The Slice of Life Challenge is hosted by the inspirational writers of Two Writing Teachers. Each March, they invite people to join them in a commitment to write every day. Here's to another year of daily slicing!
On Tuesday, I went way out of my comfort zone and I served as one of the presenters for a webinar about inquiry. Don't get me wrong--I am comfortable with the concepts of inquiry; in many ways I am more comfortable teaching an inquiry lesson than a direct instruction lesson at this point. However, sitting at my desk and talking to unseen people with three other presenters who I couldn't see either felt strange. An important reflection about the experience that I had as I drove home had to do with how much I love writing as a form of communication.
Writing, unlike speaking, gives us unlimited opportunities to revise our thinking and self-edit what we put out for others to read before they read it. Yes, once we hit the publish button, there's an element of permanence, but not like speaking. When we speak, there's not nearly the same opportunity for redo's. We can say phrases like in other words, or what I mean to say, or I'm trying to say, or let me try to be clearer-- I have even come to use the phrase "Bear with me, as I'm drafting" when I am speaking out loud. But still, our words are out there within the permanent imprint of a webinar.
All in all, I think the ideas we shared were important ones, and I hope that people do take some time to listen and watch. It was definitely a stressful hour--even longer as the ten minutes before it started were particularly nerve wracking. I could offer some tips for anyone who is about to facilitate their first webinar, but I'm glad I did it.
I'd just rather write.
Happy writing,
I've never done a webinar. The closest I have come was a video interview recently. And I had the same feeling. I wished that I could draft and rewrite to get it just right. Congrats to you for traveling into unseen waters.
ReplyDeleteI've never done a webinar. The closest I have come was a video interview recently. And I had the same feeling. I wished that I could draft and rewrite to get it just right. Congrats to you for traveling into unseen waters.
ReplyDeleteBrave, brave, brave!
ReplyDeleteWebinars make spoken words permanent and it's harder to make sure that the meaning is clear and concise. So many ideas to convey in so little time and yet not "sitting beside" seems to interrupt the whole "meaning making" nature of having a conversation!
Scary, but four years ago, I would have preferred the webinar to writing. Now, I, too, prefer revision! The "getting it right" in the form of redos! <3
Brave, brave, brave!
ReplyDeleteWebinars make spoken words permanent and it's harder to make sure that the meaning is clear and concise. So many ideas to convey in so little time and yet not "sitting beside" seems to interrupt the whole "meaning making" nature of having a conversation!
Scary, but four years ago, I would have preferred the webinar to writing. Now, I, too, prefer revision! The "getting it right" in the form of redos! <3
Melanie, I agree with Margaret and Fran, you are risk taker traveling into unseen waters. I like the idea of the comment about drafting during a speaking event. When I interview on #NYEDChat the video is reminder to me of how I have to not only look the part of the speaker but be fluent with my comments. Thanks for sharing your brave new world.
ReplyDeleteBravo - our best learning moments come from experiences like these, when we push ourselves beyond our comfort zones.
ReplyDeleteBravo - our best learning moments come from experiences like these, when we push ourselves beyond our comfort zones.
ReplyDelete