Course: The Psychology of Presentation Memory and Retention

Title: Course Outline, Making Presentations Stick: The Psychology of Memory and Retention for Busy Leaders

Audience and Level
- Target audience: Emerging leaders and frontline supervisors (team leaders, first line managers, L&D coordinators) working across Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
- Experience level: Early to mid career professionals who present regularly but want to stop wasting people's time, people who run team briefings, pitch to clients, lead training, or chair meetings.
- Group size: 12 to 18 participants (optimal for interactive roleplay and peer feedback).

Duration, Format and Delivery Mode (randomised)
- Preferred duration: 6 week blended programme.
- Structure:
- Kick off face to face half day workshop (3.5 hours), Sydney or Melbourne (rotating).
- Three live virtual workshops (2 hours each) across weeks 2 to 4.
- Self paced microlearning modules (4×20 minute units) to be completed between sessions.
- Capstone: full day in person practice lab and peer assessed presentation (7 hours) held in the city nearest cohort majority (Melbourne or Brisbane).
- Delivery mode: Hybrid, a mix of face to face and live virtual learning with ongoing digital reinforcement.

Programme Rationale (short, punchy)
People think great slides and a teleprompter are the magic. They're not. Memory is merciless. Attention is a currency. We design presentations so they're heard, and remembered. This programme turns the science of memory into practical, repeatable presentation habits. Bite sized learning. Real rehearsal. Real measurement.

High Level Learning Outcomes (behavioural and metric based)
By the end of the programme participants will be able to:
- Design and deliver short, purposeful presentations with a clear recall architecture so audiences remember the top 3 messages at 30 days (target: +30% recall compared with baseline).
- Use at least four evidence based encoding strategies (chunking, imagery, elaboration, mnemonic anchors) and apply them in a 7 minute micro presentation.
- Reduce cognitive load in slides and handouts, measured by a 50% reduction in on slide text and a 40% increase in audience engagement (self report and observer ratings).
- Deploy context and retrieval cues consistently (visual theme, keywords, layout) so follow up recall in workplace settings improves.
- Practise with spaced rehearsal and active recall techniques and integrate them into a personal rehearsal plan.

Programme Learning Journey (module by module breakdown)

Week 0, Pre programme (asynchronous)
- Pre course diagnostic survey (assess current presentation habits, anxiety, sleep patterns, tech use).
- Baseline recall test: short online recall exercise asking participants to watch a 7 minute exemplar TED style clip and list main points; results form baseline metric.
- Micromodule 1 (20 mins): "Memory 101, Why Presentations Fail to Stick", short video with interactive questions.
- Deliverable: Each participant submits a 60 to 90 second video explaining their main presentation challenge.

Module 1, Foundations: Attention, Cognitive Load and Emotion (Face to face half day)
Learning objectives:
- Explain working memory limits and cognitive load theory in plain English.
- Identify three attention stealing practices in current workplace presentations (and commit to ditching them).
Structure:
- Quick interactive poll: perceptions of attention spans (we present the Microsoft 2015 finding that average attention span is short, discuss).
- Mini lecture (20 mins): cognitive load, intrinsic vs extraneous load.
- Small group activity (30 mins): critique sample slides and rework to lower extraneous load.
- Practice: 3×2 minute micro presentations, focus on grabbing attention in first 15 seconds; immediate peer feedback.
Tools and resources:
- Card sets: "Cognitive load detectors" (visual checklist).
- Template: 3 message backbone slide structure.
Facilitator notes:
- Push back on the "more pretty is better" myth.
- Positive opinion: slide templates are not a creativity killer, used well they save time and aid memory. Some readers may disagree.

Module 2, Encoding Strategies in Practice (Virtual workshop 1, 2 hours)
Learning objectives:
- Apply elaborative rehearsal, chunking and mnemonic devices to real workplace content.
- Build imagery rich metaphors and convert abstract data into memorable visuals.
Structure:
- Workshop warm up: recall practice, participants retrieve the 3 messages from Module 1 peer presentations.
- Demonstration: convert a dense policy update into three chunks with mnemonic anchors.
- Breakout sessions: teams convert participant supplied content into a 3 chunk presentation (assigned 20 mins).
- Shareback and critique.
Assessment:
- Formative scoring rubric focusing on clarity of chunks, relevance of mnemonics and imagery effectiveness.
Practical tip:
- Encourage participants to test metaphors on one colleague before full rollout.

