Effective presentation skills never go out of style, however, the channel by which we deliver presentations has been rapidly changing over the past two decades. Technological developments have made it easier to bring audiences together in virtual spaces and as a result, more and more presentations are taking place every day through digital…

Opportunities for intellectual exchanges outside of class are plentiful on college and university campuses, but these events are not fully integrated into the academic life of the college. Too often undergraduate students are motivated only by the prospect of earning extra credit to attend a campus event. This paper presents several ideas for…

Notes a resurgence of interest and practice in participational theater. Explains that playwrights, directors, and theater educators have begun to ask questions and seek information about available scripts and guidelines for creating new works. Includes edited remarks by six practitioners who talked about their experiences with participation…

Focuses on the rhetorical values, benefits to debating programs, and administrative issues of intercollegiate, audience-style debating. (PRA)

Discusses problems that arise in evaluating social participatory art. Contends that concentrating solely on the social policy function during project development can have the effect of drying out the artistic content of the work. Proposes that evaluation processes are needed, but they must evolve from the structures of the projects and the needs…

Because college radio offers a less structured environment, a natural habitat is created which provides for broadcasting experimental shows such as Starship Earth, an environmental radio show on East Stroudsburg University's (Pennsylvania) college radio station, WESS 90.3 FM. Environmental problems, issues, and solutions are discussed on the show.…

Discusses an experiment designed to demonstrate intra-audience effects in a naturalistic field setting and explains results indicating the impact of feedback in such a situation. (MH)

Eighty responses were received from both high school and college forensic directors: ninety percent of the respondents of involving audiences included generating support for the program, educating and motivating students, and serving audiences. (PD)

Explains the nature of audience participation debates known as the LSU Forum, sponsored by the Louisiana State University Department of Speech for the past 18 years. Sketches their history and development from British university debating unions. Discusses how they are organized and factors that contribute to a good Forum debate. (PD)

Describes an audience participation project in the classroom that approximates "real world" production techniques. (PD)

Noting that introductory public speaking and performance studies classes are often met with great anxiety and trepidation, this paper describes and categorizes the necessary student and audience behaviors at three levels of involvement: 1) pre-performance, 2) post-performance, and 3) audience participation. Teachers can show students how to apply…

Usual student seminar classes involve students presenting papers to the class. Alternatives to this approach are offered that maximize student audience involvement. The suggestions incorporate variations of sub-grouping, idea generation, discussion of important statements, and the refining, clarification, and evaluation of key statements. (JMD)

Describes a project designed to alleviate the emotional isolation of elders concerned about the manner in which they will die, particularly fears about loss of control. A counselor engaged elders in dialogue exploring nonthreatening ways this could be done. Drama that includes dialogue with the audience was chosen, developed, and performed at…

A program of continuing education is described in which lecture, skits, and audience participation are employed to teach practicing pharmacists how to improve their communication skills. Both live and videotape presentations were found to be effective teaching methods. Learning objectives and factors affecting communication are appended. (JMD)

The Qualitative Studies section of the Proceedings contains the following 10 papers: "An Alternative to Alternative Media'" (James Hamilton); "A Critical Assessment of News Coverage of the Ethical Implications of Genetic Testing" (David A. Craig); "Earth First! and the Boundaries of Postmodern Environmental…