Event Information
(0–5 min) The Gathering: Setting Intentions Create a purposeful opening. A quick activity to surface participants' biggest presentation challenge. This will be facilitated through the use of a digital poll within Padlet. Connections will be made to the importance of the beginning of a "gathering" based on the work, The Art of Gathering (Priya Parker). The Padlet will continue to be used throughout the session as a resource curator and a place for distributive summarizing, collaboration, questioning, and reflection.
(5–15 min)Audience Over Agenda: The Learner-First Mindset
Introduce the core concept of shifting from presenter-centric delivery to a learner-focused design. Discuss knowing your audience's needs and context. References to both The Art of Gathering and The PD Book (Parker, Aguilar & Cohen)Specific examples of how I have implemented these ideas will be shared. Participants will be encouraged to share (through Padlet and discussion) examples and non-examples.
(15–25 min) Simplify and Serve: Designing for Clarity
Focus on creating slides and content that support, rather than compete with, the message. A brief critique of common "slide fails" and modeling of an effective, simple design. This section will reference the ideas from Presentation Zen (Garr Reynolds). Both small and whole group discussion will be included, as this section represents the greatest mind shift. Participants will react using images/GIFs on the Padlet.
(25–37 min) The Future is Now: AI & Planning Efficiency
Demonstrate a targeted, time-saving way to use generative AI to brainstorm outlines, generate practice scenarios, or draft engaging activity prompts for PD. Prompts and other AI generated PD resources will be shared. Participants will be encouraged to apply prompts shared to begin planning PD that they will be designing.
(38–45 min) Digital Delivery: Being Present with Tools
Share best practices for integrating interactive digital tools (e.g., polling, whiteboarding) to maintain participant presence. Model how to move fluidly between tools without losing momentum. For levity, this section will begin with participation in a "Never Have I Ever" game to draw attention to common digital missteps. Participants share their favorite facilitation tools on the Padlet.
(45–50 min) Transfer & Translation: From PD to the Classroom
Facilitate a rapid small-group discussion on how these principles (simplicity, learner-focus, gathering purpose) apply to K-12 classroom lessons and student presentations.
(50–60 min) Next Steps: One Big Idea
Ask participants to commit to one single change they will make in their next presentation. Draw attention to the curated list of key resources within the Padlet, and share a brief takeaway action checklist.
After this session, participants will be able to:
- articulate three specific principles they will immediately incorporate to make their next presentation more focused and purposeful.
-commit to implementing one new, audience-centered facilitation technique designed to increase active audience presence and reduce passive listening.
-leave with a clear plan or prompt for using a digital tool, such as Generative AI, to save a measurable amount of time when drafting the structure or activities for their next professional learning session.
Parker, P. (2018). The art of gathering: How we meet and why it matters. Riverhead Books.
Aguilar, E., & Cohen, L. (2020). The PD book: 7 habits that transform professional development. Jossey-Bass.
Reynolds, G. (2020). Presentation zen: Simple design principles and techniques to make a presentation feel like a story (3rd ed.). New Riders.
Back
Trips and Tours
