September 2010

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Today’s Learning Workplace podcast #14–
Powerpoint doesn’t bore people; People bore people
(right-click here if you want to download the MP3 to your computer)

 
Today’s article:

• 7 Tips for Avoiding Procrastination (Happiness Project)

Other articles and things of interest from this week:

• 4 Things You Need to Know About Influence (Brass Tack Thinking)
• Workers leave jobs because of relationship with boss, study finds (news.com.au)
• Learning in the Workplace: The Wisdom of Colleagues (LexisNexis Government Info Pro)
• If You Force Them, They Won’t Learn (Bozarth Zone)
• 1 in 4 U.S. Adults Now Use Mobile Apps (Mashable)

Today’s Topic
PowerPoint: Use it or lose it?

• “Pedagogy Meets PowerPoint: A Research Review of the Effects of Computer-Generated Slides in the Classroom”  Essay offers a review of the effects of ppt slides in the classroom, beginning with an overview of the ongoing debate over whether ppt is a thumbs up or thumbs down.
• “We Have Met the Enemy and He Is PowerPoint”  Article that extends some earlier debate on the overuse of ppt in the military, and serious concerns that the program stifles discussion, critical thinking and thoughtful decision-making.
• Blog of Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery
  author Garr Reynolds, including insights on using ppt and video, and some discussion on how even though information often can be taken in faster by reading it, it misses a necessary depth and richness.

What Would You Do?
This week:

• Dear TLW–
  I recently led a “team building” session for one our internal departments.  They are  growing in size, roles are changing, business is increasing, and the group has felt a  need to stop, reflect on what could hinder them as they go forward, and what they  might be proactive with relative to communication tools, etc.  There was one person in  the group that seemed to be negative, and talked about how the communication  changes we decided on “wouldn’t work…that we’ve tried that before…etc.”  I did my  best to maneuver thru the discussion, give her time to speak, but move forward in the  agenda.  I’m wondering if you have any suggestions for what I can do in the future, as  I’m sure we’ll continue with these sessions…and I’m sure she will continue with her comments.

Next week:

• Dear TLW–
  We recently developed a “communication” course for our individual contributor population.  It will be a four hour course with lots of discussion, exercises, and role playing.  We feel very good about the content.  We have been debating as to whether we should have a pre-class assignment…something that would get participants thinking about a typical situation they might encounter, and what they would do if they were one of the two people in the situation.  Pre-class work is new to this population.  When is pre-work appropriate?  What are some tips on how to “assign” it?

2 minute tips of the week

• Terri: Stand not-in-the-front for variety
• Max:  Mixing up table seating
• Robin: Recommend small group timekeepers

 Resources mentioned during the show

• The Happiness Project: Or, Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun by Gretchen Rubin
• Social Media for Trainers: Techniques for Enhancing and Extending Learning (Essential Tools Resource)by Jane Bozarth
• Prezi.com
• Pecha Kucha website (with example presentations), Pecha Kucha frequently asked questions, Ignite video podcasts (also available as a video podcast on iTunes)

(Leave us a comment by clicking on the comment link below)

{ 1 comment }