Pecha Kuchas

Pecha Kucha presentations are slideshows containing exactly 20 images that show for 20 seconds, in which the presenter speaks for just 6:15 minutes total.  (See pechakucha.org for more info.)

Implementing these 20x20 prezis into your classroom allows for multiple higher level thinking skills.  Specifically, students must become experts on a topic through meaningful research, analyze their findings and identify key details in order to address and support them throughout their timed PK, use illustrations to support their topic, and practice solid speaking skills throughout the entire presentation.  Turn this into a group project, and you’ve added a whole other set of communication standards to the mix!  This project can easily be modified for intermediate to post-secondary grade levels.

To begin, introduce your students to PKs with solid examples.  Then, organize them to conduct research however best suits your lesson objectives.  (This section of the unit can easily incorporate a number of skills, from adequate online research and citations to the use of expository texts as research or note taking skills – it’s all up to you!)

Provide the students ample time to gather information, analyze it, and gather related illustrations.  These sections can easily be stored on Google Drive so that group members all have access to the same doc.

Once info is gathered, the students should begin creating their PowerPoints to display the visuals (again, if they’re in groups, I recommend Google Presentations and then downloading it as a PPT upon completion).

They should then set the timer under animations to 20 seconds and practice presenting information.  Here’s a great “How To” video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9zxNTpNMLo

After the PPTs are complete, be sure to give your students ample time to practice their PK presentations.  Focus on memorization, eye contact, voice projection, timing, clarity, etc.

Then, let them present their PKs!  This is an incredible opportunity to raise their 21^st century learning skills!

*Be sure to have all students complete peer and self reflections of their work, and to set your standards high.  This project is difficult because it’s both timed and relatively in-depth, so they need to use it as a growing opportunity and learn from failures.  If it’s not up to your standards, remember that their “finished” product does not have to be their “final!”  I say this because the first time my class produced PKs, they did not do their best.  Despite being given several work days with clear verbal feedback and written instructions, the students’ slides still displayed paragraphs of text and the students did not exhibit exemplary speaking skills while demonstrating their PKs (Getting a main point across in 20 seconds is tough!).  However, after I showed them their recordings and was straightforward about how I knew they could have done better, they rose to the challenge and did a much better job the second time.  Keep practicing!  Pecha Kuchas are a WONDERFUL learning opportunity for students!