Using Technology to Connect with Different Types of Learners
By Jim Endicott, Owner/Manager of Distinction

I seek out opportunities to present whenever I can. For some that's a pretty crazy concept. Kind of like carrying a stick out into the woods to whoop up on a brown bear. It's no fun for the bear and I'm guessing it wouldn't be any picnic for you either. I've found, however, that the art of presenting can only be refined through practice, trying new things and learning some lessons the hard way.

This last weekend was no exception. I had the opportunity to do a three-hour training seminar for 46 adult students who were in the middle of their university MBA program. The professor shared the same guiding principle that I've embraced for many years - we cannot avoid this presentation stuff and we will be doing it for the rest of our lives. Those who grasp the basics of good presenting will simply progress at a pace greater than those who are presentation "challenged." Like it or not, this is just a fact of life.

For the longer seminars, I find it critical to not only visually engage an audience but to frequently change-up the type of visual material they are exposed to. Psychologists tell us that if we are presented with the same type of stimulus over an extended period of time, we quickly habituate to it. That is, it has less impact and is soon disregarded as fresh, meaningful content. (You may want to keep that in mind the next time you cue an hour or two of just bullet slides) With this in mind, my training seminar consisted of these elements:

• Computer presentation with reduced text and an emphasis on integrating interesting graphical elements where possible.
• A few videotapes where Hollywood did a better job of underscoring a key point than I could. (See mplc.com for licensing issues)
• Planned audience interaction around a few questions.
• For the tactical learners, an underlying theme of melting (audience-shaped messaging), molding (using visual material to shape our message) and finally, hardening the message (giving our audiences tangible hooks to key messages) was employed. I used the actual tools of candle making; raw wax, a candle mold and a finished candle to make my point.
• Amidst all of this I wove in a number of personal stories that provided a relational context to the themes. I blacked out my presentation screen to ensure I had their full attention.

Needless to say, I had to juggle a bunch of technology to make this work. Minutes into the presentation I realized that my remote pointing device (IR-type) was being adversely affected by the florescent lighting sending my presentation bouncing back to the initial title slide - seemingly at will. As entertaining as that might have been for them to see how a professional speaker handles unplanned spontaneity, it began to torque me off. We killed a bank of lightening by the screen and things quickly smoothed out. The videotape segments went well and my verbal transitions seem to tie in the message with some additional clarity. 

At one point, one of the students ask me if I was breaking my own rules by having the text I did use on screen to underscore my points and to describe graphical elements. I had to think a moment about the balancing act of visual medium I had orchestrated. Here's what I told them. 

If I were delivering a relatively short presentation, I would approach the process much differently. I would use few, if any, computer-generated images and would rely on my ability to communicate personal story, create word pictures with vocal emphasis while using friendly, audience-embracing gestures. I would have elicited their interaction and closed with just a few simple points. My words and delivery style would be the focal point of the message and my technology could take the afternoon off. Summary hand-outs would work well. 

If I were delivering a longer seminar or presentation, it is essential to vary the type and nature of visual stimulation. Over time, audience attention spans wane, even for the very best presenters, so our ability to become more creative with how we address key messages becomes critical. Our audiences learn and assimilate information differently. To help eliminate some of the technology pitfalls, I travel with what appears to be several shelves of Radio Shack accessories. It's amazing how many times $30 dollars worth of adapters, couplers and patch cords have saved my bacon when time was short and I had chosen to place more weight on my technological support.

Our technology does not necessarily need to become our first fall back position but can play an important role if we can seamlessly leverage the medium without distraction. 

In this discussion of presentation approaches and technology, we simply can't ignore those elements related to our audience's learning styles. Some are visual learners and seem to internalize ideas more readily when they are played out in a visual context. (ie. Don't give them driving directions, give them a map) Reinforcing computer graphic illustrations, talking head video, movie video or other similar approaches seem to break through when words alone can't.  

Then you have your auditory learners who hang on to the relational aspects of the spoken word. (Forget the driving map, explain and point). They will pick up and be influenced more powerfully by passion, inflection, pacing and your ability to tie in compelling word pictures and stories. 

Finally, tactile learners have a need to touch and feel. (Forget the driving explanation, get in the car and let them drive there) Experiential components become more meaningful for them. As I passed around the candle making tools that I described earlier, the tactile learners picked up the point in a more meaningful way for them. 

It's no surprise that studies indicate that the general population tends to be more visual learners. As much as it may frighten some to increase their reliance on technology to facilitate those approaches, it will continue to play an important role in how we communicate visually. The reliability of projectors has increased greatly over the last few years and the bright images on the wall make it easier to share visual material in a wider range of environments. Sure, it can be a bit nerve racking but those who can seamlessly leverage technology will have an edge in many presentations today. Lest we bail completely on technology as an unnecessary crutch for weak-minded presenters, heed the words of this old Chinese proverb, 
"Where there's danger, there's great opportunity."
 

Reprinted from  Presenters University

Jim Endicott is owner/manager of Distinction, a business communications company that provides creative and consulting support services. Jim assists business professionals in enhancing the content, tools and techniques related to effective presenting. He can be reached at www.distinction-services.com, 503.554.1203.