We just got back from the annual NACAC conference. And I’m noticing now that some of the presentations I remember the least about are actually those that shared the most information.
There is such a thing as information overload. If you’ve ever read a work-related email that was way too long, sat through a presentation with far too many slides (and bullet points), or read a student’s application that included a long resume, newspaper clippings, and multiple letters of recommendation, you’ve seen information overload in action. A person can only process so much information at one time. When you give them too much, they’ll miss your most important points. Or worse, they’ll get overwhelmed and give up. Saying too much can be the same as saying nothing at all.
The next time you make a presentation, newsletter, or a printed resource for your students or parents, start by finding the most crucial information you want them to take away. Be ruthless. I know that everything you have to say feels important. But it’s not all equally important. Prioritize your list. Then trim it from the bottom up until you’re left with only the most vital points. More than five will be too many. Now use your allotted time or space to hammer home those few points. And just like a good college essay, brevity is a mark of good writing (and teaching).
Here’s an old post with some specific examples of how you might do this.