Topic outline

  • Presentation Skills

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    • The delivery of your content is just as important as the content itself! Similarly to well-rehearsed public speakers, becoming an engaging and confident presenter for camera is a unique skill that needs practise to master. Let’s uncover the importance of quality delivery through improving your presentation skills, with tips and tricks for delivering teaching content in particular.

      Other topics in this module address the importance of quality audio and high-definition picture. This section is focussed on you and your performance, assuming you have already perfected great audio and picture quality.

      Quick Tips

      • Warm up: Before recording, warm up your body and voice. Take a few deep breaths to slow your heart rate and help you focus. Stretch through your torso, bend your knees, roll your shoulders and neck to release tension. Do some tongue twisters and slide through your vocal registers, as if mimicking a siren. Protecting your voice is especially important if you will be presenting for an extended period, as it helps maintain clarity and prevents strain.
      • Voice: Keep it conversational and natural. Consider your pitch, pace, articulation, emphasis, and overall energy. The more engaged you are with your content, the more your students will engage. 
      • Hand position: If standing, keep arms/hands relaxed and in front of your body - instead of by your sides or behind your back. Use your hands to emphasise certain points – and if you naturally talk with your hands, go for it!
      • Body language: Keep energised, engaged, and breathe. Try not to stand too stiff or sit slouched - this will create excess tension in your body and voice, causing you to look uncomfortable and thus, affecting your delivery. Between takes, shake out your body and relax your face to reduce tension, and don’t forget to smile!
      • Eye line: Remember the camera is your audience, so keep the camera at eye level. You can adjust your eyeline periodically to appear more natural.
      • Relax: If you get stuck or feel uncomfortable, STOP! Take a break, shake out your body, give your voice a break, have some water, relax, and breathe. Take as much time as you need, then reset and record. Little mistakes are okay - this happens in everyday conversation too.

      Attitude Affects Engagement

      Is your aim for your students to engage with your content? To learn? To be inspired?

      Another step towards achieving this is for you to show that YOU are genuinely interested in the content and the students’ success.

      Smiling while recording, whether on camera or in voice recordings, lends a warmer tone to your delivery. This facial expression not only enhances articulation but also conveys your enthusiasm and enjoyment in teaching. Popular YouTube vlogging is a good example of how to engage an audience behind the screen through enthusiasm and direct address.

      Even though you aren't presenting in a lecture theatre or classroom environment, it is important to deliver the content as if you were talking directly to the student. They are there and listening - even if you cannot physically see them.

      Before Recording

      It is highly recommended that you read your presentation or script out loud at least once prior to recording, especially if using a variety of resources in your recording – slides, animations, readings, etc. This allows you to identify any mistakes or overly wordy sentences. When writing your scripts, consider preparing them based on how you speak, not how you would write. You want the presentation to be as natural as possible, so consider your word choices, pauses, emphasis and sentence structure.

      Practicing out loud helps familiarise yourself with the presentation, so when it comes time to record, you will naturally appear more relaxed and conversational and thus, more engaging to students. Focus on your articulation, clarity, flow, dynamics, and speed.

      Time to Record

      Once you have prepared for your presentation, it is time to record. Understandably for most people, recording and being on camera can be quite daunting. The best way to overcome this is practice. Follow the Quick Tips for delivery, focussing primarily on body language and enthusiasm.

      Practice Makes Perfect

      It is beneficial to do some practice recordings and watch them back. You’ll be surprised at how much watching yourself back can help with developing your presentation skills. Additionally, seeking feedback from peers can offer valuable perspectives, facilitating ongoing improvement in your delivery. Always remember, you are your own worst critic, so try not to be too hard on yourself!


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