and pitfalls of group presentations–and techniques that students have found work for them.

I just hate presentations—they terrify me!

I’m dealing with fear first, because the fear of presenting is often a bigger stressor than the content and preparation of the presentation itself. Fear of presenting, or “stage fright” is pretty common. We’re afraid of being picked apart and of being judged by the prof, by our classmates . . . or by ourselves. We’re afraid we’ll choke or lose our place.

The techniques for overcoming these fears, or at least for presenting well in spite of them, is to take those fears apart, gain a tool for each type of fear, and to then practice using those tools.

What if I choke?

If you’re afraid of choking during presentation, accept that indeed you might. Then plan what to do if that happens. If you choke for a moment, or lose your place, you can try these:

• Look at your notes;

• Have a key phrase, “I’ll pause now, for us to reflect” or “That bears serious consideration,” pausing thoughtfully. This gains a moment to collect yourself while still appearing in control and respectful of your audience;

• Use humour, if it is appropriate. I know one experienced presenter who uses “A moment here. I have six thoughts and one tongue” (and she really does);

• Take a sip of water.

Practice these techniques when you’re rehearsing your presentation–just in case.

What if they shoot me down?

If you’re afraid you are going to be picked apart, accept that you might get questions or points queried. This is often a good thing—it indicates your audience is engaged. You and your group can think of potential questions, and design responses.

For the question or point you are not ready for and are stuck on the spot, have standby responses: “That’s a very good point/question. We’ll look into that and get back to you,” is one acceptable response.

If you get a negative evaluation from the instructor either later or in front of the class, say “Thank you. That gives us some things to work on.” Then make an appointment with the instructor to discuss in more detail what they were looking for. 

Note: If your group consults with the professor during the preparation of your presentation, this will be much less likely to happen.

I obsess about any group presentation until it’s over!

When you find yourself fruitlessly stressing during the weeks before the presentation, take a breath, take your secure thought or mantra. Stretch, take ten, then refocus on the presentation, or on other course work, or on you to-do list–check your schedule to see what you need to be doing, and . . . do it.

As you do more presentations, you will likely find yourapprehension decreases. Ask any experienced trial lawyer about how they felt about their first case, and how they feel in court now. Most of the time their apprehension went down with experience, while the edge from being on the spot remains.

If these techniques still leave you functionally impaired with stage fright, go to student services and sign up for learning the tools and approaches that can work for you. For most of my clients, practice and preparation have reduced fear enough for them to make successful presentations.

Making the most of group dynamics (or compensating if necessary)

I’ve blogged about group work earlier—those tips go double for group presentations. Briefly again, here are the must-be-resolved questions.

Who does what? 

Early on a successful group will have established:

• the leader: Who keeps group meetings and the project on track?

• the researchers. Who is researching what?

• the technical experts. Who is good with which programs? Who is the hardware? Who has used presentation software previously?

• the presenters. Even if each group member is presenting, a key MC to introduce, to summarize, to close and to take questions keeps the audience focussed. The MC should be your most confident-appearing or experienced presenter.

Your role: regardless of everyone’s formal roles, you will track the project, and confirm decisions by email promptly. This is in case you need to deal with some of the more unpleasant issues that we hope will not arise. Or not arise much.

If your group gets off to an early start, assigns roles, schedules work, and meets regularly, you likely will have some glitches, but will be able to resolve them and build a sense of colleagueryand support for each other. 

But what if conflict does get in the way?

• Schedule a meeting with the instructor early on.

• Go in with your notes.

• Email everyone the agreed resolution, and keep everyone on track through meetings and email.

What if the group isn’t performing to my standard, or isn’t doing anything?

In an earlier blog I addressed unfair work sharing in groups. The solution here is the same: Keep your eye on your purpose, and that is to get a good grade.

You might end up doing way more than your fair share of the work, even to the extent of having an entire presentation you have prepared on your own. ​

The basics for a quality group presentation

Some straightforward tips here:

• Read the assignment. Read the rubric.

• Map and plan the presentation topics and order of presentation.

• Schedule the work, with allowance for sickness, contingencies, and a safety buffer.

• Run your outline by the instructor before you start the research, and possibly after that, especially if you run into snags in finding suitable material.

• Familiarize yourselves with the presentation software.

• Back. Up. Everything! Two of you should have complete backup copies at each stage of the project. Have backup technology in case for example, a presenter’s internet fails.

• Note the timing: You may get downgraded if you run even less than a minute overtime.

• Have an alternate MC and be prepared to present another group member’s part, just in case. 

• Rehearse.

• Record a “dress rehearsal.”

• Dress appropriately for the presentation. You all need to look like the winners you are!

• Set up early, including your technology back-up.

And . . . Break a leg!

I’d like to hear what challenges you when your grade depends on a group presentation. Drop me a line to vent, or to discuss [email protected]