Justifying and applying oral presentations in geographical education

Abstract

Teaching students the ability to communicate is acknowledged to be a central objective of university education. The oral presentation of research findings by students represents an internationally used device by which skills in spoken communication are developed and tested. Often, however, presentations are demanded from students with little preliminary advice being provided on the keys to effective oral presentation. As well as addressing the shortcoming of inadequate coaching by providing practical advice on spoken delivery, this paper justifies the application of oral presentations in university geography classes and provides a strategy for assessing such formal talks. The paper should be of value to teachers, students and others about to fulfil a public speaking commitment in an educational setting.

Keywords:

• Oral presentations
• learning communication skills