This site was launched in 2007
Financial and Scholarly Support for this Project
The creation of this site was made possible by funding from an Australian Catholic University Teaching Development Grant. Special thanks must go to the Pro-Vice Chancellor, Professor Gabrielle McMullen; the Dean of Arts and Sciences, Professor Gail Crossley; and the Head of the School of Arts and Sciences, Dr Lindsay Farrell, for all of their help and support.
ACU Staff Involvement
This website was created after extensive consultation with ACU staff. Members of the ACU staff were invited to contribute their experiences of students' oral presentations from all disciplines across all of the campuses. The response was overwhelming. The creators of the website would like to thank the staff who agreed to be interviewed as a part of the process of gathering material for this website. Their combined expertise has helped us to create a website that will directly address the concerns that staff see as imperative for students to be aware of when it comes to giving an oral presentation in a tertiary context. Many staff also agreed to have copies of their criteria sheets represented on the website. These will prove to be invaluable for students wishing to improve their skills.
ACU Student Involvement
ACU students also need to be thanked for contributing their experiences to this website in an effort to help others. Small focus groups were conducted during 2006. Students were asked to discuss their greatest fears when it comes to oral presentations. The creators have used this information to help to build a resource that will directly address the needs of students. In particular, the creators of this site would like to thank the students who posed for photos on this website in an attempt to help to show both best and worst practice when it comes to delivering oral presentations. Your contribution is greatly appreciated.
Creators of this Website
This website was created by Delyse Ryan and Donna Cook.
Dr Delyse Ryan
Delyse Ryan is a Senior Lecturer in Drama at the Brisbane campus of Australian Catholic University. She is a theatre historian with an active research interest in the history of theatre in Brisbane. She is currently researching the ways that students think they learn through practical drama performance. She has recently edited a volume on performativity and parades in Australian culture with colleagues from the University of Queensland. In the practical context, Delyse has had extensive experience directing plays for the theatre. Delyse may be contacted on delyse.ryan@acu.edu.au
Donna Cook
Donna Cook began lecturing at Australian Catholic University in 1997, working in the School of Arts and Sciences as well as with ACUcom. Among other qualifications, Donna has a Master of Education in Adult Education and a Master of Arts in Teaching English as a Second Language. Donna's research areas include an examination of the learning experiences of international students in Australian Universities and of challenges involved in giving oral presentations at university.