Back to Old-School Chalk and Talks With the abundance of interactive and collaborative teaching tools available today, it may seem counterintuitive, but old-school Chalk & Talk is back. From pre-school classrooms to university lecture halls, talking heads are still the norm. If anything, the main difference between old-school technology and modern distance learning methods is that in the former a teacher physically wrote on a chalk board and in the latter an instructor prepares learning modules using a presentation tool like PowerPoint. So, why are PowerPoint lectures becoming the new norm? Rising school debt, rising tuition costs, reduced time and competitive business environments that expect new hires to “hit the ground running” have all made e-learning an attractive option for full-time workers who need convenient, on-demand learning opportunities. While the shift from chalk-and-lecture presentations to point-and-click learning may seem minor, the potential to take a boring class to a new mind-numbing level is large. So, if you’re considering investing in online learning or planning your own PowerPoint chalk-and-talk, here are two ways to increase the likelihood that you will have an educational, rewarding experience: 1. To maximise learning and recollection, ask questions Interactive presentations keep the audience engaged by asking questions. Questions can be informal (e.g. asking audience members their opinions and experiences) or formal (e.g. quizzing for answers) since the point isn’t to see if your audience gets it “right” but to keep them alert. 2. Set goals, and keep them Clearly outline what you will be teaching (or learning) before you begin. Then circle back at the end and make sure you’ve covered everything you planned on covering.   We offer a terrific 2 day workshop called Think On Your Feet® that will give you dynamic structures to strategically position your message giving you the spit and polish your delivery deserves. It really is the art of impromtu speaking. Click here for more information. Next Public Workshop dates are 11 and 12 March 2014 in central London.    ]]>