Reflection on CPD showcase

It was an eye-opening experience to attend the CPD workshop and to see different presentation styles. A few pointers that I have learnt from the presentation showcase are below:

Non-verbal

A few pointers I took note of was how to engage the audience and keep their attention. Clear pronunciation, good eye contact and hand gestures makes the audience focus their attention on the speaker. Confidence is key, there were cases where I drifted off and did not follow what the speaker was presenting about. However, the confidence that the speaker exuded brought me back into the zone. Movements should be minimized while presenting as it was distracting, and appropriate hand gestures could aid the speaker to get the point across.

Audio-visual

Slides with just the key points and suitable photos can allow the speaker more room for elaboration, taking the attention off the slides thus focusing on the speaker. It is crucial to test the volume prior to the presentation, if any videos and audio media are used.

Verbal

Certain speakers knew their content very well and they did not have to refer to the ceiling televisions throughout the presentation, which is crucial to give a smooth presentation. Filler words such as “ahh” should be avoided. Pauses could actually allow the audience to bring their attention back to the speaker. A strong, powerful voice at the beginning of the presentation serves as an attention-getter, so is emphasizing important key words with the volume and tonality of the voice. The speakers should avoid using a monotonous voice and tone, as the presentation becomes boring and audiences would tune out after a short while.