Introduction
There exist several ways of delivering a presentation to an audience. Each of the modes of presenting the message to an audience is somewhat different from each other. What is important to notice is that the impact on the audience differs by the mode of delivering the message. In other words, the way the speaker delivers the message to the audience influences how this last reacts to it. Below there will be a short description of four modes, approaches, of delivering the presentation: lecture, workshop, group activity and discussion.
Lecture
A lecture is the “oral presentation intended to present information or teach people about a particular subject” (Bligh, 2000). Thus, a lecture is based mostly on the oral presentation of the ideas and of a situation. During it the speaker tries to influence the audience by changing its vocal expressions in order to emphasize something or attract the attention of the audience. During a lecture the speaker can also utilize visual demonstrations for the purpose making the message clearer to the audience. What is characteristic of a lecture is that the information is transmitted one way only, from the speaker to the audience. In other words, the speaker plays an active role in transmitting his / her message meanwhile the audience has a passive role and is submitted to the message delivered by the speaker (Bligh, 2000). Also the source of information tends to be only one, the lecturer, and the recipients can be hundreds, the audience. It also tends to give information related to general principles of the issues being lectured. This type of approach can be used when the audience is unfamiliar with the subject and a broad explanation is needed.
Workshop
A workshop is similar and different at the same time from a lecture. It is “a series of educational and work sessions. In workshops small groups of people meet together over a short period of time and concentrate on a defined area of concern” (‘What is a workshop’, 2009). Its similarity with a lecture is that the first part of a workshop is dedicated to theoretical preparation which is similar to the information transmitted in a lecture. This is called the technical part of the workshop. The second part is that of applied phase. In this phase the group participating in the workshop has the opportunity to apply what it learnt from the theoretical phase by doing a specific product, or project, or even writing a research paper, etc. Here we see that in the second phase the audience becomes active by implementing the theoretical information given by the speaker in the first part. Nevertheless, they are under the direction of the speaker which controls and evaluates their work. This type of approach can be used when there is a specific project or product that needs to be developed. Thus, you provide the audience with the specific information and supervise their work.
Group work
A group work is the “oral exploration of a topic, object, concept or experience” (Tufte, 2006). In this approach both the speaker and the audience do have knowledge of the situation or the issues involved. This is the main difference with the previous two forms. Thus, a group work would be used where there is the need only of doing a practical work and there is no need on theoretical explanation.
Discussion
A discussion is the “formal treatment of a topic in speech or writing” (‘Discussion’, 2010). Thus, this is an approach where the speaker and the audience do have knowledge of the topic and issues at hand. Characteristic of this approach is that they have different views on how the topic should be considered or treated and express their views in the form of a debate. Here both the speaker and the audience are active. This approach can be used to gain alternative viewpoints on how to develop a product for example.
References
Bligh, D. (2000) What’s the Use of Lectures? San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Press.
“Discussion” (2010) Merrian-Webster Dictionary, Web.
Tufte, E. (2006) The Cognitive Style of Group Work, Cheshire, Connecticut: Graphics Press.
“What is a workshop?” (2009) SIL Library, Web.