Creating Engaging Presentations

Overview

Duration: 60 minutes
Class Size: 30 students
Unit: Exploring Digital Media (Lesson 9 of 14)
Year Group: 12
Subject: Other (Digital Competency / Cross-curricular media skills)
National Curriculum Link:

• KS5 Computing & Digital Literacy elements
• English: Spoken Language component (presentation skills)
• Art and Design: Use of digital media to communicate

---

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

1. Design visually engaging digital presentations that complement and enhance their podcast scripts (National Curriculum: Computing—“design, use and evaluate digital systems”, Spoken Language—“make effective presentations”).
2. Apply principles of design and multimedia learning theory (e.g., Mayer’s multimedia principles) to improve audience engagement.
3. Select appropriate digital tools and media elements (images, fonts, layouts, animations) to communicate ideas clearly and professionally (Computing — “select, use and combine a variety of software including internet services”).
4. Critically evaluate their presentations for clarity, engagement, and accessibility.

---

Resources Needed

• Computers with presentation software (Microsoft PowerPoint, Google Slides or equivalent)
• Access to students’ podcast scripts from previous lessons
• Digital media toolbox handout (summary of multimedia principles and design tips)
• Projector and screen
• Peer evaluation templates (checklist)
• Timer/stopwatch

---

National Curriculum Links

Computing (KS5):

• "understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation"
• "gain experience of analytical, logical and creative thinking"
• "design, use and evaluate computational abstractions that model the state and behaviour of real-world problems and physical systems"
• "select, use and combine a variety of software on a range of digital devices to accomplish given goals"

English: Spoken Language (KS5):

• "making a range of presentations, including narratives, arguments, and explanations"
• "evaluating and reflecting on the effectiveness of spoken language"

Art & Design:

• "develop competence in digital media platforms to create imaginative and creative outcomes"

---

Lesson Structure

Time	Activity	Details
0-5 mins	Starter - Recap and Hook	Quick class discussion: What makes a presentation engaging? Show one vibrant example and one dull example (prepared slides). Elicit student opinions. Connect back to podcast scripts prepared earlier.
5-15 mins	Direct Instruction: Presentation Design Principles	Introduce key principles of slide design (visual hierarchy, contrast, consistency) and multimedia learning (coherence, signalling, redundancy). Use digital media toolbox handout. Highlight common pitfalls (text-heavy slides, poor colour choice).
15-40 mins	Practical Task: Create Your Presentation	Students import content derived from their podcast scripts into their own digital presentation templates. Encourage use of visuals, animations, charts, and embedded audio clips where relevant. Circulate, guide, and support individual creativity.
40-50 mins	Peer Review	Students pair or form small groups. Using a checklist, they give constructive feedback on engagement, clarity, visual appeal, and accessibility. Emphasise positive and formative language.
50-60 mins	Plenary and Reflection	Whole class feedback—invite 2-3 students to share their slides and explain design choices. Summarise key takeaways and set brief homework: refine slides and rehearse presentation for lesson 10.

---

Assessment

• Formative: Observation of students' progress during practical task and peer review discussion for participation and understanding.
• Peer Assessment: Using the review checklist to identify strengths and areas for improvement in presentations.
• Self-Assessment: Reflection at plenary, noting own design decisions and what could be improved.
• Homework: Refine digital presentation in preparation for next lesson’s delivery—assessed in lessons 10-11.

---

Differentiation & Inclusion

• Provide scaffolded templates for students less confident with digital tools.
• Encourage advanced students to integrate multimedia elements creatively (e.g., embedded videos, hyperlinks).
• Ensure instructions and handouts use clear, accessible language.
• Offer 1:1 support for students with additional learning needs or disabilities.
• Consider colour-blind friendly palettes and font legibility for accessibility.

---

Extension & Cross-curricular Links

• Encourage research on rhetorical and visual persuasion techniques (links to English literature and media studies).
• Explore cultural considerations in design for diverse audiences (cross-cultural studies).
• Bring in guest speaker (digital media professional) for later learning or invite students to submit their work for school newsletters/sites.

---

Teacher Notes

• Prepare exemplar slides illustrating design principles before class.
• Use timer strictly to keep on schedule, as 25 minutes crafting slides can be balanced with discussions and peer reviews.
• Have printed peer review sheets ready.
• During lesson, highlight how presentation software can be used not just for school but real-world communications and career readiness.
• Encourage experimentation but remind students about simplicity and clarity being powerful.

---

This lesson plan aligns directly with the National Curriculum for Computing and English at KS5, providing strong digital literacy with a creative, reflective, and practical focus on presentation design, perfectly complementing their podcasting unit.