Alleviating the Stress of Alleviating the Stress of Presentations through the Presentations through the

use of Technologyuse of Technology

Krystine Donato Krystine Donato and and

Lianne FisherLianne Fisher

In collaboration with:In collaboration with:

Frances Owen, Ph.D.Frances Owen, Ph.D.Dorothy Griffiths, Ph.D.Dorothy Griffiths, Ph.D.Maureen Connolly, Ph.D.Maureen Connolly, Ph.D.Carol Sales, Ph.D.Carol Sales, Ph.D.Michael Laurence, Educational Michael Laurence, Educational Technology Consultant Technology Consultant

Brock UniversityBrock University

Special ThanksSpecial Thanks

To Brock University’s Department of To Brock University’s Department of Graduate Studies for the continued Graduate Studies for the continued support both financially and academically support both financially and academically of this Masters thesis. of this Masters thesis.

Oral defense presentations . . . Oral defense presentations . . .

Can be a barrier to some students with Can be a barrier to some students with disAbilitiesdisAbilities

A disAbility such as Cerebral Palsy can A disAbility such as Cerebral Palsy can impact speech productionimpact speech production

Oral presentations . . . Oral presentations . . .

Speech production disAbility can increase Speech production disAbility can increase student stress & fatigue in oral student stress & fatigue in oral presentationspresentations

Stress & fatigue impact oral performanceStress & fatigue impact oral performance

Accommodation possibilities . . .Accommodation possibilities . . .

For example, break defense into two sessions:For example, break defense into two sessions: 1) proposal presentation 1) proposal presentation

2) questions2) questions

But . . . no guarantee stress & fatigue will not But . . . no guarantee stress & fatigue will not impact speech clarityimpact speech clarity

Lack of coherence & continuity between two Lack of coherence & continuity between two sessionssessions

Recording oral presentation Recording oral presentation allows for . . .allows for . . .

Maximizes clarity of oral presentationMaximizes clarity of oral presentation(e.g., can tape over several sessions, can (e.g., can tape over several sessions, can include captions to ensure clarity of content)include captions to ensure clarity of content)

Allows presenter to focus on interaction with Allows presenter to focus on interaction with audienceaudience

Allows for Preservation of energy for questionsAllows for Preservation of energy for questions

Getting ready. .the Smart RoomGetting ready. .the Smart Room

Technological SupportTechnological Support

Smart Room at Brock University is Smart Room at Brock University is equipped with several options for equipped with several options for displaying recorded material, Powerpoint displaying recorded material, Powerpoint presentations, and conferencing.presentations, and conferencing.

Camera recording, editing to incorporate Camera recording, editing to incorporate closed captioning, and wireless closed captioning, and wireless capabilities.capabilities.

Recording the presentation . . .Recording the presentation . . .Krystine read from slides on this screen

Camera recording Krystine was placed here

Clip from the recording. . . Clip from the recording. . .

What was most impressive, from this What was most impressive, from this technologist's perspective, was Krystine's technologist's perspective, was Krystine's "orchestration" of the multimedia team's "orchestration" of the multimedia team's contribution - her plan was well thought out, it contribution - her plan was well thought out, it was clearly communicated, and she carefully yet was clearly communicated, and she carefully yet firmly critiqued our work until she achieved the firmly critiqued our work until she achieved the sought after product.sought after product.

Michael Laurence, Educational Technology Michael Laurence, Educational Technology ConsultantConsultant

The committee’s view . . .The committee’s view . . .

Video playing here

Slides Here

““ Krystine has been a student of mine in Krystine has been a student of mine in several undergraduate courses and has several undergraduate courses and has alwaysalways given given excellent presentations in excellent presentations in class class & & seminar. The approach we used for seminar. The approach we used for her thesis introductionher thesis introduction allowed her to show allowed her to show her skills and knowledge in a way that I had her skills and knowledge in a way that I had not witnessed before.not witnessed before.” ”

Dorothy Griffiths, Ph.D.Dorothy Griffiths, Ph.D.Committee MemberCommittee Member

““I really wanted my committee to get I really wanted my committee to get the content of my talk and not have to the content of my talk and not have to focus so much on my speech that focus so much on my speech that they did not really get a chance to they did not really get a chance to hear what I saying. By recording the hear what I saying. By recording the oral presentation portion of the oral presentation portion of the proposal defense I think this was proposal defense I think this was achieved”.achieved”.

Krystine DonatoKrystine DonatoM.A. CandidateM.A. Candidate

“ “My fortunate participation in this particular My fortunate participation in this particular accommodation ‘support’ of an oral accommodation ‘support’ of an oral defense has informed my understanding of defense has informed my understanding of education as liberatory practice. education as liberatory practice.

Accommodation is not about doing it ‘my’ Accommodation is not about doing it ‘my’ way or ‘your’ way, or equity per se -- it is way or ‘your’ way, or equity per se -- it is about people having sufficient liberty to about people having sufficient liberty to demonstrate what they know and to be demonstrate what they know and to be who they are”. who they are”.

Lianne FisherLianne FisherAccommodation Accommodation

SupportSupport

After thoughts & After thoughts & RecommendationsRecommendations

Cost & Bursary FundsCost & Bursary Funds

More TimeMore Time

Balance independence & technologicalBalance independence & technological support support

Next Time . . .Next Time . . .

Break down the oral presentation Break down the oral presentation recording into two or more sessionsrecording into two or more sessions

Closed captioningClosed captioning

Record complete presentationRecord complete presentation

“ “It isIt is so critical that we give so critical that we give students the opportunity to students the opportunity to

maximize their potential. It's allmaximize their potential. It's all aabout creative adaptationbout creative adaptation”.”.

Dorothy Griffiths, Ph.D.Dorothy Griffiths, Ph.D.Committee MemberCommittee Member