I often talk about finding information online, reading that information, clicking endless links and reading more. This truly is a good way to learn more about any subject your mind might be interested in. This is a particularly good tactic for doing research when you’re in classes. Whether you’re going beyond what is offered in the classroom or diving deep into a particular and specific subject the internet is a great place to start (and sometimes even finish). However, with all of this reading I’ve actually realized another benefit that I hadn’t thought of before: public speaking.
Watching recorded speeches on the web has attuned my ear to the unique value of public speaking and speakers I’d never hear otherwise because they don’t come to where I live or there aren’t enough seats or the event is invite only. Many speakers and organizations upload videos of speeches onto the internet nearly after they’ve been given. Some can even be streamed “live” and viewed from the comfort of your laptop.
Need some inspiration? You might think about firing up a high school or college graduation speech. How about the latest ideas about the subject you’re interested in? While text may indeed be more up to date it may also be more difficult to follow. Videos provide the inflections and gestures of the speaker (and maybe even some helpful images). So if you’re having trouble with a topic or would just like to be able to “hear” about it and “see” it differently I very much suggest videos of speeches. In the world of 30 second video clips and seemingly shorter attention spans it is nice to engage with an older form of knowledge sharing. This form probably predates even the written word. Enjoy.