You know that it's important to have your students engaged with the presentations: they can learn new information, make connections with course content, and enhance their own presentation skills. 

How, then, do you involve students when they are listening to formal presentations in your class? 

Focused Observations

I like to use a low-stakes observation and writing exercise that I simply call Focused Observations.

At the beginning of class, before the presentations begin, I remind the students of a key skill or concept that we've been stressing (for instance, using detailed and specific content). I then ask them, during the presentations, to identify effective examples of the skill/concept. For simplicity, you can write the Focused Observation topic on the board. Without much more effort, you can create a handout for the students to use. When reading their responses, I have been repeatedly impressed with the detailed, extended comments made by my students.

Examples

Susan Van Kirk, CATA and Education, uses a Focused Observation handout emphasizing transitions with her CATA 101 students. Susan points out that the students' responses help her identify not only who knows the material but also those students who do not understand the material.

You can also adapt for your class my Focused Observation handout that highlights specific, detailed evidence.

Benefits

Without taking emphasis away from the actual presentations, the Focused Observations engage students by: