- Presenting reminds you of what students go through as they prepare to present to the class.
- Presenting challenges you to solidify your thinking.
- Presenting prompts you to try new tools.
- Presenting makes you listen to and watch other presentations with new eyes.
- Presenting can be your ticket to attending a conference.
- Presenting focuses your professional development time and energy.
While thinking about your future presentation, I suggest the following:
- Think about an area of the curriculum you want to develop to better student learning.
- Find upcoming conferences related to the topic.
- Write and submit a proposal.
- Begin the unit development process--read, research, create, implement, analyze, revise, refine.
- Record the efforts through writing, video, screencasts, photos and other venues.
- Synthesize the content, process and learning outcomes with a prezi, Google presentation, film, blog post and/or other venues.
- If your proposal is accepted, get ready to present. If not, submit the proposal to another related conference.
Presenting puts educators in the learner's shoes which is a valuable experience. It also offers a positive goal for developing optimal curriculum for student success. Finally, it gives educators a chance to present to and learn from other educators which improves learning for all involved (including students).
So don't hesitate to challenge yourself to present--you'll find it's worth the time and effort, and it will keep your professional work fresh and forward moving.