PK were designed to avoid boring and long presentations to force speakers to make them shorter and enthralling. The design of a Pecha Kucha motivates speakers to center their subjects in very different ways.
This curious Japanese word means informal conversation or chitchat. It is a type of presentation created by two architects in Tokyo, tired of long and boring PowerPoint presentations.
The aim of a PK is to force speakers to prepare shorter and more attractive presentations. A PK makes the speaker to center his presentation on the topic. To accomplish this goal a PK has several features:
- Only 20 slides are allowed and every slide lasts 20 seconds. (6 minutes and 40 seconds at most).
- Slides advance automatically without human interaction.
- Slides are visually appealing and not text-heavy.
- Text and image should be complementary: each one should have its own unique value.
- Speakers should spend more time practicing their presentations.
- The audience should have plenty of time to ask questions at the end of the presentation.
Using the Pecha Kucha presentation format in the classroom
You might find it useful to use this presentation format to stimulate your students to prepare their own presentations. Students will feel involved in a kind of game.
We provide a short list of clues to successfully use the PechaKucha presentation format in the classroom:
- Present your own Pecha Kucha before students to make them understand what it is.
- Provide students some links to interesting Pecha Kuchas.
- Emphasize the importance of practicing the presentation with other students.
- Advise students not to abuse text slides.
- Encourage students to find striking images to create interest in their topics.
More info
You can find online examples at the official PechaKucha web site: http://www.pecha-kucha.org/
