Presentation in class: The Introduction

The beginning of a presentation, introducing your subject and especially: Getting the attention of your class! How to do it?

I spoke about the presentation in class lately, and I thought 'That ain't enough' this subject needs much more attention.

After a couple of years in high school now, I did many presentation, in front of my whole class. I also had to do some performing for even bigger audiences with acting or debating, so I am pretty experienced in speaking before an audience. I have most of the times the attention of the whole class and I have some tricks for it, which are really important in your introduction.

Start with an anecdote. This have to be a really interesting thing. If you start with a short story, your class would be interested 'hey that is something Stefan did, funny.' And the greatest part of it, it doesn't have to be true! If I start with 'Me, the religous boy I am' the class would immediatly start to laugh, because I am the opposite, but I do have their attention now!

Make the problem a huge problem. If you can convince your class that the problem you have chosen is a real, big problem they are more interested in the sollution you offer. There is a big difference between 'The red-headed frog is becoming destinct' and 'In 2 years, there won't be any red-headed frog anymore.' Make your class face the problem, awake them!.

Ask something! Be interactive! The class is on the same level as you are, they know plenty of things. You have to be exact. Don't ask the class a question, they won't respond. Ask a person. 'Blabla, ALEX! What do you know about blabla' the class will be awake immediatly, cause you are doing something uncommon. They should pay attention, cause they could be questioned!

Do anything interactive. I can't say it enough. If you want attention, let them do something. Let them sing a song, make a popquiz or make a mindmap with the whole class about the subject. A mindmap is a really good idea, cause you can take an inventory of the knowledge about the subject.

Make it an interactive introduction, awake your class. They have to listen whole day to teachers, make yourself stand out. Make it their luminous point of the day!

This is how I recommend it, but do YOU have any ideas? I'm really curious, I have some presentation coming up again, what can you learn me about this?

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Biology Practicum

How do you know if some tissue contains cancer-cells? How can you make them visible? How can you locate those cells, to destroy them later?

Those questions were lain down before us. Two students from the University Leiden came to our high school and gave a short college and a practicum. Really interesting.

We had to put a fluorisenting liquid on the cells, which will show the structure of the cell so we could see if it was a cancer-cell or not. And it was. Simply great.

And how did it affect my vision on the University?

• First, I learned that you have much more cool stuff on the University. They brought a special microscope, simply fantastic.
• That even if you study Medicine, you can learn a lot about DNA and how to show it. This guy studies Medicine, and this is his side-job. So instead of working at the McDonalds, he worked for the University and gives presentations at high schools, pretty awesome!
• When you study on a University, you learn to presentate even better. These guys just explained some really hard topics, and they made it understandeble. Of course, they did it a couple of times before, but they have a really easy way how they present the topic and themselves.
• I know now that University is going to be great. Of course, I already knew it, but I'm even more sure. It is going to be great, if I see those guys, I really look forward to become like them, really.

I learned a lot about biology, but also about the University, so I think it was a afternoon well spend!

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How to give the perfect presentation in class

I have a presentation in English class tomorrow, not that big, for a mock mark. Here is how we are going to do it and how it works.

The presentation is short and not that important, five minutes is enough. We have to do it in couples and we chose the musical Les Misèrables as topic.

• Have a good introduction. Don't start with 'You all know' or 'I want to talk about', those phrases won't activate your class. You have to make them interested. We saw the musical (my partner is my girlfriend actually) so the class will be interested. 'Hmm, a personal experience!' 
• Keep your presentation vivid. The class will not keep listening if you are just standing there, saying all the words on your paper. Forget the paper! Throw it away! Give the presentation as if you are just talking to your friends. They are your classmates, so they will be your friends right?
• Have an ass-kicking interactive end. We will make the class sing along with a song from the musical. When everybody is singing, they must feel ridiculous and great at the same time.

The class will hopefully like the presentation, wish me luck!

Quoting: Bertrand Russell

The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts.  - Bertrand Russell

I just love this quote. Because it seems so true.

Fanatics are always in charge with a new project. 'Wow, that sounds great, let's get started!' Believe me, I know, I am one. Fanatics doesn't think, they just do, because they want to. Get it done, and get it done good.

And who remains silent? The wise people. They think it over and over, and when the project is nearly finished, they start to speak. 'Shouldn't we do this or that.' And it is great for the fanatics (at least for the bit wise fanatics), cause they have a little feedback now. Lovely! Is this a problem actually?

The fools are always certain because they just don't know better. 'No, this is the good way, stop criticizing me!' They don't listen anymore. Yes, that is a problem ;)

How do you see this? Is it actually a bad thing that the wise are always in doubt, or does it help the fanatics actually?

Don't doubt to share your thoughts!

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Quoting: George Orwell

Every generation imagines itself to be more intelligent than the one that went before it, and wiser than the one that comes after it. - George Orwell.

I really want to read his book, 1984, but I can't find time.

About the quote. I think it is really true, we all feel better than the generation who was before us, we are more civilized, better educated and much, much smarter.

But how true is it? Are we better? Is working with computers better? What if the power goes down, and we depend all on the power of our computer, not our instinct anymore.

I am not someone who thinks like it, but I do find it interesting to think about it.

And how about you? What do you think about this?

Week Review: Week 5 of 2009

Week 5 of 2009, the week where I:

• Quoted C.S. Lewis, who said something about failures!
• Talked about STRESS! and especially stress at your exam.
• Read a lot about personal development, which I got really interested in.

And the week where I:

• Practised more for a upcoming debate!
• Did a lot for a big school project, a lot of typing!
• Talked with some printing offices, about printing our school paper!
• Was really happy, I did an air guitar on my bycicle!

It was a great week. But also a week with some stress, cause I had to do a lot for school. Last year of High School, what a year.