Students, Presentations, and the Pandemic

Public speaking is a concern for many students. Research has pointed to the professional benefits of honing oral communication skills despite the potential aversion to it. This article highlights how college students’ speech apprehension and their need to communicate with audiences effectively have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, I reflect on the first-hand practice of teaching communication courses to undergraduates during the pandemic, which required the delivery of presentations using learning management systems (LMS) and videoconferencing applications. Through efforts to restructure assignments and assessments, I was able to aid students in advancing their ability to communicate with virtual audiences.