Using your Visual Aid

Here is another tip for the coming speech. This one is about your visual aid.

Please practice with your VISUAL AID. You might want to put a reminder on your notecards about SLIDE CHANGES. This will cue you when you should push the button to go to your next slide and help you to focus more on your audience without looking at the projection screen (which you should try to avoid completely if possible).

If you need to present something on the slide to your audience, try to explain it in words while focusing on your audience (making eye contact) without focusing too much on the projection screen.

Your visual aid should enhance your speech, not hinder it. As beginning public speakers, sometimes we have a tendency to focus on the computer or projection screen because it's safe and comfortable. You should be focusing on your audience. Make MORE eye contact than you think is necessary. This will help to connect you with your audience. Along the same lines, you should know your speech well enough to focus on your audience without relying too much on your notecards.

More tips to come......