Based on a recent experience packing for a trip... I started believing that designing and developing a presentation is like planning a vacation. Here’s my thinking...
First you need to know:
where you (and your companions) want to go
What are your areas of interest and expertise?
what you/your companions are interested in doing (a week of sun and fun at the beach or a hiking adventure in the Himalayas)
Who will attend and what are their interests, knowledge, skills, attitudes?
the budget-how much have you allocated to spend and how you will do it
What resources do you need or can you access for a well prepared and delivered presentation (time, materials, etc.) ?
how many will be traveling and how everyone gets along-will you always do activities together or will there be separate group activities?
What is the optimal audience size and how will you maximize interaction?
how long you will stay-what’s the best length of time for the place and the people involved?
How much do you have to offer and what is the appropriate amount of time for the presentation?
what you know and what more you need to learn about the vacation spot and travel arrangements
How well-versed are you about your topic and the participants’ knowledge, skills, and attitudes-will you need to discover more?
Second you need to think about:
indicators of a great trip-what will make the trip a fantastic experience for all?
How will you meet participants needs and interests, and tap into their strengths and what they love to do; what are the objectives for the presentation/what will learners gain from the experience?
what to pack (bathing suit, mask, snorkel, hiking boots?) and packing only the essentials
What new information, procedures, processes, and/or skills are “need to know” and what are “nice to know” items?
what circumstances or events might arise unexpectedly and methods for attending to these distractions (bandaids, headache medicine, etc.)
What might go wrong and how can you plan ahead to minimize the difficulties-what thorny questions might arise, could there be logistical difficulties or disputes among participants?
Planning for a trip and for a presentation are both fun and exciting for me. Making it a stellar experience for all requires preparation and thoughtful implementation.
If you’re interested in a more serious and complete rendering of the course design and development process, check out my complimentary ecourse on the welcome page at www.takeastep.us
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