Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book provides tasks by dredging up jocular gems from the bowels of contemporary institutions of higher education or, in intergalactic terms, “boldly goes where no professor has gone before!”. It presents a wide array of techniques from which we can select those that best fit: our personality and teaching or presentation style, the subject matter to teach or present, our audience, and our eating habits. Even professionals in nonacademic environments who must present frequently to their peers or lay audiences may see value in the techniques. Professionals in the performing arts, sports, and gardening practice their craft every day in preparation for those special occasions when it counts the most, whether they’re musicians, singers, dancers, actors, comedians, athletes, or Martha Stewart.