public speaking 101

[ecmd2b]

Alright, I know this has been discussed b4, and I try not to rehash stuff, but, after my fourth "exposicion" this month (and one more to go b4 the month is over), I have to say that I am TIRED of this "teaching" methodology. I mean, it's not just the "fluffy" subjects (pardon my terminology) like ecology and history that ask you to stand in front of your classmates and recite pages of material from memory but, core subjects like chemistry and anatomy require this as well. My little group recently tried to explain a particularly complex anatomical structure to a class of 60+ students. We didn't do a very good job of it, and our kind professor let us know it, over, and over, and over, and over again.

Are these "exposiciones" a requirement at every (your) school?

Some people say that this is a learning opportunity, public speaking shall we say. But, I don't know, in an anatomy (histology, biochem, etc..) class I want to learn anatomy, from a qualified individual, not how to regurgitate material.

Thoughts, opinions, comments...:roll:

[IMG SURVIVOR]

Actually some people are talking about the active learning theory, that consist, mainly in you ONLY YOU learning the material by yourself and the teacher just a facilitator and correcting you during the course.
I do not know from what you university you are talking, but I remember that back in the day when I had to go to school, you just did 1 presentation during the semester.

And not all classes you need it to do the presentation.
Also remember that in the DR, they have something call CONNES and they from time to time give some rules to follow and if you don't, I do not know what happened then, maybe Mr ERNEST could trow some light with this CONNES theory.

In one way is good because it makes you actually READ the material, the down side is that if the teacher is not able to go and make sure the people in the class learn the proper material and that people only leave the class with the presentation and what they read, the class will go into dooms day.

My long 2 cents

[ERNEST714]

Well, not sure what the National requirements are but don't think they have anything to do with presentations. But will say it is good practice for presenting in Resident Rounds and at Grand Rounds, etc. It does get a bit much however and agree with the original poster.
CONES IS THE OLD NAME FOR CONSEJO NACIONAL DE EDUCACION SUPERIOR.

The New Name is SEESCYST....Secretaria de Estado de Educacion Superior Ciencias y Tecnologia

Both are the equivalent of the National Board of Education.

[ERNEST714]

BTW.....MR. MODERATOR.....HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I TOLD YOU THAT I DID NOT GO THRU ALL THOSE YEARS OF BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS TO BE CALLED MR. ......UNLESS OF COURSE YOU THINK I AM A BRITISH SURGEON WHICH "YOU ALL" DAMN WELL KNOW I AM NOT!!!! DR. WILL DO NICELY THANK YOU.......(YOU DO REMEMBER THE BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS........)

HAVE A GOOD ONE AND HOPE THINGS ARE CONTINUE TO GO WELL FOR YOU IN YOUR PART OF THE COUNTRY. LOL

[ecmd2b]

Welllllll, the active learning theory sucks. I don't think I'm ever going to make it to "present in rounds" if six classes out of nine base the bulk of their material on "exposiciones" from students.

Thank you gentlemen (Doctors) for your input.

[Dr305]

Exposicions are terrible. I have to take 150 mg of Atenelol before each one. I just stand up there and try to read/talk for minimum time period while I'm in front a group of people who are staring at me like if I just got off the space ship from another Galaxy. It's tough to be "different".

I can't stand public speaking. Especially here! It's a childish methedology of teaching if you ask me. I actually try my best NOT to listen to the students becuase half the time they say something completely wrong and by the time the teacher corrects them you may already have that wrong idea stuck in your head.

If there was one thing I'd do away with, it's Exposiciones!

[Cubanito76]

I mean, it's not just the "fluffy" subjects (pardon my terminology) like ecology and history that ask you to stand in front of your classmates and recite pages of material from memory but, core subjects like chemistry and anatomy require this as well.

I agree with you I think it's totally ridiculous. The problem is not the presentations themselves although I do believe that traditional teaching is far and away the better method for teaching. The problem is that nobody learns. You waste valuable class time in critical subjects listening to students read off a powerpoint.

And I did say READ because that's what the vast majority of students do during presentations. They read off something they just copy-pasted from Wikipedia 10 minutes before class started. Sad.

