Using slidecast and zipcast, slideshare can be used to hold presentations to users from all around the world through the internet. I am still playing with it, and am fascinated. Like anything else, there is a learning curve, and I have spent hours playing with it.

Here’s my first upload and I have embedded it in my blog. Next, I will try to add sound, and start a zipcast.

The story of Jonah from Corinth Baptist Church on Vimeo.

In one sentence, Pecha Kucha can be explained as “20 slides in 20 seconds”.  It is a very powerful tool for presentation or teaching, as the presenter is forced to condense images into 20 most useful slides in order to tell a story or present a message.  As a result, each slide has to be carefully chosen.

The first Pecha Kucha Night was devised in February 2003 by Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham of Tokyo’s Klein-Dytham Architecture (KDa), as a way to attract people to Super Deluxe, their experimental event space in Roppongi^.

Pecha Kucha Night events consist of around a dozen presentations, each presenter having 20 slides, each shown for 20 seconds. Each presenter has just 6 minutes 40 seconds to explain their ideas before the next presenter takes the stage. Conceived as a venue through which young designers could meet, show their work, exchange ideas, and network, the format keeps presentations concise, fast-paced and entertaining.

In 2004 PKN began running in a few cities in Europe, and has since become a worldwide phenomenon, now running in more than 260 cities in almost every corner of the globe.

There are many examples of pecha kucha presentations on You Tube.  It is worth exploring.

This is a very insightful speech by Daniel Goleman who spoke to the staff at Google.    Through technology and Youtube, we are able to participate and benefit from his speech, in the comfort of our tiny cubicle or office.  Hope you enjoy the above video as much as I do.

New York Times science writer Daniel Goleman argues that our emotions play a much greater role in thought, decision making and individual success than is commonly acknowledged. He defines “emotional intelligence”?a trait not measured by IQ tests?as a set of skills, including control of one’s impulses, self-motivation, empathy and social competence in interpersonal relationships.  In marriage, emotional intelligence means listening well and being able to calm down. In the workplace, it manifests when bosses give subordinates constructive feedback regarding their performance.