How can you present your educational technology design ideas and proposals effectively?

3 Showcase your design

One of the most exciting parts of your presentation is to showcase your design. You can use various methods and media to demonstrate your design, such as sketches, prototypes, screenshots, videos, animations, or simulations. You can also invite your audience to interact with your design, if possible, to give them a hands-on experience. However, you should also be mindful of the technical and logistical issues that may arise, such as compatibility, connectivity, or accessibility. You should test your design and presentation beforehand and have a backup plan in case something goes wrong.

4 Explain your process and rationale

Your presentation should not only show what your design is, but also how and why you designed it. You should explain your design process and rationale, such as the methods, tools, frameworks, or principles you used, the assumptions or constraints you faced, the feedback or data you collected, and the iterations or improvements you made. You should also acknowledge the limitations or challenges of your design and how you plan to address them in the future.

5 Engage your audience

A good presentation is not a one-way communication, but a two-way conversation. You should engage your audience throughout your presentation, not just at the end. You can use various strategies to spark interest, curiosity, and participation, such as asking questions, soliciting opinions, conducting polls, or using humor. You should also be prepared to answer questions, address concerns, or handle objections from your audience. You should listen attentively, respond respectfully, and provide clear and concise answers.

6 Follow best practices

Presenting your educational technology design ideas and proposals effectively and persuasively to your audience is key to achieving your desired outcomes. To do this, you should plan and practice your presentation in advance, using simple and clear language and visuals. Avoid jargon, acronyms, or technical terms without explanation, and use consistent and coherent structure and transitions. Relevant examples and analogies should be used, as well as contrast, color, and font wisely. Additionally, cues, signals, or summaries should be used to emphasize key points. Be sure to adapt to the context, time, and mode of your presentation while avoiding clutter, distraction, or overload. Lastly, be confident, enthusiastic, and authentic when delivering the presentation.