Module 3, Story, Emotion and Narrative Glue (Virtual workshop 2, 2 hours)
Learning objectives:
- Use short narratives and emotional hooks ethically to deepen encoding.
- Understand when emotion helps and when it derails professional credibility.
Structure:
- Short presentation: neuroscience of emotion and memory (why we remember stories).
- Paired exercise: craft a 90 second mini story to support a Business message.
- Roleplay: present the story and note audience reactions; peer feedback focuses on authenticity and appropriateness.
Opinionated aside:
- Opinion: "A bit of vulnerability in a presentation often trumps perfect polish." Not everyone will agree, some prefer rigid professionalism. Fine. Test it.

Module 4, Retrieval Practice, Spaced Rehearsal and Sleep (Virtual workshop 3, 2 hours)
Learning objectives:
- Build a spaced rehearsal plan for a 10 to 15 minute presentation with staged practice points across 2 to 6 weeks.
- Use active recall and self testing as rehearsal tools.
Structure:
- Quick lecture: Ebbinghaus forgetting curve and the power of retrieval practice.
- Practical: participants design their personalised spaced rehearsal schedule; set checkpoints for peer observation.
- Sleep hygiene tips for presenters, why sleep matters for consolidation (short, actionable checklist).
Metric target:
- Aim to increase immediate post training recall by 40% and 30 day recall by 30% from baseline.

Module 5, Visual Design and Dual Coding (Capstone week preparation, self paced)
Learning objectives:
- Apply dual coding principles to integrate speech and visuals without redundancy.
- Convert data heavy slides into visual stories or simple infographics.
Activities:
- Self paced micromodule: 4 short lessons on chart simplification, iconography, typography, and timing.
- Assignment: redesign a set of three slides and upload for peer review.
Facilitator notes:
- Push minimalist design but avoid the "slides must be blank" extreme. Balance is everything.

Capstone, In person Practice Lab and Peer Assessment (Full day)
Structure:
- Morning clinics: focused micro feedback stations (slide clinic, storytelling clinic, rehearsal corner).
- Midday: Participants deliver a 7 to 12 minute presentation to a mixed audience (peers, two managers, a facilitator).
- Observers use pre defined rubrics: encoding strategy used, audience engagement, recall cues, cognitive load score.
- Afternoon: Action planning workshop, converting feedback into a 90 day improvement plan.
Assessment:
- Summative: measured recall test with participants' presentations recorded and later used as stimuli for a blind participant sample to measure message recall (immediate and 30 day).
- Manager observation form: managers rate on the job transfer (30 day).

Assessment and Measurement (randomised, robust)
- Pre/post recall tests: baseline, immediate post capstone, and 30 day follow up (online short answer recall).
- Behavioural checklists: facilitator rated rubric during capstone (encoding, cue use, chunking).
- Manager/peer observation: short structured form at 30 days to assess workplace transfer.
- Self efficacy scale: participants rate confidence in delivering memorable messages (Likert scale) pre/post.
- KPI targets: course aims for +30% improvement in 30 day recall and +25% increase in manager rated message clarity.

Learning Activities and Microlearning Components
- Spaced microlearning reminders (SMS/email prompts) with retrieval practice tasks.
- Mobile flashcards for mnemonic anchors.
- Peer accountability triads for practising rehearsals and giving feedback.
- Optional 1:1 coaching slot (30 mins) for those who want bespoke help (additional fee).

Resources, Materials and Technology
- Pre course packet: sample workbooks, slide checklist, rehearsal plan template.
- Tools used: video conferencing (Zoom), LMS for microlearning (SCORM packaged modules), simple polling (Mentimeter or similar) for in session engagement.
- Hardware guidance: recommended camera placement and mic tips for hybrid delivery.
- Note: we assume clients can provide a meeting room for capstone with basic AV.

Practical Constraints and Costing (randomised details)
- Price point per participant: $495 inc GST (standard rate for the 6 week blended cohort with capstone).
- Minimum cohort size: 10; maximum: 18.
- Locations: face to face components scheduled in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane (rotated depending on registrations); virtual sessions open nationally.
- Trainer ratio: 1 lead facilitator + 1 co facilitator for groups of 12 to 18.
- Accessibility: all materials provided in accessible formats; closed captions on recorded sessions.

Participant Selection and Prework
- Nominate participants who deliver at least one presentation per month.
- Mandatory prework: baseline recall test and submission of a slide pack they currently use (3 to 6 slides) so the programme is practical and personalised.

Facilitator Notes & Trainer Script Framing
- Trainers should be practitioners: mix of L&D professionals and experienced business presenters.
- Use rapid prototyping: accept imperfect drafts and iterate.
- Encourage risk taking in rehearsal lab; safe environment is non negotiable.
- Tone: professional but candid. Trainers to call out common lazy habits (overstuffed slides, presenter notes read verbatim) with examples.

