Have you heard of PechaKucha? Japanese for chit chat, PechaKucha is a fast-paced storytelling/presentation format, like a TED talk or elevator pitch, in which a presenter has 20 slides and 20 seconds per slide to tell a story or present on a topic. It started in Japan in the early 2000s and rapidly spread worldwide through PechaKucha events. The condensed six-minute forty-second format forces speakers to focus on the essentials, resulting in highly energetic and fun presentations that are also ideal for the classroom and conferences.
Storytelling is central to human connectedness. Good storytelling does more than just inform. It enriches bonds, empowers people, and builds understanding and community. Honing a story to fit the tight PechaKucha format forces one to focus on the essentials of their experience and interests to craft a presentation with maximum impact and minimal duration. If that sounds a bit like what you do in the classroom, perhaps creating a PechaKucha could enhance your presentation skills.
PechaKucha and Your Personal Journey
The purpose of this workshop series is to give you an opportunity to reflect on your personal journey in academia and prepare a compelling PechaKucha to present on a special PechaKucha Night. You will develop your presentation over the course of three workshops during which you will find and refine the trajectory of your story and develop the accompanying visuals. The workshops will focus on the personal journey to your current practice, whether teaching, research, or creative activity.
After the three workshops conclude, all the participants will present their PechaKucha at Herron School of Art and Design on PechaKucha Night. This will be an official PechaKucha event, during which the presentations will be recorded to be featured on the PechaKucha website.
Once you have that PechaKucha in your pocket, you can use it to introduce yourself to your students on the first day of class; or you can use the format to present at a conference or for class assignments.
Here is an example of a PechKucha that tells the story of an educator's journey to her unusual specialization.