Speaker’s Lab—For Faculty
Overview and Contact Information
The lab is a peer-to-peer consultation service for students seeking feedback about public speaking activities including individual speeches, group presentations, and interview assignments. Students can visit the center for help at all stages of the speech preparation process, from identifying a speech topic and organizing ideas to fine-tuning delivery. Most students visit the center for feedback regarding class assignments, but they may also visit the center for other occasions, such as before job interviews or service activities. Lab tutors are trained in helping student visitors take ownership of their speeches. They will not write speeches for students or complete work for them.
If you want your students to visit the Speaker’s Lab to fulfill a class requirement, please contact Director Kristin Swenson.
When you contact us to assign students to the lab, you should expect to receive an electronic form from one of our lab managers so we know which of our services you want us to emphasize. Please send us your relevant materials including your syllabus and assignment instructions by electronic delivery to the director at kswenson@butler.edu. After your student visits the lab, the tutor will email the instructor a completed form outlining the details of the consultation session, including the student’s level of involvement during the session and the kind of advice the tutor provided. We encourage faculty to email the director with any comments or questions you might have about our sessions.
Our tutors will gladly visit your classroom to explain what the lab offers and how students may sign up for a lab consultation. To have a Speaker’s Lab tutor visit your classroom, please contact the scheduling facilitators Julia Rowe and Ella Shafer (and copy Kristin Swenson).
Students may visit the lab for advice preparing or practicing speaking assignments for classes that meet the Speaking Across the Curriculum (SXC) requirement. Although we often see students in SXC courses, the Speaker’s Lab is a separate entity. If you have questions about SXC courses, please contact the Core Curriculum office at core@butler.edu.