Ever been in boring talk where you can’t pay attention? You’re not alone. These days, people can only focus for about 8 seconds. That’s why we need interactive presenters.
So, what’s an interactive presenter? They’re speakers who get you involved in their talk. Instead of just talking at you, they use cool stuff like live polls and fun group activities. It’s like turning a one-way street into a two-way conversation.
Why is this cool? Well, when you’re part of the action, you remember way more – like 60% more! Plus, the people who plan big events say getting everyone involved is super important.
Becoming an interactive presenter has some awesome perks. First, your audience won’t fall asleep (yay!). Second, people will actually remember what you said. And moreover, you’ll look like a rock star speaker.
Ready to learn how to be an interactive presenter? Let’s get started!
Table of Contents
How to Become an Interactive Presenter
Know who you are talking to
Knowing your audience inside and out is the key to giving a dynamic presentation that works. Before writing your presentation, you should do a lot of study on the people who will be there, including their interests, problems, and demographics. This knowledge will help you make sure that your interactive parts are right for the people you want to reach.
For instance, if you’re giving a presentation to a group of tech-savvy millennials, you might use more advanced digital tools and game-like features. A presentation for senior executives, on the other hand, might rely on more advanced polling and data visualization methods.
Making plans for engaging times
As an interactive presenter, it’s important to plan how your interactive parts will fit into your show as a whole. Imagine that your talk is a trip, and the interactive parts are like rest stops that get people excited again.
As a general rule, you should add something engaging every 10 to 15 minutes. According to studies on attention spans, adult learners can pay attention for 10 to 18 minutes before their minds start to wander. This method fits with that finding.
This is an example of how you could organize a 60-minute talk:
- 0–10 minutes: introduction and first poll
- 10–25 minutes: content delivery with questions built in
- 25 to 35 minutes: talk or activity with a group;
- 35 to 50 minutes: more information with live Q&A;
- 50 to 60 minutes: sum up with one last activity (like a word cloud or quiz);
Getting the right tools
You’ll need to learn how to use different interactive presenting tools before you can be a good interactive presenter. Interactive presentation platforms, such as AhaSlides, have live polls, Q&A sessions, and word clouds that can help get people more involved.
When choosing a tool, think about how easy it is to use, whether it can work with the presentation software you already have, and which engaging features will help you reach your presentation goals. Don’t forget that the tool should not take away from your message.
Making quizzes and questions that people want to answer
As an engaging presenter, it’s very important that you can ask questions that make people think. When you ask good questions, they make you think critically and get people involved. When making questions or polls, think about these suggestions:
- Make sure your questions are short and clear;
- Use both open-ended and closed-ended (multiple choice) questions.
- Make sure the questions are related to your content and viewers.
- Use controversial or surprising questions to get people talking.
“What one word best describes your takeaway from today’s session?” is a better question than “Did you enjoy the presentation?” This kind of open-ended questioning can lead to more interesting and varied answers.
Encouraging collaboration
Digital whiteboards and breakout rooms are two collaborative tools that can turn your talk into a group learning experience. As an engaging presenter, it’s your job to make sure that these times of working together go smoothly.
For example, you could use AhaSlides to set up a digital brainstorming group where people can add their own ideas right away. This not only keeps people interested, but it also uses the power of collective intelligence, which could help you come up with new ideas or answers.
Making your talks more fun
Gamification can make your talks more fun and competitive, which will help people pay attention and remember what you say. A study from the University of Colorado found that students who used gamified eLearning did 14% better on tests of skill-based knowledge and 11% better on tests of basic knowledge than students who did not use gamified eLearning.
As an interactive presenter, you could use things like:
- Quizzes with leaderboards
- Points systems for engagement
- Virtual badges or rewards for finishing tasks.
Remember that the most important thing is that the game-like features you use to support your learning goals and don’t take away from your main message.
Making use of video
These days, a presenter who wants to be involved needs to use more than just static slides. Using different kinds of media can help people learn in different ways and keep their attention. You could use:
- Short film clips to show important points
- Infographics to help you understand complicated facts.
- Audio clips for people who learn best by hearing.
- Interactive diagrams or 3D models to let you explore with your hands.
Don’t forget that video should not take over your message. The Journal of Educational Psychology did a study that showed students who learned through multimedia did 55% better on problem-solving transfer tests than students who learned through standard verbal instruction.
Using storytelling
You can still use the age-old skill of storytelling very effectively even if you are an involved presenter. Stories make your material more memorable and make people feel connected to it. Study after study has shown that stories are 22 times more remembered than facts alone.
Use interactive features to bring your stories to life and weave them into your presentation. You could use a live poll to ask people to guess how a case study will end, and then show them the real results to make your point.
Making changes and analyzing
One important skill for an interactive presenter is the ability to keep getting better by using data and feedback. Most tools for engaging presentations have analytics features that can tell you a lot about how engaged your audience is.
Look at metrics like participation rates, popular questions, and engagement patterns after each talk. Use what you’ve learned to improve your method and make your content more relevant for future presentations.
4+ Must-have Skills for an Interactive Presenter
1. Practicing your delivery
People often say, “Practice makes perfect.” This is especially true for a host who lets people talk to them. Practice your talk many times, making sure to include all of the interactive parts. This will help you plan for possible technical problems and make sure that the changes between parts of your show go smoothly.
2. Building your confidence
Being sure of yourself is important for any presentation, but it’s especially important for interactive presenters who have to handle both giving information and getting people to participate. To feel more confident, learn all of your information inside and out and get to know your interactive tools inside and out.
• To calm down, practice deep breathing exercises.
• Picture a performance that goes well
Don’t forget that your audience wants you to do well. People watch TV shows and want the hosts to do well, according to a study from the University of Wolverhampton.
3. Adapting to the situation
Flexibility is a crucial skill for an interactive presenter. Be ready to change your plan based on how people behave and what the technology can and can’t do. It’s important to be ready to switch things up if a collaborative element isn’t working for your audience.
4. Embracing technology
If you want to be a great interactive presenter, you need to know about the newest tools for interactive presentations. Look into new tools and features that can make your talks better on a regular basis. But understand that technology should not get in the way of your message.
Conclusion
As you work to become an interactive presenter, keep in mind that the goal is not just to entertain, but also to make an effect that lasts. Turning passive listeners into active players will not only help your audience remember what you’re saying, but it will also encourage them to think critically and use what they’ve learned.
Are you ready to change the way you give presentations? Accept the power of interaction, and see how your audience becomes more interested, motivated, and in charge than ever. This is how presentations will be done in the future, and it starts with you.
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