Each person can take turns giving out handouts, and changing Power Point slides or audio-visual aids etc, while one concentrates on talking

Presentation tasks (introduction, questions etc) can be better managed

A group presentation works best when every member's individual strengths and weaknesses are acknowledged. In school or university, groups may be chosen on the basis of friendship. Later in work situations, people may find themselves part of a group with people who perform similar jobs or duties.

When you have to work in a group, consider these factors:

Each person has their own strengths and weaknesses

Decide how best to use everyone's styles and skills - work out who should do what eg. research, present first, do visuals, answer questions etc

Choose your purpose - if your talk is to persuade, your group may decide to use the strongest speaker to start

All for one and one for all

Many group presentations fail because of a lack of 'teamwork'. And, many groups fall apart when individual members go off to 'research their part alone' instead of working as a unit to see how all the different sections can 'fit' smoothly together for a unified presentation.

Therefore, communication and delegation is crucial. The entire team must work together to decide who does what and see how each part will flow on or add to the previous section.

As a group, you should also choose one presentation style (eg. one Power Point presentation for your whole group), rather than one per person. It is also best to decide on one person to set up the Power Point or agree on a format which everyone will stick to so that everything is consistent and looks, feels, and sounds more or less the same.

And now moving right along ...

Transitions are when you change from one section (or in this case person) to the next. Have a look at the following examples:

To sum up, I have just talked about the background. Our next speaker Tania will now go on to explain the present situation ...

I have just given an overview of the international factors affecting global warming. Our next speaker Chris will discuss some local factors ...

Practice makes perfect

Group work has some definite advantages. An important one is being able to practise in front of one another. While one member is presenting, those who aren't can listen, take notes, give comments/instant feedback on any problems, and suggest improvements.

Here's a final helpful checklist:

Know your order - where each group member will stand during the presentation (you don't want to block or interrupt each other during the talk)

One group member should be in charge of the visual aids so that they are all co-ordinated

Introduce your group members and topic at the start of your presentation - even if you know your audience already

One team member should also give a brief overview of your group's talk - this could be your first speaker

While your group members are talking, remember to listen and pay them the same attention you expect from the audience (Chatting with others is rude and shows disinterest)

Allow time for follow-up questions; make sure if the entire group is answering or if there is one designated group representative

And, as always, planning, preparation, and open communication among all group members are key elements for a successful group experience

Exercise

True or False.

1. The more the merrier. ____

2. Do your own research. ____

3. Everyone is in charge of their visuals. ____

4. Feedback can be instantaneous. ____

Answers: 1. T or F; 2. F; 3. F; 4. T