abrams tr pnv

7/30/2019 Abrams Tr Pnv

1/22

On teaching public speaking skills:

Overcoming Americas #1 Fear

An extended research project by:

Benjamin Abrams

2013


2/22

W.M. Davies Career & Technical HS

Located in Lincoln, RI

Most students come from Pawtucket & Central Falls

Total enrollment: 816 (55% Male)

Eligible for free or reduced lunch: 66%

State test performance index: 79.4

10 Shops

Automotive Electronics

Biomanufacturing Graphic Arts

Carpentry Health Careers

Cosmetology Hospitality

Electrical Machine


3/22

A call for action:Genetic Disorder Project Presentations

10 of 24

students

REFUSED to

present;

Average

score of 47%


4/22

Undiagnosed and untreated social

anxieties

Fear of public speaking can exist in isolation with no fearsmanifested in personal relationships or other social

situations (Hancock et al. 2008)

Social anxiety disorder as often undiagnosed and untreated.Individuals fear and avoid anxiety-inducing situations, which

only strengthens their negative and irrational beliefs (Hindo &Gonzlez-Prendes 2011)

Public speaking anxiety peaks between 13-17 years old, andremains relatively stable throughout the lifetime, unless there

is an early intervention (Rickards-Schlichting 2001)


5/22

Rationale: Why this intervention is

important

1. Rhode Island

performance-based

graduation

requirements

2. College & career

readiness

3. General life skill

According to most

studies, people's

number one fear is

public speaking. Number

two is death. Death is

number two. Does that

sound right? This meansto the average person, if

you go to a funeral,

you're better off in the

casket than doing the

eulogy. Jerry Seinfeld


6/22

Rhode Island graduation requirements:Performance-based diploma assessments

Portfolio Exhibition Capstone


7/22

College & career readiness

Rhode Island Salaries:

No high school

diploma

High school

diploma

Bachelors

$20,000 $30,000 $45,000

2010: 63% of students taking remedial courses at CCRI

By 2018, 61% of Rhode Island jobs will require some

postsecondary education-Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce


8/22

Class information & Student

demographics10th Grade Biology

9:00-9:45 am, daily

24 Students (11 females, 13 males)

The 2011 graduation rate for Latino students in Rhode Island is 10%

lower than the overall graduation rate and 15% lower than that of

White students

40%

30%

20%

10%

Abrams Biology

36%

49%

11%4%

Davies HS

22%

63%

8%

7%

Rhode Island KEY

Latino

White

Black

Other


9/22

My intervention:

Three (3) essential components

BioBulletin

Presentation

Critiques

Frequent

Opportunities to

Present

Combination of

methods is the most

effective treatment(Rickards-Schlichting 2001)


10/22

Intervention #1: BioBulletin Presentations

The Lefkoe method

(Cunningham et al.

2006)

Shorter exposures

(Seim et al. 2010)


11/22

BioBulletin presentation rubric:Authentic, thorough feedback (Finn et al. 2009)


12/22

Intervention #2: Presentation Critiques(Rickards-Schlichting 2001)

Example Presentation Presentation Critique Template


13/22

Light bulb critiques


14/22

Final critique: Types of Birds


15/22

Intervention #3:

Frequent presentations

Over the course of ~12

teaching weeks:

1. BioBulletin2. Genetic disorder project

3. Evolution lab

demonstrations

4. Evolution concept maps

5. Evolution misconceptions

6. Biome Brochure

The research

The Lefkoe method

(Cunningham et al. 2006)

Exposure therapy

(Finn et al. 2009)

Multiple exposures(Vasey et al. 2012)

Task avoidance

(Hindo & Gonzlez-Prendes 2011)


16/22

My five (5) tips for a solid presentation

1. Eye contact!

2. Keep reading to a minimum. Notes should bethere to organize your thoughts, not dictate

them3. Slow down. Even though you know whatyoure talking about, your audience doesnt

4. Project your voice

5. Fluency (organization): Your presentationshould flow like a narrative. It should have aclear beginning, middle, & end


17/22

Video of Biome Brochure Presentation

1. Eye contact!

2. Notes

3. Pacing4. Voice

5. Fluency


18/22

Video of Biome Brochure Presentation

1. Eye contact!

2. Notes

3. Pacing4. Voice

5. Fluency


19/22

Results: Increased participation &

efficacy

All students presented

their Biome Brochures!

Average for BioBulletin:79.3%

47%

78.6%

0

20

40

60

80

100

Genetic Disorder Biome Brochure

Abrams Biology Student Presentation

Scores


20/22

Future directions

Continue BioBulletin

presentations

Modify tips for a solid

presentation for each

class

Have students model their

own presentations


21/22

Works CitedCunningham, V., Lefkoe, M., & Sechrest, L. (2006). Eliminating fears: an intervention that

permanently eliminates the fear of public speaking. Clinical Psychology &

Psychotherapy, 13(3), 183193.

Finn, A. N., Sawyer, C. R., & Schrodt, P. (2009). Examining the effect of exposure therapy on

public speaking state anxiety. Communication Education, 58(1), 92109.

Hancock, A. B., Stone, M. D., Brundage, S. B., & Zeigler, M. T. (2010). Public Speaking Attitudes:

Does Curriculum Make a Difference?Journal of Voice, 24(3), 302307.

Hindo, C. S., & Gonzlez-Prendes, A. A. (2011). One-session exposure treatment for social anxietywith specific fear of public speaking. Research on Social Work Practice, 21(5), 528

538.

Rikards-Schlichting, K.A. (2001).A self-modeling intervention for high school students with public

speaking anxiety. (Doctoral Dissertation). Retrieved from ProQuest Dissertations and

Theses. (Accession Order No. [304689906])

Seim, R. W., Waller, S. A., & Spates, C. R. (2010). A preliminary investigation of continuous andintermittent exposures in the treatment of public speaking anxiety. International

Journal of Behavioral Consultation and Therapy, 6(2), 8594.

Vasey, M. W., Harbaugh, C. N., Buffington, A. G., Jones, C. R., & Fazio, R. H. (2012).

Predicting return of fear following exposure therapy with an implicit measure of

attitudes. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 50(12), 767774.


22/22

Thank You!

Dan BisaccioJanet Butler

MAT friends

Tom Weaver

Deb Taute

Doug Le

Thank you for all your support,

guidance, and patience! I couldnt

where Id be without you

Whenever youre feeling nervous,

unsure, or scared just remember-

YOURE DOING FINE

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