Comments on: UCEA Week 01: I gave a bad presentation yesterday

By: John Pederson

John Pederson — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000

Been there, done that.

Take a look at this piece about “Tappers vs. Listeners”. It’s a nice way to remember this phenomenon that we often find ourselves in.

http://www.enotalone.com/article/11673.html

By: Justin B.

Justin B. — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000

I think your overstepping your audience speaks to my concern about moving CASTLE and other of our/my work onto the UCEA site and more broadly under the UCEA umbrella. No offense, but I am as good myself at promoting stuff on the web as UCEA is, so I am very reluctant to put my work in UCEA’s hands, because, outside of your work Scott, they have not shown themselves capable (EC, Michelle, C.R., etc.) of validating online work. You are certainly capable yourself, Scott, but you are not officially UCEA, the EC is, and by your own admission here Scott you and the EC are in very different places.

But, I appreciate the admission and the hard work of moving a group like UCEA forward. It’s not easy, but it actually makes me feel better to know that I am not the only one that stumbles from time to time.

By: Joe

Joe — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000

Great honest post! There is always another presentation to give, another class to teach, another game to coach. The great lesson is to try an avoid making the same mistake twice.

I have found that explaining technology and how to use it is difficult enough to a nonusers or low tech users. However, when you start to explain how technology can change and transform or integrate an existing process, system, or organization and the audience may not be hands-on familiar with the technology, there can be that disconnect. I have found less content (detail) generates more excitement for the possibilities and that positive energy can build on itself.

By: Jayson Richardson

Jayson Richardson — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000

I find it strange that UCEA is not buying into the idea that the site really needs fixed just for usability sake (let’s not go into interactivity and collaboration). The Job Search Handbook is a great example. If future UCEA members (i.e., current doctoral students seeking jobs)cannot find basic resources, or worse yet do not even know they exist, what good is the resource? Having a robust site not only signals that UCEA is ready and willing to work with a new breed of professors, but that it is responsive to the needs of its current members.

BTW – I really respect how you reflect on each presentation. I wish more presenters looked at conference presentations through that lens.