To
teach is to learn: student teaching/seminar (formerly
'presentation' but not an 'oral').
This part of your project, which lasts between
10 and 20 minutes per person, 
No
reading essays
is not a show-and-tell
; it is not an essay read aloud.
Rather, consider that you are helping teach a
lesson on your topic.
If you are among the first, you will not be expected to know all about your subject, nor be able to attempt an answer to you question. It is a sort of advertisement for the topic. You could
- demonstrate why the topic is important
- introduce elementary definitions or concepts by means of a game
- explain the various definitions or views of authorities
- replicate an experiment
Please do not be dismayed if I interrupt
you, write on the board as you speak or ask you to go to another aspect
of the subject.
My intention is always to ensure that the class
is "getting it".
However, because of this, you really need to
have at least a background in your subject.
Visuals
For your own benefit:
You are expected to have some help with recall
by means of large cards called cue cards (not the small index cards
for research) or a sheet of paper flat on the desk before you.
It can be helpful for us if you have an outline
on the board.
For both our benefits:
If there is a long detailed account you need
to relate [as in the Mythology course,] you may read that part if
you use a hand puppet or some such prop to distract our attention.
I've got a whole collection for this purpose in my office at the College.
If you want to use transparencies, first you have to make a photocopy of whatever you printed out on a printer before it can be transferred to a plastic sheet.Don't waste your time on arts and crafts:There is an opaque projector available which permits the projection of images from books directly onto the 'movie screen' in the classroom.
If you want to use music, you may need a helper to turn it on an off or adjust the volume. You can return the favour.
*Movie-type videos are rarely useful, and we should not show
items for which
we do not posess a copyright.
See what is available under Media in the catalogue and
also ask me.
English problems ? Shyness?
This part of the research project is designed
to inform the class, to enable you
to gain some perspectives on your topic and also
to make us care about your topic.
Sometimes this is best done not by trying to
instruct us in your findings, but
by involving us in an activity of some
kind.
This approach is especially useful for students
who do not have good mastery of English,
or who do not respond comfortably to interventions.
If you miss your scheduled
seminar or debate date, be prepared to step in
at any available spot. Due to the ever-increasing
class size, it has become very difficult
to permit any other solution.
There can be no teaching without fellow students present.
If I am absent, we will continue in the
same [usually alphabetical] order when I get back
-- everyone moves a bit into the future.
Sorry, but if you are absent ... all you can
do is hope some other person leaves a space for you to jump into.
Classes are generally too large to permit any
leeway.