PREPARING FOR THE SEMINAR 4 CONFERENCE

PowerPoints and Research Questions

1. Overview of conference2. Building from a question3. PowerPoint power-ups4. Make it so

Plan for the Day

1. Overview of conference

Concurrent Sessions

10:00-11:00

• 2S: Atmosphere, air, & water

• 3N: Urban farming & composting

• 3S: Mussel shoals and you

• Screening: Bedrock bivouac?

• Concourse: The future of transportation

11:00-12:00

• 2S: Irish rock and waste management

• 3N: Finns and tails

• 3S: Wasting energy vs. waste-to-energy

• Screening: Toddlers predict the future of NYC

• Concourse: An integrated economic/ecological model for urban planning

A problem

Your presentations for this class will be 10 minutes per person.

Your presentations for the conference, I have very recently learned, will be 10 minutes per group. : (

A problem

My advice: compose the 10-minute solo presentation, then, present a two-minute teaser:

Invite your audience to view the full presentation / essay on our course site!

2. Building from a question

Solo time (10 minutes)

1. In the middle of a big research project, it’s easy to lose the forest for the trees. Take a minute to write down the question you really want to answer with your research.

2. Then, working from memory, make two lists:

a) things you now know in response to that question, and

b) things you still want to know.

Reflection (5 minutes)

1. Look over your lists: is there anything important you’ve forgotten to include?

2. Suppose we define an essay, in part, as a piece of writing which shows the author thinking.

Of the items you've just written down, which form the best starting places for thinking? Mark your top three.

Group time (15 minutes)

1. Alphabetically by first name, read out the questions you wrote down.

a) Before each new question, say back the question to the satisfaction of the author.

b) If this means re-wording the question, write down the new wording.

2. When all are satisfied with the questions, figure out a logical order for your group to present in. Write this down, too.

Group time (15 minutes)

1. Alphabetically by first name, read out the questions you wrote down.

a) Before each new question, say back the question to the satisfaction of the author.

b) If this means re-wording the question, write down the new wording.

2. When all are satisfied with the questions, figure out a logical order for your group to present in. Write this down, too.

Group time (15 minutes)

1. Alphabetically by first name, read out the questions you wrote down.

a) Before each new question, say back the question to the satisfaction of the author.

b) If this means re-wording the question, write down the new wording.

2. When all are satisfied with the questions, figure out a logical order for your group to present in. Write this down, too.

Group time (15 minutes)

1. Alphabetically by first name, read out the questions you wrote down.

a) Before each new question, say back the question to the satisfaction of the author.

b) If this means re-wording the question, write down the new wording.

2. When all are satisfied with the questions, figure out a logical order for your group to present in. Write this down, too.

Group time (15 minutes)

1. Alphabetically by first name, read out the questions you wrote down.

a) Before each new question, say back the question to the satisfaction of the author.

b) If this means re-wording the question, write down the new wording.

2. When all are satisfied with the questions, figure out a logical order for your group to present in. Write this down, too.

EXT: What’s the connection among the three best thinking points you marked? Try to capture it in a sentence or two.

PowerPoint power-ups

Think about it

• You’ve seen a lot of powerpoints.

• The medium is neutral: it can be terribleor terrific.

• So what’s the difference?

What not to do

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5xtws_powerpoint-stand-up-comedy_fun#.UXaLPit35GE

Okay, so what do we do instead?

1. Go textless2. Use metaphor3. Focus visual attention4. Callbacks

? ?

Con

Con

Con

Pro

Pro

Use metaphor

? ?

Con

Con

Con

Pro

Pro

Focus visual attention

Callbacks

1. Overview of conference2. Building from a question3. PowerPoint power-ups4. Make it so

1. Write yourself a plan of action: what will you try to do, by when?

2. Email at least one step of a plan to Ben and Prof. MacBride

(We break promises to ourselves more easily than promises to others.)