At Fontys University we use the pecha kucha method to bring focus to student-presentations. Students are provided with a powerpoint template consisting of a title slide and 20 follow up slides. The transitions between slides are programmed to automatically change after 20 seconds.
5 tips to get the most out of a pecha kucha student-presentation:
1 - preparation is necessary.
Before we used pecha kucha, student presentations would often wander about in topic and timing. Because of the auto-animation students need to think about the division of topics and the presenter's text. A badly prepared presentation results in too much/little spoken word for one slide.
2 - use images rather than text.
This counts for all powerpoint presentations: It is a tool which gives you the power to make a point. Therefore, powerpoint should support the presenter's explanation, not overtake it. Because of timing issues it appears better to use images or brief words, rather than long texts
3 - spread out difficult information over several slides
Smart use of the slides should be encouraged. For instance: animations fitting within the 20 second limit, or showing the same content on several slides to give the presenter the chance to elaborate
4 - avoid reading text per slide
It is important in the preparation to make a coherent story and avoid 20 separate topics (our students often end up with 14 or 15 topics, which is evenly too many). When texts for consecutive slides logically follow up on each other, timing problems are less an issue.
5 - form and function should be one
Contents and timing should be practiced and balanced out in order to make a dynamic swift presentation.
(image: http://www.kstoolkit.org/)
