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| Teaching on Live Interactive Television | • If you use any technology, master it before you use it. It’s not as transparent as you may think, especially on camera.
• Keep your presentation simple. Use little technology. You’re the main media.
• Use wireless microphones to allow yourself as much freedom of movement as possible.
• Know your speaking “stage” (area of movement). It will give you as much latitude as possible for movement into the audience.
• Let your audience see what you are saying. Strengthen key words and phrases. Employ hang-ups on the walls and several flip charts. Check the camera has a clear shot of these.
• Use the right colors in combination. Ensure words are readable and don’t wash out.
• When using flip charts, write only on the top two-thirds of it. As of the 3 x 4 aspect ratio of the television camera, it can only “see” in this format.
• Flip charts can be enhanced visually when you add a free form border, focusing attention towards the middle of the page.
• Use videoclips to reinforce your most important points.
• Collect video clips by concept areas. Recognize 10-15 of your most frequently used ideas and edit clips from commercial television and rental videos.
• Use wall hangups (40” x 30” sheets of paper) to reinforce the 2-3 most important ideas in a teleclass. You can laminate these (preferably with nonreflecting laminate) if used frequently.
• You are the most important media. Never open or close a presentation with electronic or mechanical media unless there is a special reason.
• Use geometric shapes connected with lines and arrows instead of only bulleted lists to add visual variety.
• If you use a lot of bullets, vary the type of bullet to indicate different organizational levels.
• Print large and limit the number of words to key words only.
• Use 3-4 different rich colors on flip charts to focus attention. Make sure to see how the colors look on television. The camera for television tends to intensify colors.
• Use artifacts and props such as books, puppets, and magazines.
• Use visual analogies as well as verbal analogies. Strengthen the visual analogies with physical objects.
• Use a display table. Create interest by covering something with a cloth.
• Create interest by having a bag, box, or covered object by you.
• Open and close with powerful stories about the topic, and personalize it.
• Force people to sit up front by closing the back rows with ribbon, string, or rope. Keep in mind you also have another audience. It is present inside the camera lens.
• Make sure that you can invade your audience by walking into it. Ensure the camera can follow you.
• The most powerful word in the English language is “you.” Use it regularly.
• Speak with enthusiasm. Speak lightly, in conversational, folksy style.
• Define and give examples of all new terms. Avoid slang if possible.
• When explaining something, provide examples (for instance...) and non examples (don’t confuse X with Y).
• Speak with a wide range of volume and inflection from very loud to very soft, almost to a whisper.
• One hour before you speak, get in the mood by preparing yourself emotionally, get into character. Walk, breathe deeply, tell yourself how good you are and how well prepared you are. Be self-confident.
• Use symbols.
• Develop a personal signature. Do something again and again so that when it is seen or heard, the audience will know it is you. For example, music; clothing, artifacts, etc.
• Vary your pacing. For review use quick pacing and slower pacing for the introduction of new material.
• Show enthusiasm for your subject. Enthusiastic presenters encourage participants.
• Repeat, repeat, and repeat. Important thoughts should be repeated in several different ways-verbally and visually.
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