By Cara McFadden, PhD, Assistant Professor at Elon University and Conference Program Committee Chair
The Conference Program Committee has been working hard to bring a new presentation style to the 2016 NIRSA Annual Conference & Recreational Sports Expo taking place in Kissimmee, FL from April 3–6. Pecha Kucha™, which stands for chit-chat in Japanese, is a way for presenters to share their information quickly and simply through 20 slides, each shown for 20 seconds. This creates a story-telling presentation that is only six minutes and 40 seconds long. Whether or not you’re familiar with this fast and fun format, you’ll have the opportunity to experience it at NIRSA 2016!
The idea to use the format came from NIRSA member experiences—both personal ones and those that came about from other conferences. I currently have students in my Facility and Venue Management course create risk management and staff training Pecha Kucha™ presentations. The presentation style is visually appealing as well as informative. With the transition of the slides every 20 seconds, it is key that the presenter is clear and concise in communicating each slide’s message before the next transition. The Program Committee and I believe you all will be in for a real treat as we incorporate the presentation style into the Opening General Session. It will also be used by colleagues the afternoon of Monday, April 4.
As part of the Opening General Session, David Peters—Association Director of Campus Recreation at Florida State University—will use a Pecha Kucha™ to share with members everything they need to know about the 2016 Annual Conference. On Monday, April 4, starting at 2:15pm, additional Pecha Kucha™ sessions will be offered by peers and colleagues who will speak on the following themes—each theme including three or four presentations.
- “Origins of Collegiate Recreation/NIRSA”
- David Davenport, Austin Peay State University
- Demond Pryor, University of Toledo
- Mila Padgett, University of South Carolina Aiken
- Seneca Wilson, Jackson State university
- “Multi-Generational Perspectives in Collegiate Recreation”
- Beththena Johnson, The Ohio State University
- Peter Tulchinsky, University of Mississippi
- Jenny Rodgers, Clemson University
- “Leadership isn’t always Positional”
- Johnathan Elliott, University of Arkansas
- Lisa Shea, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
- Micah Walters, Clemson University
- “Career Advancement –How I got where I am in Collegiate Recreation”
- Carl Bleich, Florida Gulf Coast University
- Christopher Morris, Florida State University
- Rob Jech, The Ohio State University
- Sammy Axley, University At Albany
As a wrap up to each Pecha Kucha™-themed education session, the speakers will have 10–15 minutes to discuss the topics in more depth with attendees. Take advantage of this opportunity to be intellectually sparked about key topics in collegiate recreation. Attending may have you reconsidering your typical presentation style and you may be inspired to take this format back to your institution to use for staff trainings, job interviews, project proposals, class reports, or research projects.
We’re looking forward to the Opening General Session at NIRSA 2016 and our first chit-chat, which will help kick off our focus on “A Strong Core, A Bright Future”!
For more information about Pecha Kucha™ presentations at the 2016 NIRSA Annual Conference & Recreational Sports Expo, please contact Conference Program Committee Chair Cara McFadden.