Transfer to Workplace (sustaining behaviour change)
- 90 day action plan template with checkpoints and manager prompts.
- Optional follow up micro session at 60 days (30 mins) to troubleshoot implementation issues.
- Encourage internal "presentation clinics" run monthly by participants.

Evaluation and ROI
- Measure recall improvement (baseline vs 30 day), primary metric.
- Secondary metrics: participant satisfaction, manager rated performance, reduction in slide text (auditable), and change in meeting duration (if applicable).
- Suggested employer ROI metrics: faster decision making after shorter, clearer presentations; measurement via internal surveys three months post training.

Common Objections and How We Tackle Them
- "We don't have time for spaced rehearsal.", We show how 10 to 15 minutes, three times across two weeks, beats one 2 hour cram every time.
- "Templates kill creativity.", Templates free cognitive space; they're starting points, not prisons.
- "Storytelling is manipulative.", We teach ethical storytelling, grounded in business value.
Two opinions some will disagree with:
- Opinion 1: "Blank slides can be a cop out, sometimes a well crafted visual aids memory far better than silence." Controversial, yes.
- Opinion 2: "Presenters should rehearse in the room they'll perform in if possible, location specific cues improve retrieval." Purists may call that overkill. We've learnt it works.

Risks and Mitigations
- Risk: Overreliance on tech, mitigation: sessions include low tech fallback plans and practise without slides.
- Risk: Cognitive overload from too many techniques taught at once, mitigation: scaffold learning and require application of only two techniques per session until mastered.
- Risk: Participants revert to old habits post training, mitigation: manager buy in, follow up checkpoints and peer accountability.

Sample Session Timetable (Capstone day example)
- 0900 to 0930: Welcome, warm up retrieval practice.
- 0930 to 1100: Clinic rotations (slide, story, rehearsal).
- 1100 to 1230: Presentations round 1 (group A), immediate feedback.
- 1230 to 1330: Lunch + peer networking.
- 1330 to 1500: Presentations round 2 (group B), manager observation.
- 1500 to 1600: Collective synthesis and 90 day action plan.
- 1600 to 1700: Optional 1:1 coaching drop in.

Follow up Materials and Ongoing Support
- Participants receive final recording, annotated rubrics, and a one page "memory first presentation checklist."
- Optional subscription to monthly 20 minute refreshers for 3 months.
- Corporate licence options for scaled delivery across locations.

Why This Works, The Evidence (short)
- Retrieval practice and spaced repetition are among the most robust findings in cognitive psychology for improving retention.
- Dual coding (visual + verbal) enhances memory traces.
- Emotionally relevant stories create deeper encoding.
- Attention management and cognitive load reduction increase usable working memory during presentations.
- Note: the Microsoft 2015 finding that average attention spans are short is a useful heuristic for designing short, powerful openings.

Delivery Logistics Checklist for Clients (practical)
- AV booking with stable internet for hybrid sessions.
- Room layout for capstone: theatre with breakout space for clinics.
- Manager involvement: nominate observers and commit to 30 day feedback.
- Pre course materials distributed 7 days prior.

Sample Assessment Rubric (summative)
- Clarity of core messages (1 to 5)
- Use of encoding strategies (1 to 5)
- Cognitive load management (slides & speech) (1 to 5)
- Audience engagement and cues (1 to 5)
- Overall recall score from blinded raters (percentage)
Pass threshold: evidence of at least three of five rubrics scoring 4+ and a post course recall improvement of 20%+.

Trainer Resources and Delivery Notes (for facilitators)
- Suggested reading list and microlearning scripts.
- Ready to use slide templates (reduce text, increase imagery).
- Rehearsal checklists for participants (timing, chunk cues, mnemonic anchors).
- Facilitator tip: model humility, show a past poor slide and how you improved it. People learn from teachers who have tried and failed.

Appendix: Example Microlearning Schedule (sample)
- Week 1: Memory 101 (20 mins) + retrieval prompt day 3.
- Week 2: Chunking & Mnemonics (20 mins) + rehearsal prompt day 5.
- Week 3: Storytelling micropractice (20 mins) + peer video exchange day 6.
- Week 4: Visual design clinic (20 mins) + slide redesign upload.
- Week 5: Active recall toolkit (20 mins) + scheduled practice.
- Week 6: Capstone rehearsal and logistics.

Closing note (brief, as requested)
This is a practical, evidence based pathway for making presentations that don't just inform, they endure. It's rigorous, not faddish. We'll test, measure and iterate. If you want to run a pilot for your Sydney teams, we can adapt the timing and scale. Think of it as a lab: show up, try, change behaviour, see the results.

(Programme content designed and delivered by experienced facilitators at Paramount Training and Development, we use these structures routinely in programmes for Australian public and private sector teams.)