As regular readers of this blog know, I co-created a public speaking board game with my good friend and fellow speaker, Florian Mueck: Rhetoric – The Public Speaking Game™. It is available as both a traditional tabletop board game and an app. You can learn more about it here, here and here.
On Saturday, 27 April 2019, I will be speaking at the Association of Speakers Clubs (ASC) National Conference in Edinburgh, Scotland. I have been asked to talk about Rhetoric – The Public Speaking Game™ and how gamification can help people become better public speakers.
Here’s the summary of my session from the conference website:
Public Speaking: It’s not a game. Or is it? For many, the mere thought of speaking in public can set hearts pounding! And yet, being able to communicate one’s ideas is a critical and sought-after skill. But what if giving a speech didn’t have to be frightening? What if it could be fun? What if we approached the challenge of public speaking the same way that Microsoft, Starbucks, St. Andrews University and others approach their challenges? What if we brought gamification to public speaking? Public speaking would be child’s play! Hear the story of Rhetoric – The Public Speaking Game™, how it is being used around the world and what we have learned from it.
By gamifying public speaking, Florian and I have combined elements of fun, competition, play and socialization to create an environment that is both fun and educational. Players tend not to focus on the fact that they are speaking in public; instead, they just are playing a game. And play is one of the most powerful ways in which we can learn.
If you are in Edinburgh on 25-27 April, consider attending the Association of Speakers Clubs National Conference or dropping by the venue to say hello. And if you want to learn more about RHETORIC, please visit our website.
