Ike needs help

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussions' started by Ike, Jan 12, 2002.

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  1. Ike

    Ike New Member

    I will be a guest lecturer at Penn State University next month. What do I need to do to make the session as interesting as possible from beginning to end? Students and professors will be the primary audience. This is what I want to be doing (as part time) in future and my next stop will probably be MIT.

    Note to Nova haters: This has nothing to do with insecurity which alleged in another thread)
     
  2. Craig

    Craig New Member

    Ike,

    Great! Will you be at University Park campus?

    Craig
    B.A., Penn State, 1985
     
  3. Mike Albrecht

    Mike Albrecht New Member

    When talking to Penn Staters I have found it necessary to speak slowly and not use multisyllabic words. Use plenty of diagrams and lots of colors. Avoid using X's and O's unless you are talking about football.

    And say "Go Lions" frequently to wake them up.

    That will cover the faculty, for the students you will have to tone it down it bit more.

     
  4. Ike

    Ike New Member

    Note to Nova haters: This has nothing to do with insecurity which was alleged in another thread)
     
  5. Ike

    Ike New Member

    No. It will be in Wilkes-Barre (near Scranton, in Northeastern Pennsylvania)
     
  6. Ike

    Ike New Member

    Mike:
    Thanks for the response. I have taken note of your advice. Thanks too for the advice.
     
  7. John Bear

    John Bear Senior Member

    Years ago, my advertising mentor, Howard Gossage, was invited to do a series of lectures at Penn State. On his first day, he was glowingly introduced, walked out, looked out on the large filled hall, and his first words were, "Now then, are there any questions?" People sat there dumbfounded. He eventually said, "See you on Wednesday," and walked off.

    On Wednesday, same setting. And when he started with the same line, probably fifty hands went up, and he was off and running.

    That was around the time he re-wrote the Golden Rule: "Do unto others as they want to be done unto."

    PS: You might want to have it videotaped. And then, with iMovie or comparable, you put together a 3-minute highlights film, which helps you get your MIT and other gigs.

    PS2: Wilkes Barre was where I did my first-ever expert witness job. Local teacher suing the school board for denying him higher pay because of his California authorized Master's. I testified for the teacher, pointing out that he had done excellent work (independently evaluated) for the degree, and the local laws did not specify "regionally accredited." (The courtroom was totally distracted because that was the day on which the Pope had been shot in Rome. In mid trial, both sides agreed to binding arbitration, and eventually a compromise was reached: some increased pay, but not the maximum available.)
     
  8. Ike

    Ike New Member

    Dr Bear,
    Very good advice. Thanks. I am sure that if I do unto them as I will want them do unto me, the lecture will be superb one.

    Excellent. I will do that.
     
  9. For those unfamiliar, Penn State Wilkes-Barre is part of Commonwealth College. Primarily a feeder to the University Park campus (with students doing first 2 years at the local campus before moving on to the big time) but they also offer a few four-year majors locally.
     
  10. Without knowing more about the nature of the lecture, I can only offer one piece of general advice, which is to prepare for mishaps! For example, if you are going to use a computer system "live", be prepared with slides as backup in case the computer or network or whatever is down. I have seen speakers derailed many times by little technical glitches.
     
  11. Nicole-HUX

    Nicole-HUX New Member

    Without more information, all I can provide is a few general suggestions:

    1) Be passionate and knowledgeable about your subject.

    2) Make sure you know how many people are expected in your audience. Will this be a small classroom setting or will you be addressing a mass lecture hall? If the latter, what type of voice projection system will be used and will someone be there to help you with it, if needed?

    3) Will any others be speaking to the same group before or after you, and if so, what have they been asked to speak about?

    4) Will the lecture be televised, recorded, and/or digitally broadcast over the internet? If so, who retains the copyright on your material, you or the school?

    5) Take a small bottle of water in case there isn't any provided, and also a small light (book light, flashlight, etc.) in case the room is darkened for slides or use of an overhead projection system, presuming you will have notes to refer to.

    6) This probably sounds silly, but make sure you've "auditioned" the outfit you plan to wear for the lecture to make sure you're comfortable and don't suddenly discover a stain, a popped button, or worse. Find out ahead of time what the appropriate attire is. Will a sweater and jeans suffice or are you expected to wear a suit and tie?

    7) Is someone going to meet you, either at your hotel or somewhere on campus, and make sure you're safely delivered to the lecture?

    8) Enjoy your audience. Maintain good eye contact for instant feedback about their interest level.

    9) Use visual aids as appropriate but steer clear of complicated charts and graphs. I personally loathe PowerPoint presentations, but if that's the route you're going, make sure it's set up and ready to run before the lecture starts.

    Best of luck and make sure to let us know how it goes!
     
  12. Ike

    Ike New Member

    Thank you Gert and Nicole.
     
  13. Ike

    Ike New Member

    I have received more info about the lecture. It will take place at PSU Hazleton (not Wilkes-Barre) and my audience will be the faculty, the entire campus, and faculty/students from neaby PSU campuses (including Wilkes-Barre).
     

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