Be ready to present on Tuesday

On Thursday's class we discussed ethics, the grading rubric used in this class, and how to stand with your group and with a clicker. We even had time to work on our Prezis. Looks like you all are getting the hang of it.

I hope you'll be able to find at least three approaches to determining whether you are making ethical decisions. I find the concepts of utilitarianism (best for the most), universality (if everyone did this, the world would be fine), and virtue ethics (who you aspire to be/who mom would be proud of)to work in many situations. Remember, a decision may not work for all approaches, but two out of three isn't bad. At least you'll be able to defend your actions.

Be ready to present on Tuesday. There is no other homework besides perfecting your Prezi and practicing for your presentation. Email me or your tribe members if you have any questions or post your question/comments on our Facebook page. (See link in post below.)

I'll be selecting tribes at random unless a tribe volunteers.

Have a great weekend. Until Tuesday, practice out loud and with your Prezi. I'm looking forward to hearing your stories and learning more about you.

Facebook Group

Here's a link to our class facebook page. Feel free to use it as a sounding board when you have questions.

http://www.facebook.com/groups/165019053604145/

Speech Anxiety and our First Speeches of the Semester

Today we discussed techniques for overcoming speech anxiety. (Here's a link to the Prezi I used to frame our discussion.) I hope you found the discussion helpful and that you are able to transfer that extra energy your body gives you to help you prepare and feel confident about your first, introductory speech.

Speaking of which...For your first speech you will be sharing a story with the class. Here are some guidelines:

1. Tell us a story about yourself, your pet, your relative, a struggle you overcame, a victory in your life, a place you've visited, a religious experience, anything that is important to you as a person. Pick one main story. 
2. You have 2 to 4 minutes to share this story with the class. Do not go over 4 minutes.
3. Use Prezi to visually tell your story while you speak. You can use pictures, words, a short video, colors, shapes, whatever helps convey your story visually. Do not put paragraphs in your Prezi to read to the class. 
4. Your story should apply to the class. Tell us the "moral of the story" or the lesson we could all learn from your experience. 
5. If you have any questions, email me (shawn.apostel(at)eku.edu) and/or ask your tribe for help. In addition to public speaking tips, I can help you think through the visuals you want to use or work through any issues you have with Prezi.
6. Help your tribe. The class will be evaluating your speech. The tribe with the best reviews will get bonus points on the speech grade. (We can talk about this in class. Just ask.) The point is, make sure your tribe members are getting the feedback they need.

For Thursday, I want you to read Chapter 2 in the textbook. Focus on the section we discussed in class and see how it applies to the video below. We'll also be finalizing our Prezis, so make sure you've got the images/videos you'll need. 



Here's a link to the video just in case: http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_ariely_beware_conflicts_of_interest.html

Hope you enjoy your Wednesday.

Developing our Stories and Prezis

Well, we had our first real encounter with technology today, and I think we came out ahead. I hope you enjoyed playing with Prezi and getting a feel for it. There are not many times in your adult life that you can play; enjoy the times you get in this class. I know I do.

Today we talked about the way Lewis used his story to encourage his audience to reconsider their thinking about the environment. We talked about how effectively Lewis related to his audience, how he built up his story with visually-evoking language, and how his ending offered suggestions to deal with climate change.

As you consider your story, think about ways to relate to your audience. How can you set the stage to get us excited about what you learned? What visuals can you explain, or show, with the Prezi going on around you? Remember, you'll have 3 to 4 minutes to tell us your story. You must use Prezi. And you will be presenting with your tribe standing with you.

For Tuesday, I want you to read Chapter 1 in your textbook (Public Speaking: An Audience Centered Approach, 8th edition). If you were in class and paying attention, you know the section I want you to focus on. As you read, consider how it applies to the video below:



If you are having trouble understanding William's accent, click on the "languages" button and choose a language you feel comfortable reading. If the video isn't showing up, follow this link: http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/william_kamkwamba_how_i_harnessed_the_wind.html

Have a great weekend.

First Ted Talk of the Semester

Welcome to the class blog. This is where you will find a quick summary of what we did in class and assignments to complete before we meet again. Notice the "FOLLOW ME BY EMAIL" sign at the top right portion of this blog--just above the class mascots. I suggest entering your favorite email address. Every time I update the blog, you'll be notified the morning after.

So today we found out that many of you don't like tomatoes, that Seattle is a cool city, and that we can roughly divide our class into two sections: those who like sushi and those who don't. We also talked about using Prezi in this class (www.prezi.com) and the topic of our first, informal, speech. Since we will be discussing storytelling in this class, I want you to think of a story you can share with the class about your past. It could be about an event that changed the way you see something, a memory from your childhood that brings you joy, a friend who overcame great adversity ... you get the idea.

Come up with a few ideas and bring them to class on Thursday. We'll also be playing with Prezi. I think you'll like it. Our speeches will begin on January 24.

For Thursday I also want you to watch this Ted Talk below. It's about Lewis Pugh's swim across a lake on Mt. Everest. Consider the way he tells his story as well as the approaches he takes to address a difficult situation. Consider what you found effective, and perhaps not so effective, in his presentation. Be prepared to talk and write about it in class.



If the video doesn't work, follow this link.

Hope you have a great Wednesday.

Wrap up and Reflection

I have to say, your presentations were by far the funniest and most entertaining I have seen as a class. Nice work. And while your levels of project successes varied among tribes, I think you all learned about the complexities and possibilities of community outreaches as well as the importance of good communication skills.

Here are the questions I'd like you to answer for the final reflection paper:

1. What techniques did you use to prepare for a public speech when you first came to this class?
2. How did your experiences in this class change or re-enforced the way you prepare for a public speech?
3. What did you learn about communication in your final group project?
4. How did your past experiences in this class help you prepare for the final presentation?
5. What did you like best about the class? What should I change for next semester?
6. Anything else you'd like to say?

Email your reflection paper to me by or before 12:30 p.m. (just after lunch) on Thursday, December 15. Remember, there is no final exam in this class, so don't bother coming to class. Just email this refection to me. 

It was a pleasure getting to know you all. Visit me in the Studio!

Last Day of Class!

Tomorrow is our last day of class, and I'm looking forward to hearing about your experiences reaching out to the community. 

I've pasted below the rubric we designed in class. I also posted a link to the actual Google document on our Facebook group, but thought I'd paste it here as well.

This project is worth 50 points. Here is how those points are distributed.

Tribe (20 points)

• Cohesion
• Time Limit
• Full Group Participation
• Entertainment Value 
• Interaction with Audience 
• Quality of Pictures/Video

Individual (10 points)

• Body Language
• Appearance
• Fluidity of Speech
• Transitions to other speakers

Classmates will evaluate speeches based on how engaged/entertained they were by the presentation. (10 points)

Tribes will also evaluate each other based on the work each tribe member contributed to the project. (10 points)

Remember, after this assignment you have one more reflection due before our exam time is over. I will post the questions on this blog. You need to email me your refection before our exam time is over. We will not meet for our final. 

If you have any questions let me know.