Presentation design is rooted in the art of storytelling. Storytelling is a powerful tool for transferring knowledge. Socrates used storytelling as a means of stimulating critical thinking. Of course he also preferred to use dialogue and debate with pupils, but he used storytelling to illustrate a point. One such story is recounted in Plato's Phaedrus in which Socrates shares with Phaedrus (Plato) the story of how writing came to be and why its invention would ultimately be the demise of human memory which he believed to be the foundation of knowledge.
I share this with you as I believe presentation design is the modern equivalent of the Socratic method in which the intent of the presenter is to transfer knowledge to the audience. The presenter poses questions, provides answers, stimulates emotion and brings the audience to a new understanding. Of course, Socrates would never promote the use of slides, but it's not really the slides that tell the story, they're an aid used to illustrate a point and evoke a feeling. I suppose in that vein Seth Godin's approach is similar to Socrates as he prefers not to use slides in his presentations. And like Socrates, he probes the audience, uses props to illustrate his point and invokes emotion through his choice of words. The intent is the same, provoke thought, stimulate learning.
Storytelling is a lost art and no longer cultivated in school, at home or in the work place. Why? My theory is that technology (specifically digital media) has interfered and sabotaged communication skills. But putting that aside, the reason there are so many BAD PowerPoint presentations is because people have never been taught that giving a presentation is really just telling a good story. I think Nancy Duarte revolutionized presentation design when she identified the pattern behind a great presentation/speech. The key to a great presentation is knowing your content well (the story you wish to tell) and creating emotional moments of connection with your audience that inspires learning and transfers knowledge.
Socrates opposed writing because he believed it would be the demise of one's ability to learn. In a nut shell, he believed that only through dialogue and debate could one build knowledge. Presentation design is not a debate, but it is a form of dialogue designed and crafted by the presenter with the purpose of teaching through storytelling. Presentation skills may not come naturally for many of us, (especially those of us who are introverts), but we certainly each have a story we want to tell, need to tell, or have to tell. The good news is there are plenty of resources available to help guide us in the art of presentation design.
I share this with you as I believe presentation design is the modern equivalent of the Socratic method in which the intent of the presenter is to transfer knowledge to the audience. The presenter poses questions, provides answers, stimulates emotion and brings the audience to a new understanding. Of course, Socrates would never promote the use of slides, but it's not really the slides that tell the story, they're an aid used to illustrate a point and evoke a feeling. I suppose in that vein Seth Godin's approach is similar to Socrates as he prefers not to use slides in his presentations. And like Socrates, he probes the audience, uses props to illustrate his point and invokes emotion through his choice of words. The intent is the same, provoke thought, stimulate learning.
Storytelling is a lost art and no longer cultivated in school, at home or in the work place. Why? My theory is that technology (specifically digital media) has interfered and sabotaged communication skills. But putting that aside, the reason there are so many BAD PowerPoint presentations is because people have never been taught that giving a presentation is really just telling a good story. I think Nancy Duarte revolutionized presentation design when she identified the pattern behind a great presentation/speech. The key to a great presentation is knowing your content well (the story you wish to tell) and creating emotional moments of connection with your audience that inspires learning and transfers knowledge.
Socrates opposed writing because he believed it would be the demise of one's ability to learn. In a nut shell, he believed that only through dialogue and debate could one build knowledge. Presentation design is not a debate, but it is a form of dialogue designed and crafted by the presenter with the purpose of teaching through storytelling. Presentation skills may not come naturally for many of us, (especially those of us who are introverts), but we certainly each have a story we want to tell, need to tell, or have to tell. The good news is there are plenty of resources available to help guide us in the art of presentation design.
After reading 2 of your blogs, I feel like you are probably a great presenter. Your storytelling abilities are great! My husband has to make "slide decks" for work and they drive me nuts because most of them have 100+ words on them. I really think that business men need a class in how to give engaging presentations that don't make people want to stab themselves in the eye.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Nikki, you do have a way with words! I absolutely love how you said, "the reason there are so many BAD PowerPoint presentations is because people have never been taught that giving a presentation is really just telling a good story." It is so true! A great presenter is a great storyteller! They keep us excited, engaging, and involved. Yet, not everyone has the ability or talent, to tell a great story and keep listeners involved. But, like the resources we looked at this week, there is a beginning step every person can take to begin to make a great presentation. We just have to think outside the box and think about how to make things visual, not totally informational.
ReplyDeleteMorgan Kalm
Storytelling is a dying art for most, I agree. I, like you, had never compared it to giving a presentation of any kind. I do not present, I have no ambitions to present, and I do not need to in my classroom. Storytelling, however, that is my thing. I teach 3-5 years olds, so give me a book to read to them, and a story to tell them and I am all over it. I also LOVE when they tell me stories! That's the best part of my day. So I think, along with those ideas that where the presentations kept saying to memorize your information so basically you can just talk to the people, tell them what you know.
ReplyDelete-Misti