Pecha Kucha

I just finished my pecha kucha. I was extremely excited about my idea and I am glad that I did this before I would have students do it because I ran into some bumps in the road. My idea was for students to collaborate in small groups to write a creative story(lighthearted and fun), use a storyboard, and put it in pecha kucha format. I would like for them to use pictures that they drew along pictures they took with a digital camera. In my example, my pictures and power point was too large, where it took a long time to download into voice thread. I then incorporated some pictures I got from the creative commons on Flickr. Now going through the process there would be a few things that I would do differently. I would definitely cut down on the number of high quality pictures, so putting them into voice thread wouldn't take so long. I am not too familiar with lowering the quality on my digital camera, but my scanner at work asked me how I wanted to scan the pictures. I didn't think saving the pictures in the highest quality would be that big of a deal...I was wrong. Also I don't know if I am missing something, but timing out the 20 seconds was a little difficult because I was using my watch while my niece was doing the talking. If students used the timer on the computer, I think it would be easier to know when the 20 seconds was up....I can't believe I didn't think of it before. I would have liked to include music, but I was at a lost on how to do it. Finally I would have like to switch characters, but I think that would have taken up too much of the 20 seconds.

Wrapping up Zen

Reflecting back on Presentation Zen, there were many principles and ideas that I found helpful. I took an old power point presentation with countless words on it and changed it making the whole presentation under 40 words. Truly amazing! I think in the past I was weak in presenting and now I have a "bag of tricks" that will definitely help strengthen me. For example, being in the moment..not dwelling on the past or worry about the future. Sometimes in interviews my mind goes blank and I forget about what I was saying. I have found myself dwelling on this, making it more stressful to answer the next (present) question. Garr's advice on how to improve and become a better presenter was a great icing on the cake. Read and Study, Just Do It, Exercise Your Right Brain and Get Out were all things that I knew, but not always practiced. I think having a reminder like this, sometimes gives me that push I need to reevaluate and look at things a little different.

Session Three

After the third session, I started to explore Presentation Zen a bit more. I found the required reading to be extremely helpful. I am a visual person and like how the text included pictures of slides. I thought it was easy to see the improvement. I just wonder, why wasn't this thought of before. So simple, so easy. I also wonder is this type of presenting harder than it looks. The reason why I ask this is because sometimes I learn something new, look at examples, and think to myself, "Hey that's easy." Then when I start on my own, sometimes I realize it's a little more challenging than it looks. I do use some of the principles of design, like contrast and repetition, but I have used bulleted points along with trying to fill up the empty space. I love the thirds rule and have been slightly obsessed with the Golden Ratio for a few years now. I love how that ratio makes balance and harmony. Another hint I did not know about was directing the eye with images. I thought it was interesting that images should be facing the same direction the audience's eyes are suppose to be. Soon I will be refurbishing one of my old power point presentations and have many ideas. I will add pictures instead of using just words and taken out slides completely and use those ideas for my handouts.

Getting There

After the second session, I was asked to briefly join my group on Sykpe. I have never used it before (just downloaded it onto my computer) and was a bit anxiuos about getting to the right spot or what was I suppose to do. It was really easy because on of my groupmates called me and what a handy dandy tool. The group will be meeting again this weekend using the tool to discuss past powerpoint presentations we have created. I'm excited to see how that will work. Through this all, I feel that I am gradually "getting there" with this whole technology stuff....It's not nearly as scary as it seems. Granted I haven't started any of the voice thread assignment, but I think it's only a matter of playing around with it. I also must say that I have been enjoying this photograph assignment and think I am building a cool collection of pics. Sometimes I can't help myself and show them to family, friends, or co-workers. My highlight from the last class was looking at others' pictures. There was some excellent creativity and perspectives. I hope we do this breifly in every class. Periodically I have been looking at everyone's posterous and love them. It's safe to say that some have even inspired me to be a bit more creative.

New class...Digital Storytelling

Last year I started this blog for one of my classes, Web 2.0. I am presently in school to receive my Library Media Specialists License and am taking a new class, Digital Storytelling. We just had our first lesson and I was excited and nervous at the same time. I was excited to get started on learning new technology, but nervous because I have not taken an online class before. During web 2.0 we did some class sessions online, but still had the face to face interaction. I thought the class went smoothly just like the sessions in 2.0, and slowly my confidence grew. I like the convenience of being in my own home and realized that online classes are the present and future. It was interesting for me to listen to my classes mates during the session because I am the new student in the class (I always hated that growing up). I liked how some joked around with others and wonder if any students have ever met face to face or have all your classes have been online. During the session I liked watching the pictures with the clouds because I would have never thought about doing something so simple, but yet so creative! I also enjoyed going over the tips for great pictures. I did know some of them, but not all. Finally, I am excited about the projects we are to do in the class....the Pecha-kucha..How cool!!!!, finding free resources on the internet...Always useful!!!!, and updating an old slide show.....Can't wait!!!!