Do I look like I'm supposed to be here?

Staring my foray into this semester of learning and teaching, I read the preface of what promises to be an interesting book:

'"Sit and Get" Won't Grow Dendrites: 20 Professional Learning Strategies That Engage the Adult Brain' by Marcia L. Tate

The author recounts her own experience of both a bad presentation and a good presentation to show her inspiration for becoming a good presenter. Her bad experience resonated with me because, like many others, I've been there before.

"The presenter, a disheveled, middle-aged man ..."

Well that made me laugh right off the bat, I can just imagine him! I know this isn't the case for everyone, but appearance is something I find very important in a presenter. Not how good looking a person is, but how they present themselves, how they are dressed, how they carry themselves. If a person is "disheveled" I find myself distracted by their lack of care in their appearance and my first impression is that they don't want to be there and that they don't belong.

This semester I'm teaching Communication 101 and I made an effort to dress professionally on the first day of class to present a good impression. For me, the students I'm teaching are mostly around 5-6 years younger than me and some are older than I am, so it seemed important to separate myself as the instructor through my dress.

Tate continues to recount her experience, saying the presenter apologized for not having enough time to prepare. To me that seems like a recipe for a self-fulfilling prophesy; now the audience will expect him to be unprepared throughout the presentation and that is what they will see.

The author then recounted her most memorable presentation. The room was ready ahead of time and the presenter greeted each audience member at the door as they arrived. She had the audience break into groups for discussions and only lectured in 5-7 minute intervals. Now that sounds like a presentation I would be engaged in!

The idea of the short lectures especially resounded. When I lecture in my classes I can feel the students' attention start to wander if I go on for too long. I'll have to start timing myself to see when that point is and try to break up the lectures a little more.

Now, onto the next chapter ...