In order to better understand which factors play a role in non-adaptive social behavior in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) we looked into physiological arousal and awareness of one's own emotions. Heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) were measured during a public speaking task in 51 young adults with ASD and 28 typically developing (TD)…

This article draws on existing communication research and praxes to share the best practices for retaining students enrolled in the introductory public speaking course. Among the many important pedagogical practices that communication scholars have documented, this article highlights the value of 10 best practices: instructor use of immediacy and…

Courses: Public speaking; communication courses requiring speeches. Objective: Students will learn how to apply humor principles to speeches through a slideshow method supportive of this goal, and to become more discerning about the possibilities and pitfalls of humorous communication.

Courses: Public Speaking, Communication Research Methods. Objectives: The purpose of this assignment is to (1) develop observation ability by drawing from sensory information, (2) practice using descriptive language, and (3) critique verbal delivery.

We investigate the effectiveness of combining Socratic Circles with case-based learning in an undergraduate class as a means of both helping students overcome their reluctance to speak publicly and to experience the deep learning associated with case-based learning. Using partial least squares modelling (n = 84) this combination of pedagogies…

The present study attempted to probe into the role of teacher feedback in an online learning environment during the COVID-19 pandemic. It aimed to investigate the characteristics and effectiveness of teacher feedback on online business English presentations and also to explore EFL learners' attitudes toward teacher feedback. The participants were…

Grounded in theories that establish connections among democratic listening, relational dimensions of citizenship, and civic engagement, this mixed methods case study takes up preliminary findings from prior research and explores processes that allow for empathic listening in democratic education and the outcomes promoted by empathic listening. The…

When first admitted to Oberlin College, women were expected to attend their rhetoric courses in silence. Not content with an education that did not prepare them for public speaking, some women students collaborated to educate themselves. Their history uncovers feminist and antiracist disruptions to composition and rhetoric that have much to teach…

Each summer over the past decade, the Chemical Engineering Department at the University of Washington has hosted the "Distinguished Young Scholars Seminar" (DYSS) series, bringing outstanding research trainees from top-tier programs around the country for day-long campus visits filled with student discussions, faculty meetings, mock…

The present paper reports on the educational experience of two groups of trainee interpreters who took part in a public speaking workshop. The participants (n = 29) were asked to engage in exercises inspired by theatrical training and purposefully adjusted to interpreting education. The workshop was structured into four sessions, including both…

This study analyzed the National Communication Association (NCA) members' perceptions regarding the effectiveness of their own and their peer presentations and the challenges they faced when preparing and giving conference presentations. Overall, participants (n = 187) feel fairly content with the effectiveness of NCA conference presentations and…

Mock trials serve as useful experiential learning tools for undergraduate kinesiology students. In the current study, Kolb's experiential learning cycle was employed over the course of a semester through a comprehensive mock trial project that aimed to provide undergraduate students with an interactive learning experience as a means to achieve…

The UF MAE program delivers a large-enrollment capstone design sequence that traditionally hosts in-person oral presentations with industry panels. COVID-19 necessitated presentations be conducted online. This transition increased average panelist participation by 50%. Average design team scores fell from 92.4% ([sigma] = 5.6%) for in-person…

Many undergraduate students pursuing life science majors are not aware of job options outside of medicine and academic research, because many departments stress these as the only primary career pathways. In addition, biology students often do not have many opportunities to develop their science communication and presentation skills due to the…

As many colleges and universities offer increasing numbers of online courses and degree programs, debates regarding teaching public speaking online continue. This research utilizes Kluger and DeNisi's (1996, The effects of feedback interventions on performance: A historical review, a meta-analysis, and a preliminary feedback intervention theory.…