Philipp Bayer

I'm going to do some science outreach in my son's primary school, and I've received the most wonderful advice:

'when they start speaking, first ask them if it's a story or a question. if it's a story, make sure to cut them off early or they'll talk forever.'

*it works exactly the same with senior academics after presentations*

Aug 15, 2023 at 3:47amWeb
Show threadPhilipp BayerSep 20, 2023

Finally did the outreach today!!
2 1/2 hours over 5 classes, 30 minutes each. I had a colleague's box of beach finds with shark teeth etc. which helped enormously, kids love to touch stuff.

Best part: I did not cut off a single child!
Even if their stories were random and unrelated, they immediately got to the point after at most three sentences. Compare that to your conference academic who rambles on forever!

Show threadBastian Greshake TzovarasAug 15, 2023
@PhilippBayer check out @lecturerswb too while you’re at it!
Show threadnoodleAug 15, 2023
@PhilippBayer
Show threadnoodleAug 15, 2023

@PhilippBayer
Alt text.
A comic depicting the end of a speech. There is a queue of people for the audience microphone. Lower text "we'd now like to open the floor to shorter speeches disguised as questions."

Also if anyone knows how to fix the 'record not found' error when adding alt text I'm all ears.

Show threadtextcontainerAug 15, 2023
@noodle @PhilippBayer I once gave a public lecture on Theodor Storm and after the lecture came the inevitable question and answer session - and an old man stood up, a manuscript in his hands, and proudly announced that he could speak Low German and had brought the author's work in Low German. And he read out loud and unintelligibly and could not be stopped! Several university staff had to ask him to give the other visitors time as well.
Show threadsonja dolinsekAug 15, 2023
@PhilippBayer yup
Show threadMark BurtonAug 15, 2023
@PhilippBayer
I would say it's appropriate for academics but probably not for primary school children. I'd instead listen to their story, encouraging brevity and then show them how to turn it into a question.
As for the speech in lieu of a question, that seems more common in certain cultures; I'm not saying which.
Show threadScott M. Aug 15, 2023

@PhilippBayer 100%

"Come see me after we're done here and you can tell me all about it". It'll be forgotten by then, but it doesn't make the kid sad.

Worst ages for the "tell a story" during Q&A is 6 years old and 7 years old. You'll get some 5 & 8s too, but by 9 they're mostly past it

Show threadCeri DaviesAug 15, 2023
@PhilippBayer “This is more of a comment than a question, but…”
Show threadBart GroeneveldAug 15, 2023
@PhilippBayer Although telling stories is to be human, so don't be to fast.
Show threadAndy WoottonAug 15, 2023
@PhilippBayer I know some people just like the sound of their own voice but I think a story is sometimes more polite than simply saying, "what you just said was rubbish" or leaving people believing the misleading nonsense they just heard :-).
Show threadJason Petersen (he)Aug 15, 2023
@PhilippBayer how is it ever wonderful advice to view a child this way. To “cut them off”?
Show threadglasspshrAug 15, 2023
@PhilippBayer hey! My tangents have tangents
Show threadTim Ward ⭐🇪🇺🔶 #FBPEAug 15, 2023
@PhilippBayer For grown-ups, when chairing council meetings I have been known to ask "does anyone have anything new or interesting to say?". That might work for academics in meetings?