Formats for Group Presentations

The textbook describes the different formats for group presentations and how they can help organize a groups discussion and interactions.

The Forum: a forum is the format for speaking and listening to a larger audience. It is a form of public discussion in which the audience participates after a presentation. A moderator selects the speakers and sometimes there are time limits. Forums are often used in conjunction with other public discussion formats. Forums provide an excellent opportunity for an audience to give verbal expression to its thinking. A good forum ensures that all parties, opinions, objections, views, preferences, and perspectives can be heard.

The panel: A panel is a public format in which a group of four to eight experts discusses a problem or decision in front of an audience. This format is usually informal and can also contain a humorous style of interaction. Planning the panel is important and there should be no surprises  and in no means should turn into a debate. An effective panel is collaboratively informal to the audience rather than argumentatively confrontational among the speakers.

The colloquium: This is a form of public discussion in which a group of three to six experts usually chosen for their divergent views. the colloquium normally lasts at least an hour but no more than two hours. a good moderator must sense the flow of the discussion to ensure not cutting it off too soon, allowing all parties, perspectives, and opinions but not allowing tedious run along.

The symposium: this provides a format for a series of two to six brief speeches made on different aspects of a complex and difficult problem. the speeches are well prepared and practiced and should be followed by a hour hour forum for audience discussion.

I would prefer a panel discussion because it is informal and lends humor to the discussion. I find humor to be effective in learning and communication, so I feel that this would be most effective.