The suite of presentations at ECOO 2011 included a Pecha Kucha session. Pecha Kucha is a presentation style – 20 slides, 20 seconds of speaking time per slide.  Preparing for this was a unique experience, as I am used to presenting in a more free flow approach. I decided to keep my slides as simple as possible  to support the main idea being discussed. My presentation topic was being a change agent.

Main speaking points for each slide are outlined below.

1. “Simple can be harder than complex” is a Steve Jobs quote. Today I
want to honour Steve Jobs with this quote by applying it to my topic
and approach to this presentation. “Simple can be harder than complex”.

2. My favourite Greek letter is DELTA, which represents change.
The topic of my presentation is considerations in being an
effective change agent. Lets ponder some of the important elements
by reflecting on some questions and ideas.

3. The challenge: check out the landscape around you, and have a really
good look, not just a cursory look. What do you REALLY see?
Fear? Avoidance? Fragmentation? Struggle?

4. Reflect on how you can make a difference.
— What path forward will be developed based on your reflections?
— How will you make the best impact possible?
— What actions will you take?
— How will you make a difference?

5. Technology perspective:
— We need strong alignment with authentic student learning.
— research, writing, analysis, problem solving, project based learning,
— critical thinking, expressing thinking in writing or digital storytelling.

Technology must be used in enabling and engaging ways to support
learning – it can’t simply be for the cool factor.

6. Need a plan

— change does not happen randomly in the large scale
— the right building blocks have to be put in place,
— and in the optimum sequence in whatever level you are working at
— decide on your key elements, and focus.

7. sphere of influence
— what are your potential impacts
— how do you position yourself so your actions have maximum impact?
— CONNECT, LEARN, REFLECT, SHARE
— and share in a way that influences your sphere
— commit to what makes a difference

8. study culture (teachers, admin, IT staff, learning support staff)
— leader, follower, bumblebees or samplers, early adopters, resisters
— pause to reflect, what will make a difference in the BIG picture.
— how you can best impact?
— how do you turn these ingredients into a symphony of change?

9. Gaining credibility
— be reflective
— show your actions make a difference
— share your experiences in meaningful ways
— you need to share in ways connected to your sphere of influence

10. Personal growth
— you must outwardly embrace change
— you must demonstrate that you can change as an individual
— you MUST be a learner, but not just any learner
— you need to be a learner in the way we expect our students to learn

11. Role modelling
— talking the talk is simply not good enough
— you have to walk the walk, this is critical in my view
— do it in visible ways
— fundamentally, you must LIVE IT.

12. Be an enabler
— Actively play the role of the enabler
— but do it in the focused way that moves your agenda ahead
— and do it in a way connected to your sphere of influence
— fracturing your focus will not help in the long run

13. Stay the course
— can’t be a weather vain, no matter what the challenge
— champion your strategy
— there is less chance of people buying in if you have a new “best idea” on a regular basis.
— Stay the Course

14. Embrace the end user experience
— the milkshake story by Clayton Christenson
— At McDonald’s, why do people buy milkshakes in the morning?
— Simple — it is all about the end user experience
— commute to work, need something to sustain them, need to
—— consume it with one hand, can’t me messy, avoid frequent bio breaks.
— Now, put the end user context to technology enabled learning

15. scaffold
— as people dip their toe into this new world (Alison’s blog idea)
— feel welcomed and supported
— people need guidance to travel the scaffolded road
— if the goal is to change the broader landscape, then this idea is critical

16. focus
— doing too many things fractures resources and outcomes.
— focus on the things that make a difference,
— a difference now that is a stepping stone to the level needed

17. sustain
— build capacity in ways that impact
— don’t build on false economy
— if something only works because an extraordinary amount of $ or
——- equipment was provided, then the idea is not scalable or sustainable
— build capacity in a sustainable approach

18. pace yourself
— change takes time
— change takes consistency
— don’t burn out, pace yourself to be effective
— Being a change agent requires time and commitment

19. Believe in yourself
— you must, if you don’t others won’t either.
— do your change agent work with conviction
— you can transform
— be part of the educational transformation movement
— join the revolution and help make a difference

20. Tips 🙂
— I like the concept of consistency, maybe a uniform?
It worked for Steve Jobs
Personally, I like wearing black
Oh, and some of that new bullet proof skin might come in handy too!!!

~Mark