Engaging Presentations
Whether you are sharing new concepts, telling a story, or walking students through a complex process, your presentation style can make a meaningful difference in how students understand and connect with course material. Engaging presentations are about clarity, purpose, and creating space for students to think, question, and respond.
Overview of Engaging Presentations
Engaging presentations can help you:
- Focus student attention on key concepts and minimize information overload
- Create opportunities for interaction, reflection, and connection to prior learning
- Support a wide range of learners by varying the way you share information
- Clarify complex ideas through purposeful visuals, stories, and pacing
- Foster a more welcoming and responsive learning environment
Core Principles
Start by identifying your main goals for the session. What 2–3 ideas do you want students to walk away with? Build your presentation around those core takeaways. Sharing a brief roadmap at the beginning can help students stay oriented and track what is most important.
Long, uninterrupted explanations can be difficult to absorb. Every 10–15 minutes, consider pausing for a quick activity or check-in. Ask a question, pose a short prompt for reflection, or invite a pair-share discussion. These small breaks can reinforce learning and keep students actively involved.
Whether you use slides, a whiteboard, or a document camera, your visuals should support what you are saying. Aim for simplicity: one idea per slide, minimal text, and clear visuals or diagrams. Talk your students through the image or point rather than reading text aloud.
Even well-prepared presentations may take an unexpected turn. Perhaps a concept is not landing or the energy in the room changes. When that happens, pause and adapt. Try rephrasing an explanation, asking students what is unclear, or shifting to a quick think-pair-share. Flexibility demonstrates responsiveness and keeps the focus on learning rather than perfection.
The Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) can help you design and deliver presentations that are dynamic, inclusive, and tailored to your teaching context. We’ll work with you to explore small adjustments that can lead to big gains in student engagement and comprehension.