Speech Lab
The Speech Lab is a classroom (RH319) where students can meet with an instructor to discuss and practice presentations for Public Speaking (COM 121) or any course with a presentation. The hours are varied throughout the week and change quarterly, and appointments are not necessary. Currently the lab is open 13 hours weekly. Students can practice their speech, make a video, get help with an outline, or just brainstorm ideas! Students receive a signed form to return to their instructor as proof of attendance, if required.
Purpose of the Speech Lab
To encourage effective communication in presentations by reiterating effective speaking principles, effective visual components, and overall ease and confidence speaking before a group. Many classes use the lab including, Public Speaking I and II, English, Sociology, Psychology, Theatre, Chemistry, and Biology classes.
Number of students that have used the Speech Lab
The Speech Lab has been in operation since 2005. Over 700 students, approximately 100 students per quarter, have benefitted from the extra practice, encouragement, and recording capabilities and many have returned in subsequent quarters to work on presentations for other courses.
Results from the Speech Lab
Students who participate in the lab usually receive higher grades on subsequent speeches and more positive evaluations of those presentations. Many students have also reported feeling more confident in themselves after these guided practice sessions.
In the Spring quarter, a campus wide speech contest proved the effectiveness of The Speech Lab. The first and second places were won by students who attended Speech Lab regularly throughout the quarter!
Benefits to Having a Speech Lab (from the students themselves):
- Speech lab allowed me to smooth out my speech. I had never used power point before and my instructor was able to tell me what I should add or subtract from the slides. My grade would have been at least 10 points less if I did not have that instructor weed out my errors. The instructors were very nice about my mistakes and they explained why I needed to make changes. – Jason Hofmann
- The speech lab helped me prepare for my speech. I like to procrastinate, so I always did for the lab. When it came time for me to give my speech, I was ready and I had a few days to think about improvements I could make. – Cassaundra Marin
- Speech lab is beneficial because it allows me to know how to form my speech into a better speech and also tells me more about what the professor is looking for. – Mark Poppel
- Speech lab was extremely helpful because it helped me practice and hone my speaking skills in a one-on-one environment. I was able to get good constructive criticism on my speech, including delivery and structure. Getting to practice also helped ease my nerves and make me more comfortable before delivering the ‘actual’ speech. – Bryan Wood
- Speech lab was helpful in that the constructive criticism was given before my presentation allowing me to improve it and prevent losing points when I presented it to the class. I think it’s a great tool to help us prepare for our presentations. Having the speech lab forced us not to wait to the last minute to prepare our speeches. – Johannah Dunham
- Speech lab helped me because it was one on one. You can work on your speech outside of school, but not with somebody who knows public speaking. – Adam Conrad
- The lab is helpful for practicing my speech. The professor can aid in finding things to fix and calming you down. The lab helps you improve your speech. Things look good on paper, but sometimes sound bad out loud. – Zach Storts
- The speech lab was very helpful for me because it took away so much anxiety that I had built up and it gave me exactly what parts of my speech I needed to work on. – Amber Lias
- It’s a great ‘mock-run’ of giving a speech. It’s like giving the speech without the grade and you get to fix points that were critiqued on. – Daniel Peczkowski
- I found that the speech lab was very intimidating at first, but then I began to look forward to them so that I could get a fresh opinion about my speeches. – Erin Stanfield
- If you are using power point, the lab really helps with being up in front of your material with the overhead and remote. It helps you practice your planned movement in front of the power point. – Andrew Howell
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