It’s true – on Friday I presented my first Pecha Kucha. Now I’m not one to let the facts get in the way of a cheap joke, so I’ll say I was reminded of Oscar Wilde. After the opening of Lady Windermere’s Fan he observed, “The play was a great success; the audience was a failure.” Sorry “Audience”. You were actually kind enough to applaud quite a lot. I’d not be surprised if you said you felt quite clapped out at the end! Anyhow – here (immodestly) is my masterpiece for all to see.
SLIDE 1
Economies run out of cash and spending hits the buffer
It always has been L&D that’s first in line to suffer
CIPD shows budgets cut by half or even more
And no-one can be certain that there isn’t worse in store
SLIDE 2
By preference most training in the past was face to face
It surely had a human touch, but at the trainer’s pace
And if you had a very large community to reach
The stats were more important than the stuff you had to teach.
SLIDE 3
Today I may make reference to companies you know
And talk about the benefits that they’ve begun to show
From taking learning live online and finding it sufficient
To yield the outcomes they desire and yet be more efficient.
SLIDE 4
Team players don’t let others down, they want to play a part
And having dates and schedules means they won’t stall at the start,
But online learning easily can replicate those things
And cause the same commitment that a real classroom brings.
SLIDE 5
You easily can look at images and pass on notes,
Or hold a conversation, or express your view through votes
And if you have a query or you’re simply overawed
Some special tools reveal your moods and even show, “I’m bored”.
SLIDE 6
It seems quite natural to click and so to raise a hand
Or answer a few questions just to show you understand
And in a structured controlled way to share an application
Or desktop or to surf the Web from each person’s workstation
SLIDE 7
Some systems need a plug-in such as Shockwave, Flash or Java,
But if you ask me personally then I’d say I’d rather
Focus on objectives than the media’s seduction
In learning sometimes less is more, don’t over-egg instruction
SLIDE 8
Is the learner busy, is the interaction massive
Who’s at work and is the learner altogether passive
If so then that reveals the practice of a bygone age
Politely ask the trainer now to “kindly leave the stage”.
SLIDE 9
Now you might say, “So what’s to stop the same mistakes online”
And I will answer nothing much but everything is fine
When learner interest is at heart and trainer wears the skin
Of one whose role is draw things out and much less push things in
SLIDE 10
The Internet is wonderful and knowledge always near
But I’d be first in line to say it’s not a panacea
You cannot touch or smell through it you cannot there agree
To meet up after session’s end across a cup of tea
SLIDE 11
Online is the ideal place for running little tasters
And quickly seeing off the things that often prove time wasters,
Those topics which (and here I must try not to condescend),
Should really not use trainer time, but be part of a blend.
SLIDE 12
The same is true for meetings so why have them round a table
When doing them instead online is better if you’re able.
I might include short seminars, lead-ins and follow-ups,
Online you won’t need oranges or trains or plates or cups.
SLIDE 13
I‘m speaking now of skills you need to be an online trainer
You need to know your stuff of course, but that is a no-brainer
Some trainers show the way they work is something like a joint
Production formed of song and dance and Death by PowerPoint
SLIDE 14
Here is the transformation that the trainer now is facing
It needs some adaptation rather more than some replacing
Post-its, flipcharts, exercises may still have their place
In virtual environments they just have a different face.
SLIDE 15
Voices may need working on, for they are vital tools
But then the same is surely true of training rooms and schools.
And how you fan enthusiasm; how you light the flame
Is hardly any different and in fact it’s just the same
SLIDE 16
Well having other learners near as well as your own tutor
Removes the isolation some fear comes with the computer
You still can talk with your own voice and see who’s taking part
And through an online whiteboard share ideas or create art.
SLIDE 17
How to read non-verbal cues and manage student roles
Is just a matter of technique it uses new controls
How to deal with IT problems (sometimes they arise)
Is sometimes very easy but may need some compromise
SLIDE 18
Getting people ready – that means them as well as you
Understanding all the preparation you must do
Are bound to be included and good feedback surely features
To mix support and challenge is the art of all good teachers
SLIDE 19
If that sounds like an ideal view then let’s ask what is lost
No longer being face-to-face is there a hidden cost?
Well true there are distractions that may be hard to resist
Like telephone and email and disturbers who persist
SLIDE 20
But you could argue cyberspace is much the safer place
To rehearse situations that you would not wish to face
And learn to cope with danger not be overcome by it
Or simulate a world that’s far beyond the place you sit
SLIDE 21 (rules are there to be broken)
It seems the clock’s defeated us, it may have been a breeze
Think I could do it all again – but NOT in Japanese!
Sayonara
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Brilliant! But where are the slides?
There is a video of Phils Pecha Kucha on my blog, along with a poor-audio quality version of Barry Sampsons.
Craig
@Karyn – as well as Craig’s videos, we have all recorded the narration to go with our slide decks. They are currently being turned in to videos – expect to see them here soon.