Educational Leadership

There’s been plenty said about how Australian students are in dire need of improved scientific and numeric literacy. But that's not what I mark my students down for.

Kids may receive the question as adults would a cheerful: “Describe all the tedious things you did today!”

Do you have something important to say, but find it hard to get people’s attention?

Or have you tried to listen to someone who claims to have something interesting to impart, but they can’t explain it and the idea gets lost? (Or worse, you get bored and lose interest, even if they’re trying to describe their revolutionary new laser shark).

Some people are natural communicators; others … aren’t.

It’s a problem many academics face, particularly with the push we’re all getting to explain our work to the public.

But there are a few tricks you can use that can help you to better communicate your ideas.