Giving a great lecture

**M* <m*@optonline.net>**

Well now, isn't my face red. I thought I had posted that last message
privately to Jessie.

My apologies for two posts in one day, this next message though is something
I've wanted to put down in words for a long time and it follows along the
current theme here.

It's been a desire of mine to do a program entitled "Giving a great
lecture". It's a topic that I think is very important and should be looked
at, especially in an organization where so many of us give lectures. I wish
somebody had told me these things before my first few forays in front of an
audience.

Giving a great lecture - guidelines from somebody you never even heard about
;-)

1. If at all possible arrive early and get to know your location. Test the
projector and sound system.

2. Don't bend like a hunchback at the microphone. A decent sound system
should be able to pick your voice up while you stand erect.

3. Carry a laser pointer with a strong beam and use it.

4. Wear a name tag. I have a favorite that has my name printed in large,
plain font and hangs from a chain. No pin-on or clip-on for me.

5. Have a joke, funny slide, or humorous anecdote in the beginning of your
program.

6. The quality of your slides will make or break your program. Spend the $$$
on good film, take time to learn how to use your camera and how to frame a
great photo.

7. If you are doing a hands on demonstration insist on a hands free
microphone or head set.

8. Bring along the following: Handouts with botanical and (nicknames) of
plant material shown in slides, laser pointer, mini flashlight, 3-to-2 prong
adapter (old buildings don't have outlets with three holes), an extension
cord, an extension cord for a remote control, and extra batteries for
anything that needs them. If they suddenly find they are ill equiped, it's
your program that looks bad.

9. Never talk while you are facing the screen. This is the mistake I see
most often during lectures. Wait until you are facing the audience before
speaking. If you don't read from your handout and just have to look at the
screen, turn the podium sideways so you can see the screen and speak to the
audience at the same time.

10. Pause after you change your slides. People need a second or two to
absorb the image before you begin talking.

11. If you can't fit all your slides into one carousel, you have too many
slides! I have seen some great lecturers use the two projector method with
side by side slides. Although this is a great teaching tool, if it is a
large audience you lose all impact to the back half of the room as they are
looking at images that only fit on half a screen.

12. Get over that stage fright. People are there because they want to hear
what you have to say. They want you to succeed and give a great lecture. If
you make a mistake or pronounce something wrong just laugh at yourself, the
audience will be glad to join you in the laughter.

At my second lecture ever I found myself in front of 250 people in
Chattanooga TN. I have a heavy NY city accent and was stumbling over the
pronunciation of a town called something like Fuquay Varina. My knees were
knocking so badly that I had to hold on to the podium with both hands. I had
just said FU-qway when somebody in the back of the room shouted out fu-QWAH.
I totally forgot about the microphone when I grumbled "same to you mister".
Minutes later when the audience finally stopped laughing I realized that my
legs were no longer shaking and they never have again.

13. Know your audience. If you are in the Bible Belt, don't show a slide
with a man dwarfed by a monster chipper shredder and quip "I like men with
big equipment". On the other hand, Canadians will roar with laughter over
the same slide.

14. If your audience is made up of many novice gardeners don't intimidate
them with botanical names. I will always use the botanical name but also
give the local nickname while describing the slide.

15. Deal with disappointment in a positive way. The first time I lectured at
a convention in Canada I had been given the 9:00am time slot the morning
after the "all night casino slot tournament". I was disappointed but decided
to do something to grab every bleary eye in the room. I did the entire
lecture in pink fuzzy slippers and pink flannel pj's. I thought nobody would
be there but as luck had it the room was full!

I tried to keep this to 10 items like a David Letterman list but they were
all important notes to me. If you have more suggestions please share. One
thing I'd like to learn about is a different lens that I could bring to
improve the image from standard projectors. Many years ago I saw a
photographer in Iowa do this and WoW did everything then pop on the screen.

Melanie Vassallo
Garden Lecturer/Writer/Photographer
melaniev@optonline.net

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