CASE
(Career Acquisition Skills Enhancement)

Topic: Improving Public Speaking

Program Description:  One important aspect of career development for an engineer that is often over-looked is the importance of communication.  Public speaking is a communication skill that can prove extremely beneficial for an engineer in the work force today.  An effective presentation can set the stage for a speaker to introduce and sell products, information and new ideas.

Most people rank public speaking high on the list of things they don’t like to do.  However, making presentations is an unavoidable part of corporate life.  Why not make the best of it?  To be successful, a speaker must gain the attention, interest and confidence of the audience.  The talk must be interesting, informative, and persuasive.

The purpose of this proposed S-PAVe is to educate the student members about how to enhance the skills that can result in an effective presentation or speech.  Some of the skills that will be focused on are summarized in the following list:

1. Elements of an effective speech.
2. The speech preparation process.
3. How to overcome speaking anxiety.
4. How to use visual aids effectively.
5. Tips on how to remember material.
6. Audience Analysis – The importance of knowing your audience.

Also, the S-PAVe will provide the student branch members with reference material about how to enhance their communication skills, particularly in the area of making presentations and speaking in public.

Approach:  There are a number of approaches that could be taken to help the IEEE Student Members improve their communication skills.  Each approach is summarized and followed by the intended outcomes of that approach.

A number of popular books on the enhancement of communication skills will be selected.  These could be books that were recommended by faculty or books that have been “Best-Sellers”.  Each book will be assigned to a member of the implementation team.  The team member will have several weeks to read the book and prepare a review.  Then, the members of the implementation team will hold a weekly book review for the student members.  The S-PAVe will span several weeks, depending on the number of books that were selected.  At each book review, the reviewer will summarize the key points of the book.  Also, hand-outs will be provided to the student members at each session to serve as reference material. An open discussion will be held at the end of each review with the presenter about the book and about ways that he/she could improve his/her presentation skills.

Intended Outcomes:The members of the implementation team will gain the experience of reading a book on communication skills.  Also, the team member will have the opportunity to present in front of a group and to receive instant feedback.  As you know, practice makes perfect.

The student members will have the benefit of attending the book reviews and getting tips about how to improve their communication skills.  Also, the student members will receive a hand-out that can be used as a reference.

Upon completion of the S-PAVe, the books will be available for the Student Members to check out and read on their own.  In addition, the hand-outs will be placed in a reference library or on the web for Student Members to access.

Suggested Time Frame:This S-PAVe could span a period of several weeks depending on the number of members on the implementation team and the number of relevant books selected.  However, the hand-outs and/or web page generated could remain for the benefit of future members as long as the information remained useful.

Approach: Several well-known, local speakers will be selected to give presentations to the Student Branch.  These could be members of the University faculty or perhaps from the town council.   Preferably, the speakers will be able to speak on a topic that is of particular interest to the students.  An evening meeting(s) will be planned where a speaker will give a speech.  Following the speech, the speaker will discuss the methods used to prepare the speech and explain the techniques used.  Also, reference material will be prepared for the students who attend the meeting(s).  This reference material will be distributed and an open forum will be held to discuss the material.  Then the speaker will go over the original speech again with special attention placed on the implementation of the techniques previously discussed.

Intended Outcomes: The student members will have the opportunity to hear and interact with a popular, local speaker.  Also, the speaker will serve as an excellent example and will provide details about the techniques utilized and ways that a student member can practice and improve his/her abilities.  In addition, the student members will receive material that can be used as a reference.

Upon completion of the S-PAVe, the hand-outs will be placed in a reference library or on the web for Student Members to access.

Suggested Time Frame:  This S-PAVe could span a period of several weeks depending on the number of speakers that are able to present. However, the hand-outs and/or web page generated could remain for the benefit of future members as long as the information remained useful.
 Additional Suggestions:

Following is a list of additional suggestions that could be utilized by Student Members in the process of preparing an S-PAVe proposal in this genre.
 

1. Contact the local Toast Masters to discuss possible suggestions or ways in which they could be of help in the implementation of your S-PAVe.
2. Contact the faculty in the Public Relations department for suggestions.

Milestones:

• Organization of a planning committee within the student branch.
• Appointment of implementation team members.
• Contact with possible financial sources.
• Development of a written proposal outlining the proposed project.
• Receipt of letters endorsing the proposed project.
• Submission of the proposed project to IEEE.
• IEEE approval of the proposed project.
• Receipt of IEEE funding.
• Promotion of project.
• Initiation of project development.
• Implementation of project.
• Distribution of thank you letters to key contributors.
• Submission of final report to IEEE.