pecha-kucha (Japanese for "chatter"), applies a simple set of rules to presentations: exactly 20 slides displayed for 20 seconds each. That's it. Say what you need to say in six minutes and 40 seconds of exquisitely matched words and images and then sit the hell down. The result, in the hands of masters of the form, combines business meeting and poetry slam to transform corporate cliché into surprisingly compelling beat-the-clock performance art.
Named after the onomatopoeic Japanese phrase for the sound of talking, Pecha Kucha Nights are spreading like wildfire through the creative professions, based on a highly entertaining premise: invite a group of leading designers to talk about their current work, using only 20 slides, with each slide on screen for just 20 seconds. Top names, the quickfire pace and, it must be said, plenty of alcohol make Pecha Kucha events a must for anyone interested in their local style scene.
You will have exactly 6 minutes and 40 seconds. Think SHORT, INFORMAL, and CREATIVE. You’re not trying to present the details of your thesis; you’re telling a story about why it’s interesting. You don’t have to have conceived of a full outline yet . . . but you should be able to talk about the kinds of things you expect to do, and what you might expect to find. Don’t be afraid to play around: The idea here is that the form’s restriction promotes creativity.
Some of the ways pecha kucha could be used for learning:
- For learning assessment--At the conclusion of a training session, have each learner present a pecha kucha-style summary of what they learned. This could be done either in a live setting or even in an online course. Learners could record their pecha kuchas as screencasts or deliver them live via webinar. Most online conferencing systems allow you to change presenters, so you could just switch between the different participants. Could be a lot more fun and interesting than a test or other assessment format.
- To support reflective practice--As part of creating the culture of reflective practice, consider setting up regular pecha kucha events (lunch time, a Friday morning meeting) where staff are encouraged to share something they've learned related to a particular theme or to share a problem they're experiencing. This could also be used to de-construct a completed project or to reflect on an experience the team has shared.
My name is Felix Jung, and I gave my first talk at Pecha Kucha Chicago, Volume 9. I thoroughly enjoyed the event and had a fantastic time preparing for my talk. On looking back, I wanted to write up a summary of my process, and to share any tips or hints to others who are planning (or considering) participating in their first Pecha Kucha event.A few caveats: I'm no professional speaker, nor do I profess to have any kind of secret insider knowledge. I'm a guy who gave a talk, and maybe my notes will be of help. The suggestions I make here are just that - suggestions. Take them or leave them, as what worked for me might not necessarily work for you.
If nothing else, I think Pecha Kucha is good training and good practice. Everyone should try Pecha Kucha; it's a good exercise for getting your story down even if you do not use the method exactly for your live talk in your work. It does not matter whether or not you can implement the Pecha Kucha "20x20 6:40" method exactly in your own company or school, but the spirit behind it and the concept of "restrictions as liberators" can be applied to most any presentation situation.
The method makes going deep difficult. But if there is a good discussion after a Pecha Kucha type of presentation then it may work well even inside an organization. I can imagine having college students give this kind of presentation about their research followed by deeper questioning and probing by the instructor and class. Which would be more difficult for a student and a better indication of their knowledge: a 45 minute recycled and typical PowerPoint presentation, or a tight 6:40 presentation followed by 30 minutes of probing questions and discussion?