7 Audience Activities & Games to Play During Presentation

• Engage audiences with 'Cross the Line' to visualize and explore diverse opinions and experiences.
• Implement 'Fishbowl Discussion' for in-depth, focused group conversations.
• Personalize interactions using 'Bring it On' for sharing significant items or songs.
• Employ the 'Talking Stick' method to ensure respectful, uninterrupted sharing.
• 'Knowledge Quiz' via Sendsteps.ai enhances learning and interaction on any topic.
• 'Set the Agenda' allows audience-driven content, creating tailored discussions.
• These activities and games enrich presentations by involving the audience actively and personally.

Depending on the theme of your presentation, how formal or informal the setting is and how much time you have, there are several ideas out there to apply during your next presentation. Ask yourself during your preparation to what extend you still like to spend time on your PowerPoint, or whether you’d rather prepare for strong engagement activities?

Presentation Games

Presentation games are designed to motivate an audience to stay engaged with the speaker by inserting meaningful and fun additions to the presentation.

There are many audience activities to think of when it comes to letting your audience speak up. In these three activities you’ll find back elements that will make your session personal allowing everyone to share their thoughts.

Fishbowl Discussion

In a fishbowl discussion there are two groups. One forms an outer circle and one group is seated in the middle. Only those located in the middle are allowed to talk. In the inner circle there’s always a free seat available. If someone from the outer circle likes to join, then the free seat is his/hers and somebody else should make space. You’ll therefore find that everyone’s contribution is very conscious and therefore often valuable. Everyone realizes that time spend in the inner circle is valuable: questions and contributions are to the point and well-thought over.

The Talking Stick

The talking stick is an old Native American custom of talking. Upon the start of this activity, everyone should agree that whoever has the talking stick, is allowed to talk without interruption. It’s similar to the Fishbowl Discussion, but with the talking stick it’s not a group, but an individual talking. The talking stick can be any item, as long as it is neutral and not related to anyone in the group. Each time somebody is done talking, the talking stick should be put back in the midst of the group (and should not be handed over to somebody). It maybe sounds simple, but in practice this is a powerful method of creating deep communication and understanding.

Set the Agenda

In your event program, you can leave part of the program blank. In it you eventually let your audience decide what to discuss. Upon the start of your session you let your audience form small groups. Give them a relevant question and use the output (which they can send in via Sendsteps) for a plenary discussion during your blank program item. From the output you can formulate statements that can result in a lively ‘agree’ or ‘disagree’ debate. Or alternatively invite adhoc a speaker to elaborate on the output. If you’re able to be this flexible, you’ll amaze your crowd with tailoring exclusively to their needs!

How can audience activities and games enhance a presentation?

Audience activities and games, such as 'Cross the Line', 'Fishbowl Discussion', 'Bring it On', and the 'Talking Stick' method, significantly enhance presentations by actively involving the audience. These activities foster personal sharing, respectful dialogue, and group engagement. They also encourage audience members to contribute their perspectives, making the presentation more dynamic and inclusive. Utilizing tools like Sendsteps.ai for interactive quizzes and allowing the audience to set part of the agenda further personalizes the experience, making it more engaging and relevant. Such interactive methods transform presentations from passive listening to active participation, enriching the overall experience for both the presenter and the audience.

How do these interactive activities impact the overall effectiveness of a presentation in terms of audience engagement and retention of information?

Interactive activities in presentations enhance audience engagement and retention of information by making the session more dynamic and participatory. This active involvement can lead to better understanding and recall of the presented material.

Can these activities be effectively used in various types of presentations, like formal business meetings or educational lectures?

The effectiveness of interactive activities varies with the type of presentation. While they are commonly seen in educational and informal settings, their use in formal business contexts should be carefully considered to maintain the appropriate tone.

How to gauge and measure the success or impact of these interactive activities on the audience?

Measuring the success of interactive activities can be done through immediate audience feedback, post-presentation surveys, and observing the level of audience participation and response during the activity.