Pecha+Kucha+Professional+Development+Under+Seven+Minutes


 * Pecha Kucha: Professional Development Under Seven Minutes **

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A question was raised on how this technique would be used for professional development. The rapid-fire presentations can be overwhelming without leaving time to think about the content. It was explained that it was not intended to be a full course lesson, but a combination of images that correlate with the spoken narration to deliver succinct information in a timely manner. The explanation of its origin makes clear its intended use (see link). The professional development aspect suggested was that teachers take the practice back to their schools and inform other teachers of the benefits of the tactic. It wasn’t intended to suggest that it was appropriate as a professional development topic that would take an entire PD timeframe. Some thought it might be best used as an introduction to a professional development day. Too many Powerpoint presentations are much longer and less effective than they should be. It is definitely not appropriate for delivery of the type of information students would be required to recall in detail, but would be used to provide an overview of the big picture. Pecha Kucha as Professional Development at Waltham High School might be its use to help vocational and academic teachers better understand one another’s challenges and best practices. The abbreviated nature of the exercise should force only the most critical aspects to be brought forth. Expressed in another way…with what challenges are you faced every day, and what are your best practices in dealing with them…in 20 slides or less…in 7 minutes or less? I can envision every teacher in every discipline making a presentation, and given the constraints, their being surprised at how many presentations each teacher could actually create.