Important deadlines 

Our goal is to provide exceptional educational experiences, networking opportunities, and innovative tools that will make attendees and their cities more successful. Studies show that adults learn best when they are actively involved in the process rather than passively listening or watching. Most academy attendees are knowledgeable about the subject, and therefore are interested in hearing what others know and what their experiences have been. Accordingly, we urge you to plan your presentation with these suggestions in mind.

The most common complaints on session evaluations from prior academies are:

• "The presentation was a 'sales' pitch for a particular product or service."
• "I couldn't read the slides."
• "One speaker took so much time that the others were not able to give their full presentations."
• "I'd like more practical knowledge."

Please consider the following as you prepare for your presentation:

• Relevant content for experienced audiences that stretches thinking and provides new approaches.
• Content that is delivered in an engaging way and draws on the experience of the attendees.
• Examples and case studies of real success (and successful failures).
• Try to add stories, anecdotes, testimonials, or demonstrations that emphasize your point. We all remember a good story, and thus more easily the lesson with it.
• Provide tools and information that the audience can implement.
• If there are other speakers in your session, coordinate with them in advance to decide your speaking order and ensure that all presentations fit into the assigned time allotment. If you do not have the contact information for your co-presenters, please contact us at education@calcities.org.
• Selling from the podium creates conflict of interest problems. Education sessions at the Planning Commissioners Academy should never be an advertisement. Therefore, presentations may not include any commercialism for specific products or consulting services.

The League of California Cities encourages our presenters to use the most engaging educational platform possible when speaking at the Planning Commissioners Academy. We recognize that each session has a unique format and presentation style based on the preferences of the speaker(s) and content being presented, but the following examples are provided as a general guideline in planning your session. 

Panel Discussions: 75 minutes, with up to 3 speakers

Presider (5 minutes)     

• Welcome
• Frame session
• Introduce speakers

Speaker(s) #1, #2 and #3 (20 minutes)   

• Summary of relevant experience
• Learning objectives
• Core session content
• Summary of key points

Presider (10 minutes)   

• Facilitate Q&A
• Final comments

Concurrent Session: 75 minutes, 1 speaker

Presider (5 minutes)     

• Welcome
• Frame session
• Introduce speaker

Speaker #1 (60 minutes)            

• Summary of relevant experience
• Learning objectives
• Core session content
• Summary of key points

Presider (10 minutes)   

• Facilitate Q&A
• Final comments

As a reminder, sessions may not include any product/service demonstrations or commercial presentations for specific products or consulting services. Please contact the education department with any questions, concerns or assistance needs you may have.