Yesterday I made my first presentation to a group of teachers. I led a session about integrating technology into the Social Studies Classroom at the Connecticut Council of Social Studies Annual Conference. I left very excited, not about my presentation, but about how much I learned about presenting this topic to adults. If it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert in something, I have 9,999 more presentations before I become an expert in making this presentation. What is amazing is even though I have been teaching 13 year olds for 20 years, this presentation still made me feel like I was up in front of a class of kids for the very first time. The clock was not my friend. I realized that the first part of my plans that were suppose to last 5 minutes, was taking 20. At the 45 minute mark I realized that there was no way I was getting to what I considered the best part and the “highlights” of session. I also wish I had given out some kind of quick feed back form—right now the only thing in my head is what I thought went good and bad, which might be totally opposite of what the audience thought.
I would like to encourage everyone to consider sharing their passion at an upcoming conference. If you hadn’t noticed, there seems to be fewer and fewer classroom (or ex-classroom) teachers presenting—or has it always been this way and I am just starting to notice. Too many teachers tend to be afraid to share what they are great at doing, and that fear shaped my presentation. Last June Karenne Sylvester left a comment on one of my posts that stuck out for me: “All too often we spend ages thinking about the ways we’re not good enough without thinking of all the ways we shine.” So true. I ended up sticking to a more “nuts-and-bolts” presentation on tools rather than the powerful work my kids have done with them. By the time I relaxed and realized what I was doing there were five minutes left and I actually said “Do you mind if I brag about something great that my kids do.”
I have a few more proposals in for conferences this year. I really wish I had had the courage years ago to submit proposals. I would have many more hours under my belt on my way to becoming an expert. Even if my other three get accepted, I will still have 9,996 more presentations to go 
9 responses so far ↓
Hi Paul-
Thoughtful and needed. 10000 hours should be the real takeway from ‘Outliers’.
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I, too, feel like the clock is not my friend when presenting to adults. I am good at estimating how long a less will take and moving things along with my little ones, but somehow I underestimate how long things take with adults. Part of it is that I spend more time with adults’ responses and questions–with my students, I’m much quicker to say “Okay, let’s keep going and I’ll take more questions and comments later”. I guess I’m just pleased that the adults want to interact with me and find the content interesting, and I don’t want to cut them off. I take that for granted with kids.
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Woohoo! Congrats on putting yourself out there. Way to model getting out of your comfort zone and taking risks. I wish I could have been there–I’m sure it was amazing.
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great..wish everyone was doing this..tech is king and everyone needs to know how to use the tools..particularly educators
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Congratulations, Paul!
I’m still summoning the courage to send in a proposal. I know what I’m doing with my students in math is important and should be shared. One day…..
As for 10,000 hours, you have to include some of your time as a classroom presenter. It’s only fair since I’m counting my days with LOGO turtles and VCRs toward my expert programming status.
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I reckon you’ll get there faster : you stopped now and took time to reflect at what you should have done more of (the powerful work of your students, which tells more than any theory or explanations of any tool).
I’d also recommend, if you don’t mind my tips, spending some time learning from “expert” presenters, as well as those outside edu – if you do youtube searches on Steve Jobs, for example, you’ll see that one of the most important things he does is practice, practice, practice before delivering a presentation at that would have shown you about the timing issue.
Another tip would be to spend some time watching loads of TED talks to find a style that fits in more with your own.
But anyway, the best thing about your post… reading the excitement in your own learning
– it’s a thrill knowing one has 9,999 hours (or 999 or 99 or even 9): the glory that goes with the journey!
Summits are never as exciting as the climb.
Enjoy! Do hope to see you in action one day.
Karenne
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@ Paul
Glad to hear the conference went well. I’m sure you did a tremendous job.
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I enjoyed reading this post and have found myself in the same situations both with adults and with my students. I find that I have too much and then spend too little time on the meat of the presentation that which I really wanted them to get and like you I cover it in the remaining time that is left. Perhaps in the remaining 9999 times I’ll get it. Thanks
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