Part 10: DELIVERING A LECTURE | How to Lecture in Higher Education

Many people get anxious about speaking in front of a large group when it comes to presentations. This is also true for university teachers, who must give their students lectures regularly. Thankfully, we can reduce the stress before and during speaking in front of our classes in several ways.
How to handle the fear of public speaking:
It is crucial to understand that public speaking anxiety is normal and expected.
Combat the fear with structure and practice. Plan out the information you want to present ahead of time, including your presentation slides and any digital assets. You will be more relaxed if you are organized and prepared. Always create an outline or script. I use PowerPoint bullets for my memory and often bring a printed copy of my lecture notes to the lecture hall. I sometimes go to the lecture hall the day before and give the presentation to the empty chairs. It's a perfect way to practice and time it. Practice your presentation several times, including the first and last parts. Do not start or end your talk by mumbling, sounding weak, and hesitating. Instead, begin and end like the pro you are.
You must know the subject you are speaking about. Still, you do not have to be all-knowing. As a beginner university teacher, it's easy to think that you don't know enough, that you are not an expert in the field, and that everyone will notice that. That is, of course, not true. You have enough knowledge and skills to give the presentation. The trick is to focus on your planning and delivery, not what the students might think. Students are focused on the material and not on who is talking. They don't care if you are nervous and do not think you are unskilled. If the lecture is well prepared, they will be satisfied with your delivery, trust me.
Another stress-reducing trick is to be motivated, to care, or have an opinion on the topic or parts of it. The more excited you get with the matter, the more authentic engagement from both sides: you and your students are there to learn from you. I can understand if you're having difficulty getting motivated for the topic. Sometimes, teachers are asked to lecture about things we aren't burning for. It happens. However, that's when we must be professional and earn our paycheck by finding motivation. Ask yourself, is there anything regarding this topic that makes you angry, sad, bored, surprised, happy, et cetera? Used that as a starting point. You must find some part that affects you and then show that at least once during the lecture.
Beginner teachers in higher education often fear silence. The silence follows when they do not know the answer to a question, lose track of what they are talking about, or their mind goes blank. It seems like the silence goes on for an eternity. It happens to me all the time, and here are my tricks to move forward:
• In reality, that moment of silence only lasts a few seconds.
• It's perfectly normal, and the students have experienced it before.
• They do not mind a pause because it gives them time to reflect.
I welcome the moment of silence, take a few slow, deep breaths, and simply state, "Thank you for the questions. I don't have an answer not, but I'll come back to you," or "I seem to have lost my track. Hang on. I'll check my notes". Never apologize, don't give it any attention, and continue.