CHAPTER 26
Preparing Online Presentations
CHAPTER CONTENT OUTLINE
I. Apply your knowledge of face-to-face speaking.
A. Online presentations require the same elements of planning and delivery as face-to-face
presentations.
1. Both kinds of speaking require audience analysis, credible supporting materials, a
II. Plan for the unique demands of online delivery.
A. Differences in delivery and nature of audience exist between virtual and real audiences.
2. Focus on vocal variety.
3. Provide superior visual aids.
III. Plan the delivery mode.
A. Real-time presentations
1. Real-time presentations connect presenter and audience live, in synchronous
communication, which allows speaker and audience to respond to one another.
2. Conflicting time zones can pose a challenge to real-time presentations.
2. Asynchronous communication is when transmission and reception occur at different
times.
3. Without immediate audience feedback, you must work harder to make your speech
engaging.
IV. Choose an online presentation format.
A. Video
2. Video capture software can create a screencast, displaying the content of your
computer screen.
B. Podcasts and vodcasts
1. Podcasts are digital audio recordings of a speech or presentation that is accessible via
the internet.
1. Webinars are real-time seminars, meetings, or training sessions that connect
presenters and audiences from their computers or mobile devices.
3. To increase personal connection during a webinar, display a photographic headshot
captioned with your name and title.
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1. Offer a clear statement of your purpose and preview your main points.
B. Have reasonable expectations.
1. Fit your content into the allotted time.
C. Design powerful presentation aids.
D. Keep your audience engaged.
2. In recorded presentations, offer an email address, weblog comment, URL, or Twitter
address where the audience can submit comments and questions.
E. Prepare a contingency plan in case of technology glitches.
F. Maintain ethical standards.
1. Use the same degree of decorum as you would in a face-to-face speech, keeping in
mind online presentations can go viral.
G. Get in plenty of practice time.
KEY TERMS
online presentation presentation delivered over any distance via the internet; can include both
real-time and recorded presentations
real-time presentation presentation broadcast at the time of delivery via the internet. Real-time
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asynchronous communication communication in which interaction between speaker and
receiver does not occur simultaneously
video capture software software such as Camtasia or Adobe Audition that allows you to
incorporate video clips into an online presentation
screencast a video recording of whatever is displayed on a computer screen
CHAPTER STUDY GUIDE
I. SUMMARY QUESTIONS
What are the benefits of virtual delivery?
Online presentations allow a speaker to connect with a much larger, more diverse, and more
geographically dispersed audience. Synchronous communication allows for great interactivity as
What are some additional considerations for conducting an online presentation?
Virtual presentations do have some unique demands. They require some familiarity with
electronic connectivity tools. The speaker needs to put more emphasis on vocal variety, the
alterations in volume, pitch, speaking rate, pauses, and pronunciation and articulation, to hold the
What are the various online presentation platforms?
CONTENT PRESENTATION IDEAS
I. STUDENT ACTIVITY
1. Students often have personal experience watching online presentations in other college
courses. Conduct a panel discussion to explore experienced students’ thoughts on the
following questions:
• How did technology enhance or detract from the presentation?
Chapter 26, p. 548
II. GROUP ACTIVITY
1. Divide the class into groups of three or four. As a group, discuss a time when you witnessed a
technical failure in a speech. Reflect on the strategies the speaker used to modify the speech.
Did the technical glitch jeopardize the speech? Was the speaker noticeably flustered? What
other arrangements did the speaker have in lieu of using the technology? How did the audience
respond?
III. ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES
Hide the Speaker
Purpose: To mimic the format of an online speech and emphasize the importance of vocal variety
in online presentations.
Instructions: Have a student give a speech he or she has already delivered from the back of the
Chapter 26, p. 549
Have audience members analyze the speaker’s vocal variety and rate each component on a
scale of 1–5, with 1 being poor and 5 being excellent. As a class, discuss the strengths and
weaknesses of the speaker’s vocal variety.
Volume
Pitch
Speaking rate
Pauses
Pronunciation
Articulation
Speaker as Audience Member
Purpose: To give students the chance to conduct an honest self-evaluation of their speech
presentation.
Instructions: Assign one speech in the semester to be delivered online. All of the same guidelines
can apply but students will have to record and upload their speech to a class website, YouTube, or
Instructions: Students should write a speech manuscript on a topic of their choosing. After the
speech is written, ask students to create a podcast, digitally recording their presentation audio.
Students should pay careful attention to the way they use vocal qualities such as volume, pitch,
RECOMMENDED SUPPLEMENTARY SOURCES
Adler, R., & Elmhorst, J. (2006). Communicating at work: Principles and practices for business
and the professions (9th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
Burkun, S. (2010). Confessions of a public speaker. Sebastopol, CA: O’Reilly.
Handley, A., Chapman, C. C., & Scott, D. M. (2011). Content rules: How to create killer blogs,
podcasts, videos, ebooks, Webinars (and more) that engage customers and ignite your
business. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
Koegel, T. (2010). The exceptional presenter goes virtual: Take command of your message, create
an “in person ” experience, and captivate any remote audience. Austin, TX: Greenleaf Book.
SUGGESTED WEBSITES
Audacity, free software for recording and editing sounds www.audacity.sourceforge.net