I recently attended a conference presentation where the presenter ran through 20+ applications in a 50 minute presentation. I was dizzy at the end and could barely remember anything. When will presenters stop doing this razzle dazzle and instead talk about how a particular program will help increase a precise learning goal? When will they show higher thinking examples of the programs instead of “I made this cute little demo” examples? When will they be honest about how much time it takes to learn the program and how much time it takes to create something in the program? What will they talk about implementation issues? When will they not say,” I’m showing you the paid version which is different from the free version”? When will they stop sounding like salespeople with a new cure-all and more like educators focused on student learning?
I would prefer the presenters to show a few like five programs in-depth; this is what you can do and cannot do with this program. Here are three examples all at the highest level possible for this program. If presenters took their time to show in-depth information about the programs, more participants would feel comfortable with the programs and want to use them.
Less is more in any form of professional development or learning.
When you present to others, do you razzle dazzle or do you do an in-depth presentation?
My book, Formative Assessment: Responding to Your Students, is available through Eye on Education.
Also, my book, Successful Student Writing Through Formative Assessment, is available through Eye on Education.
Education with Technology Harry G. Tuttle 
