Title: Public Speaking

Date: Spring 2009

Artifact Description:

In the spring semester of 2009 I participated in a public speaking class at the University of
Wisconsin Platteville. From this class I learned the fundamental theories and concepts of public
communication and practiced researching topics, organizing material, and presenting speeches
with accompanying appropriate and natural nonverbal communication. Speeches included an
informative, demonstration, a hero and persuasive speech. The importance of using hand
gestures and eye contact were emphasized, as well as providing visual aid through tools like
PowerPoint Presentation, all of which are essential for being an effective teacher. The artifact I
have provided is the hero speech I presented to the class. I also have provided the grade from my
transcript.

Wisconsin Teacher Standard Alignment:

This experience aligns with Wisconsin Teacher Standard 6: Communication. This standard
states that a teacher uses knowledge of effective verbal, nonverbal, and media communication
techniques to foster active inquiry, collaboration, and supportive interaction in the
classroom.

This experience best aligns with this standard because in no other way will a person become an
effective communicator than by practicing those skills. It is important for a teacher to not only
be able to communicate one-on-one but also to larger groups of children in a classroom. In order
for a teacher to keep the attention of twenty or more young students, he or she will need to be
exciting and incorporate movement as well as using other sources of media. During my public
speaking class I had a chance to practice doing all of this. For the first two speeches we relied
solely on eye contact and hand gestures to keep the class, engaged. In later speeches we were
allowed to incorporate other sources of media. For my informative speech on the Humane
Society, I prepared a PowerPoint Presentation with colorful graphics and pictures. I also found a
short Youtube clip to show as well. I think, especially when working with young children,
teachers need to understand and be aware of the importance of providing visual aids for learning.

From this class I better understand the importance and what it is that makes an effective
communicator. I have and will continue to hone my communication skills and keep in mind the
tools I have learned to keep an audience engaged and involved.

UW-Platteville Knowledge, Skill, Disposition Statement Alignment:

This experience best aligns with KS3.a. : Communicates clearly and accurately. This states that
the candidates spoken and written language and correct, expressive and clear, with well-chosen
vocabulary that enriches teaching and communicates thoughtfully, responsively, and effectively
for a wide range of student understanding and encourages appropriate student language
development.

My public speaking experience aligns best with this KSD because writing a speech requires that
you choose your words carefully so that your message is effectively conveyed. During class, I
also learned the manner in which those words are presented is equally important. For a teacher
to get a message across to his or her students, he or she must be able to effectively communicate
to many different kinds of learners. This is why choosing the right words and expressing them
clearly with different forms of media is the only way a teacher can cater to all students learning.

I am more competent as a result of this experience, because it allowed me to critique my own
communication skills, and also see what others in the class were doing to effectively capture the
audience.

Secondary KSDs:

KS3.c: Engages Students in Learning

KSD3.e: Demonstrates Flexibility and Responsiveness

KSD4.e: Grows and Develops Professionally

KSD4.f: Shows Professionalism

Personal Reflection:

What I learned about teaching/learning from this experience:

From this course I learned how to be a more effective educator by understanding the importance
of eye contact, non-verbal gestures, choosing the right words, and using different visual and
media aids to keep the audience involved and engaged. I believe these skills are especially
important in the classroom for keeping the attention of young learners.

What I learned about myself as a prospective educator as a result of this experience:

As a prospective educator, I better understand and am more competent in my abilities to
effectively convey a lesson to my students because of this experience. Communication skills are
one of the most important qualities an educator can possess. It is unlikely an educator will be
successful without being a successful communicator. This is why it is important to take courses,
like my public speaking class, that teach and build effective communication skills.