Final Reflection

Last Thursday marked the end of the most enriching module I had in NUS. Before choosing the module, I went to research it through a website which provided reviews made by students on NUS modules. Most of the reviews were very positive and highlighted how enthusiastic the tutors were. Despite the class being in the Science Faculty, which was another ‘island’ away from my Engineering Faculty, I am glad that I was in this awesome class.

There were many useful skills practiced and experiences gained throughout this module. I would be sharing my 3 personal takeaways from this module.

Communicating with a “You” attitude

Previously, this aspect did not play a huge role in my communication skills. As an engineering student, most of the lab reports I wrote placed emphasis on the technical data, graphs and theoretical explanations. There was minimal or no regard to convey the information provided in the best way for the reader. Such a skill is essential if I intend to get an encouraging response from the receiver. This skill can be applied for proposals, sponsorships requests and projects which I see myself part of in the future.

Communicating through different platforms

I had a chance to practice my communication skills from discussions in the wiki, blogs, and e-mails, to the interview and survey that was conducted. Each platform required a specific type of tone, style and format to be used. I learnt to adapt to the different settings and it has made me a more versatile communicator.

Working with different groups of people

Working with people of different background had given me a broader perspective when dealing with a specific issue. Furthermore, I felt that I have made some lasting friendships in the process of the course. Thank you all for making the sessions fun and interesting!

I would also like to thank Ms Lim for the valuable skills and advice that she has given me. Lastly, thank you Team Planet for being such a passionate group. Thanks to our proposal, I felt that I have become more environmentally conscious. =).

All the best in the coming exams everyone!

Oral Presentation Reflection

The end of Team Planet’s oral presentation concluded my last project-based assignment for this semester. Even though I felt like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders, there were many valuable learning experiences that developed during the whole journey. First and foremost, I thank my amazing group mates, Amanda, Pei Zi and Jeremy, for making the entire hectic journey more bearable.

Preparation

Pei Zi presenting!

We only had a few weeks to prepare for the oral presentation. It was also the peak period for Common Tests and assignments deadlines for other modules. Futhermore, I had a quiz right after my group's presentation. Thus, my group faced a huge challenge in scheduling our rehearsal sessions.

All of us volunteered for the parts in the presentation that suited our expertise and ability best. I chose to present on the proposed solution of our proposal, which was our unique recycling booth, as I was mainly involved in creating its graphic model.

Initially, we planned to use Powerpoint to deliver our presentation. Fortunately or unfortunately, my friend from another class introduced Prezi, which was an alternative application to Powerpoint. He showed me the special effects that could be done with Prezi. However, as this application was discovered late, we only had one night to transfer our presentation from Powerpoint to Prezi. We took awhile to get used to editing using Prezi. Despite the arduous task of editing our presentation on Prezi, I was extremely impressed with the outcome.

It was already 10pm by the time we were done with the editing. After being chased out by the security guards from the classrooms, we borrowed a projector from the Science Club before proceeding to continue our rehearsals at an outdoor projector screen nearby. We practiced numerous times as a group to improve the flow and timing of our presentation. We gave each other feedback and discussed the possible questions that could be raised during the Q & A session. It was a very interesting experience!

Amanda and Jeremy listening attentively!

Delivery

The rehearsals gave me much more confidence during the presentation. I constantly reminded myself to keep eye contact with the audience and be aware of my body language. The effects of emphasizing the statistics in my Prezi board also helped strengthen the point I intended to make. I found the Q & A session engaging as well. Fortunately, some of the questions we spotted prior to the presentation were asked by the audience.

However, there was much to improve on. I decided to use cue cards as I was afraid of forgetting my lines. I realized holding them made me too dependent on it, even though I knew my lines in the first place! My relationship with the audience could have improved during the Q & A session, as I felt I was a little stern with them. With more practice, I could have worked on my tone and the use of gestures to better emphasize my points.

In conclusion, this presentation was my first one with much effort put in. I will certainly remember this session for a very long time.

Go Team Planet!