New Communications Lab Opens By Pragya Pradham, March 2009 Lynx Editor
For the first time on campus, PVCC students and faculty have an exclusive setting for rehearsing their public presentation skills at the communications lab in the Computer Commons.
The lab in Room 147, which includes a computer, projector and podium, is “as close to the actual situation as possible,” says Tom Simpson, adjunct faculty in the communications and humanities department and initiator of the program.
The lab will help you “polish your presentation and help build confidence and grades,” says Simpson.
Students and faculty at PVCC may use the free lab to prepare for their presentation in three ways. They may reserve the communications lab to practice on their own or do a peer-to-peer review, or they may make an appointment with Simpson to have their presentation critiqued and improved upon at the lab. Simpson says that the lab process will polish presentations of those taking subjects such as marketing, poetry, essay reading or any subject requiring a public talk.
Photo by Pragya Pradham
Student Gabriella Holt takes advantage of the new lab.
Typically, a student would come in and deliver the speech and then Simpson would point out the parts that need improvement. He also has the ability to video tape the presentation and play it back, which allows Simpson to work with the presenter on his or her speech, hand and facial expressions.
Rebecca Tappendorf, a PVCC communications student, found the play back of her essay presentation useful and says, “It was very eye-opening to see myself on the screen because you can’t see yourself giving a speech in a classroom.”
Seeing the public speaking lab at ASU’s West campus, where Simpson formerly taught, he felt inspired to begin a similar lab at the PVCC campus. He had also been told by certain staff members at the Learning Support Center that students had been asking for help with their oral presentations. Thus, Simpson initiated the process for the communications lab, which opened this semester.
He operates the lab from Monday through Thursday between 11 a.m. and noon. One may also reserve the room online at the Computer Commons Web site in the student services section or e-mail Simpson at thomas.simpson@pvmail.maricopa.edu.
“No matter how long you’ve been doing it, it’s always best to practice speeches,” says Simpson.
