http://paulgordonbrown.com/category/presentation-tips/
PechaKucha presentations can be a valuable experience for students learning to become better presenters and public speakers.
3. PechaKucha forces you how to simplify and hone
your message. Given the brief amount of time allowed
for PechaKuchas, you only have time to convey one clear
idea. Anything more than that and you risk confusing
your audience. As Steve Jobs once said, “Simple can be
harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your
thinking clean to make it simple. But it’s worth it in the
end because once you get there, you can move
mountains.” Put your PechaKucha together and then
step back for a moment. Are you trying to cram in too
much? Too many points? Simplify. Take Away.
5. PechaKucha teaches you discipline. PechaKucha
has very strict rules. 20 slides. 20 seconds a slide.
Automatically advancing. It requires impeccable timing
and discipline. You can't rely on your natural speaking
ability to get you through (although it may help). People
that do PechaKuchas become more disciplined
presenters. This helps keep you on track and on point.
There is no time for rambling.
7. PechaKucha teaches you better slide design.
PechaKucha slides need to be visual, impactful, and
often with little to no text. Your audience doesn't have
time to read your slides while you're talking. You want
them to pay attention to YOU. The slides become
secondary, the support, rather than the primary focus of
attention. This can help you in subsequent presentations
as it de-centers the slide and the screen, putting you and
your message front and center.
9. PechaKucha makes you practice. I don't care who
you are. You cannot do a PechKucha without practicing
it. The pacing of the slides requires it. When you run
through your PechaKucha for the first time, you'll realize
that some points you are making require more time, and
hence more slides, and some will require less time, and
hence some slides may need to be combined. Practicing
helps you understand your own abilities and style.
11. PechaKucha improves your public speaking
abilities. Once you start, it's a roller coaster and you're
naked out there on stage. PechaKucha forces you to
adjust your speaking on-the-fly. Speaking too fast?
Slow down. Use your voice to emphasize points and
buy you more time. Speaking too slow? Learn how to
edit your talking points as you go. Just don't stop! Keep
talking! I also encourage PechaKucha presenters to
work without notes. No one speaks at the same speed
all the time. Being regimented with notes, although it
may make you feel more comfortable, can actually be a
hindrance. Learn to adjust you cadence dynamically.
You'll be a better speaker for it.