Learn more about general speaking skills and build better presentations for any purpose. The Speakers Workshop offers several hour-long interactive workshops in-person and online that focus on building and refining general public speaking and presentation skills. Our workshops provide speakers the opportunity to learn more about topics such as visual aid design, delivery skills, communication apprehension, and much more. For more information on our workshops, see our schedule below.
Spring 2025 Workshop Schedule
Designing Effective Visual Aids
Thursday, February 13th, 3:30-4:30pm (Zoom)
Well-designed presentations are about balance. The problem? Balance is a hard thing to strike. How much text is too much? How do I decide on a color palatte? How do I craft a coherent visual narrative? In this workshop, learn practical skills for creating a standout slide deck and more. Pre-registration required using the link above.
Coping with Communication Apprehension
Thursday, March 13th, 3:30-4:30pm (Zoom)
Roughly three out of every four people face some degree of anxiety when speaking in front of others. Tremors, butterflies in the stomach, and “blacking out” are common, but that does not make them any less uncomfortable. In this workshop, learn strategies and mindsets to help cope with these experiences and more related to speech and presentation apprehension. Pre-registration required using the link above.
Designing and Presenting with Posters
Thursday, April 17th, 3:30-4:30pm (Hybrid)
Take a deeper dive into visual design! This workshop will focus on poster design, data visualization, and connecting with your scholarly audience. We will also consider aspects of delivery in poster presentations. Pre-registration required using the link above.
Have suggestions for a new workshop topic? Tell us at speakersworkshop@illinois.edu! We are also happy to work with campus organizations and groups to provide workshops tailored to their needs.
Our friends at the Savvy Researcher also offer workshops relevant to public speaking and presenting. Visit their calendar for more information!
