Reflection - Energy Project Presentation Video

The video recording of my Energy Project slideshow presentation can be seen on youtube.

After twelve years of teaching,I am quite comfortable speaking to groups of almost any size, and any age. That said, it is always good to reflect critically on presentation style.

I feel my presentation focuses on clear communication. I always strive to be honest about my level of understanding of the current subject, understand who my audience is, and gauge their ongoing level of understanding and interest in the subject. I use tools such as slideshow software to facilitate a two-way conversation, rather than simply perform a one-way delivery of information. I try to set up presentations that allow for flexible delivery; every slide in the presentation does not need to be shown, and every section of the slideshow does not need to be presented. The structure of the presentation, particularly the use of a navigation bar on every slide, means these decisions can be made during a presentation with no interruption of delivery by right-click menus or by returning to the design mode to find a particular slide or section of the presentation. This also means that one slideshow can be used for many different audiences, for different levels of depth and different presentation lengths. One presentation can be used in front of students, colleagues, the school board, and the public, always choosing to share appropriate sections for the current audience, and easily skipping over levels of detail that are not appropriate to the current audience. This also means that questions can be taken mid-presentation, without causing any difficulty by taking a nonlinear path through the material being presented.

I have found two things most valuable in preparing this presentation. The first is the chance to focus on this particular material. We have been so focused on the technical work of refurbishing computers and learning new software programs, that we have not dug too deeply into the specific environmental benefits of the project. The research for this presentation helped lay the groundwork for a deeper understanding of this work, and will lead into some independent study opportunities for students, or an entire science or social studies class focused on these issues. The second thing I gained is a better understanding of how to share files online. It was frustrating to sort out file format issues among the different sites. I found I had to convert my files to PDF format in order to post them effectively. I will sort out some of these technical issues and begin to use these file sharing sites with students and colleagues. I look forward to the way these services can enhance the collaborative atmosphere we foster at our school.