If students actually recited pages of material from memory as you stated, this might actually be a positive thing but in no way shape or form better than traditional teaching.

The whole idea of it is garbage. Keep in mind that there are also students that speak soft, have a hard time communicating, or barely speak English at all. Nobody learns and nobody cares everyone is sitting at their desks playing games with their laptops.

[ecmd2b]

At my school you're expected to memorize the material you're presenting. I've gotten my butt chewed up more than once for (gasp) reading from notecards. I wish our classrooms had the facility to show power point presentations - at least then you could sort of flub your way through it. We use "cartulina" (don't laugh).

I'm in a Spanish program and Spanish isn't really my native tongue, so those 5 - 10 minutes I'm standing in front of the classroom fumbling for words feels like a lifetime. Add to that tough crowds (some classmates can be harsh), critical teachers and stage-fright, and you've got the makings for a stressssful situation.

Alas, I know this too shall pass and we'll all look back on these moments fondly (can't wait)!!

[Cubanito76]

At my school you're expected to memorize the material you're presenting. I've gotten my butt chewed up more than once for (gasp) reading from notecards. I wish our classrooms had the facility to show power point presentations - at least then you could sort of flub your way through it. We use "cartulina" (don't laugh).

I'm in a Spanish program and Spanish isn't really my native tongue, so those 5 - 10 minutes I'm standing in front of the classroom fumbling for words feels like a lifetime. Add to that tough crowds (some classmates can be harsh), critical teachers and stage-fright, and you've got the makings for a stressssful situation.

Alas, I know this too shall pass and we'll all look back on these moments fondly (can't wait)!!

Are you serious no powerpoints or projectors? You mean teachers don't teach with powerpoints? Whoa! what school is this?

Today I don't have one class being taught without a teacher using a powerpoint.

[ecmd2b]

I attend Nordestana in SF de Mac. The school's cool - most teachers are helpful and knowledgeable and the administrative staff has always been eager to assist with any problems that arise during the "course of doing business".

However, technologically speaking, they may be a step behind some of the other universities here. I've seen signs that this "flaw" is changing. The UCNE library has a computer lab for students, an auditorium with projection facilities and the entire area was recently wired for landless internet (my techie jargon is poor - I want to say you can sit outside the library with your laptop and access the internet).

Having said this, when you're standing in front of your classmates trying to remember which syllable you're supposed to stress in the word you're about to pronounce you're, to put it bluntly, scr*!ed. (Don't want to receive a warning:) )

[IMG SURVIVOR]

Is not about power points or projectors. Is about YOU and only YOU, if you do not believe me ask the people from UCE from the 70's,80's and part of the 90's that have been successful.
Also the teachers attitude and willingness to teach you has Lot to do. You can learn lot from a Doctor that is willing to teach the basics or to mentor you.


Some have been giving good opportunities and because of immaturity or personality problems or other psychological trauma they bloo their chances.
But if you are able to see your problems and fix them and try your best, you will get other chances.

AT THE END IS WHAT YOU DO.

[ecmd2b]

Is not about power points or projectors. Is about YOU and only YOU, if you do not believe me ask the people from UCE from the 70's,80's and part of the 90's that have been successful.
Also the teachers attitude and willingness to teach you has Lot to do. You can learn lot from a Doctor that is willing to teach the basics or to mentor you.
.................................................. ......

AT THE END IS WHAT YOU DO.

I totally agree with IMG Survivor. It's not all about the technological gadgetry, although, in my opinion power point presentations make it easier to assimilate some material. It's about the teacher and the student. A good teacher facilitates and enables the learning process, and a good student is pro-active and sincere in wanting to learn.

This brings me to my original point, I don't see how my stammering and perspirring in front of a classroom full of eager minds helps the learning process in any way. I believe the learning process should be interactive, with the teacher sharing his/her knowledge and eliciting meaningful questions and comments from students (in a perfect world).

However, in the end we are all responsible for what we learn and "get" from a class. For some, these exposiciones might not be a big deal (beneficial even), for others they can be like root canal. Either way, we (I) can try to learn something from every experience. Good luck to all my fellow reluctant public speakers.