Pecha Kucha...Gesundheit

A Pecha Kucha is a simple presentation format where you show 20 images, each for 20 seconds. The idea is that you strip down all of the fluff and filler normally within a PowerPoint presentation. Likewise, the images used within the presentation should be powerful enough to convey your message - hence the limited use of narration. 


I was recently tasked to create a Pecha Kucha presentation for one of my graduate classes. I thought "hey, a PowerPoint presentation in 6 min, 40 seconds...no problem!". However, once I started to outline my presentation I struggled to confine my content to only 20 seconds. It was extremely difficult to convey the messages I needed within such a confined amount of time. I must have recorded over 30 drafts of my presentation, running over the allotted time for each occurrence. I tried to revise sentences, cut out text, and speak slower, but some slides still when over.


Although the idea of keeping presentation short and direct, I am not sure the Pecha Kucha format is entirely necessary. Like any instructional/informative content, only time can measure whether your instruction made an impact on our audience, regardless of the delivery format.

Microsoft Word vs Adobe InDesign

 When it comes to creating learning publication many people choose the tool that they, or their company, have at their disposal - which is either Microsoft Word or Pages for Mac.Both of these graphical work processing programs are just fine for creating print materials; however adding images or updating the content after the fact may prove to be a heartache for some.

Over the course of my studies I have tried using other tools for creating and distributing learning content - one being Adobe InDesign. InDesign is great alternative to word for many reasons:

• Images can be moved to any location on the page without complicated formatting
• Text can be placed in any shape, not just rectangular boxes
• Text "should" always be aligned, regardless of which InDesign version you or your reviewers have
• Make custom style sheets and templates
• Output to PDF or eReader format for mobile devices
• Keep text to single page - formatting won't skew preceding pages

InDesign is only one application I use as an alternative to Microsoft Word. What are some other tools you use? Which ways do you use them?

Kirkpatrick's Level 3: Measuring the Application of Learning Content

Donald Kirkpatrick's training evaluation model has four levels:

Reaction - measuring how your learners reacted to the training
Learning - measuring what your learners learned
Behavior - evaluate change in behavior and determines how the learners apply the information
Results - analyze the final results of the training to determine effectiveness

The intent of this post is not to discuss Kirkpatrick's model in its entirety, rather one specific aspect - level 3.

Several weeks ago a fellow trainer and I were tasked with implementing a level 3 for one of our core classes. We already have a level 1 (Satisfaction Survey) and level 2 (Knowledge Check). The ask was to create a real-time assessment to measure whether the learners can apply the concepts in a work-related situation. 

With the use of Articulate we created a series of scenarios that required the learner to research his/her system to find the answer and apply the best solution to the problem. This may sound like a level 2, however it is much more than a true/false or multiple choice response.

We piloted the level 3's last week and received mixed results. Like any new learning plan we will need to evaluate the scores and feedback to determine whether the questions require rewording or further instruction is needed.

Beyond revising the assessment I feel that having new hires, who have not been in a production environment,  take a level 3 is pointless. Advocates for Kirkpatrick's model argue that a level 3 should take place weeks or months after initial training. At that time observations and interviews may be suitable to see if the learner truly understands what is expected of them?

Here's my question: have you implemented a level 3 assessment during or immediately following a training session? If so, did the data reflect true application in a production environment? Was a follow-up assessment performed?

Creating an Online Course?

When creating an online course there are many variables to consider. However, perhaps the first step is deciding on an online learning platform that will best suit your needs.

There are many sites out there that take the technical work out of organizing your content - Versal, Udemy, Moodle, etc. Many of these sites are free and offer great customer service. The one thing I have discovered is the lack of privacy features offered within the free versions. You may be asking yourself "shouldn't the public take advantage of your content?". Well, yes and no. Here's why...

Let's say you are trying to convert a traditional leader-led class on compliance or specific Human Resource topics into a series of online modules. Normally this would not be an issue because many organizations and institutions offer these programs to their employees. But if the intent of your instruction is to improve the quality or behavior of your day-to-day operations, would you really want to air your company's dirty laundry to the public? Do you think an insurance company would like the public to view their courses on "When to deny a claim"? If the public new the intricacies of their business procedures there would be an uproar.

Don't get me wrong, some of these platforms do allow you to set your course to private. Versal does offer this feature, but at a premium of $5.00 per month or $50.00 per year.

In my pursuit of a free alternative I discovered that Canvas offers a private setting at no extra charge. There area a lot more moving parts when establishing your profile and setting up your content. I would much rather invest my time than money for a free learning platform.

Have you discovered other online learning platforms that offer a private setting for your content? Please share below.

Personal Learning Networks

Have you every spent countless hours creating a presentation, hoping there is an easier and more efficient way of doing things? If so, the following information is for you.

A Personal Learning Network, or PLN, is a tool to collect, communicate, and collaborate with others based on your interests. The creation of a PLN is simple. Using your favorite social media sites and tools, decide which organizations or individuals you wish to "follow" in order to receive up-to-date information regarding your selected interests.

I am constantly searching the web for new tools and applications that will ultimately make it easier for me to create learning content for my audience. By creating a PLN I can follow a series of people, groups, or organizations within the realm of Adult Learning and Instructional Design. Instead of wasting time searching for information on the web my PLN feeds information to me via my selected social media outlets.

Here is my PLN. It it mostly centered around Instructional Design and eLearning. I have found that PLN's are incredibly useful and are a great way to stay informed.

If you want to create your very own PLN, here is a list of tools you may want to consider:

Social Networking (Facebook)
To keep up with personal contacts like friends, family, and colleagues

Microblogging (Twitter)
Used amongst educators and professionals to share best practices and resources in short text

Professional Profiles (LinkedIn)
To find other professionals and expert within your field or interest

Blogs (Blogger, WordPress)
Blogs monitor the heartbeat of new trends in education

RSS Reader (Digg Reader)
RSS means "Real Simple Syndication". RSS sends you updates on your favorite blogs

Social Bookmarking (Diigo, Delicious)
Share bookmarks with others and see what others are bookmarking (i.e. articles, blogs, etc.)

Move on Moovly

I was recently tasked to explain a concept with the use of an online/digital format. Fortunately for me my company has an enterprise license for two of the most well known authoring software products on the market: Adobe Captivate and Articulate Studio. However, without a dedicated server to publish the content to, those two optioned would not serve my needs.

While searching for online presentation tools I came across several viable options - Prezi, GoAnimate, emaze, and PowToon. I have had limited exposure using those tools in prior classes and wanted to try something new. My partner for the assignment suggested a tool I had never heard of before - Moovly. The company's slogan is "Create Animated Content like a Pro". After seeing that I thought to myself "sold!".

After the first few minutes of building my content I found Moovly's interface somewhat user friendly. It wasn't until thirty minutes into my project that I began cursing myself, questioning my decision to use this application. For the record, I do not blame my partner for selecting this tool. As I just mentioned the interface is user friendly.

There are several reasons why I will never go back to Moovy:

• Server is EXTREMELY slow
• Timeline adjustments for interactivity too cumbersome
• Characters, props and backgrounds limited
• Cap out at 10 min (free version)
• No mobile functionality
• No option to work offline

As mentioned at the forefront there are many online presentation/authoring tools to consider. Which ones have you used? What were the pros/cons?