Back for a New Year, but What Do You Think?

After the struggle of coming up with blog topics and time to write, it has been a pleasure to relax a bit and to let things evolve organically for a change.  I made the same New Year’s resolution, to write at least 24 times, only this year I hope not to need to compact them into such a short period of time.
 
I make several resolutions each year, some professional, some personal.  It is always a great way to feel inadequate midway through the year, but surprisingly I have also accomplished some of these over time.  As I  look forward to continued participation in the educational technology discussion, I’m wondering if there are ways that I can make it more of that…a discussion.
 
I’m not a bad presenter.  I think I am pretty clear and that I balance funny and serious pretty well.  I get the usual feedback from conferences that most people like my talks, and I get good sign-ups and drop ins when the participants get to choose.  Though I have a healthy scepticiam for this type of approval (I suspect if you put a broom in front of a group of people, there would be a number who would mark 5 on the evaluation and someone would write “best Inservice ever”), I do think I give people good value for their time (if not their money).
 
Sometimes, however, I worry about the entire format of presentations and seminars.  What is the value of me standing in front of a group of teachers and telling them that they have to break from old models of lecturing in front of a classroom? How am I an innovative educator (with respect to Lisa Nielson who writes the Innovative Educator blog and who is really amazing) when I’m reciting lists from PowerPoint slides?  How am I challenging the audience to grow when they are able to listen and never forced to contribute?  Perhaps this picture is a bit dramatic, but how can I open up the conference room and break the fourth wall of the tech talk.
 
There are many practical reasons why I and other speakers do not involve the audience more often.  I never know what the room is going to be like until I arrive.  I usually don’t know the number or the mood of the group or their background or what equipment they have before I start.  Most essentially is a sense that they are here to watch me perform, and it is up to me to put on a show so they will feel it’s worthwhile.
 
I try.  I always call for hands of people who know concepts or who have tried things (very weak, I know).  I have posed questions for people to discuss in twos or threes, but this usually feels forced (plus I’m afraid that they are talking not about the questions, but about how much they dislike the presentation…paranoid), and I’m anxious to get back on stage.  I take questions, though I most keep talking until the end of the session.  In short, I don’t do this effectively, and I think I need to.
 
So my resolution for 2012 is to make sure that every presentation has some sort of participatory element.  My apologies ahead of time for the ones that don’t work, and I’d love to hear suggestions of things that you have found to be effective.
 
As always, I welcome your comments.