Indescribable.
Isn't it always such an overwhelming feeling whenever you're nearing the end of something?
In retrospect, how much have I exactly been present in the classes? I could have been there physically, but was I really there? I can't help but feel this way, always. I was looking back at my previous posts, and I recalled all the assignments we had to do, the discussions and activities we had in class and of course, those rare times the class managed to share beyond lesson hours.
Sadly, they were all but blur images initially. Twelve weeks breezed by and it amazes me how much we have actually accomplished over time. But as I calmed down eventually, they became clearer and more vivid.
I'm most impressed with the idea of blogging for this module. Even though blogging is basically just all about writing without writing, but writing formally and professionally has always been a huge challenge for me. Whenever there was a blog post due, like now, the thing I'd fret about the most was stringing my casual thoughts into serious words that made sense, and thoughtful sentences that were coherent.
The first few posts were really difficult for me as I was at a loss as to how I can sound professional. I wanted to be taken seriously for once. My posts were always published with so much apprehension. I still recall vividly how mind-blown I felt the very first time I read Laura's and Han's posts. I told myself, "These people can write. Do something about yourself, Huiyun. Write something decent."
Along the way, I picked up constructive comments that helped me grow. I wouldn't say I've changed my writing style, but I've certainly tried to incorporate whatever feedback I've received to mould my style into one that could finally suffice in justifying my incoherent thoughts. Reading others' blog posts have also proven to be helpful, as I observed the different writing styles and how they can be applied in different situations and contexts. I'm not sure if my writing has improved at all, but I certainly do hope they sound more coherent than before!
Having a blogging group was also fresh. It motivated me to write because I knew there would be at least someone who would be reading my posts, even if you may argue that it was simply out of pure obligation. And my mates would also send me gentle reminders to update when my blog became too stale nearing the deadline. All I can say is, that really helped me a lot so thanks guys!
Lastly, I'd also like to take this chance to tell all of my classmates: Even though I haven't commented on each and every of your posts, but I've read through every single word and it's been a real pleasure getting to know another side of you through your very own words. Thank you all for making my Tuesdays and Fridays so much more bearable!
And to Brad: I'm so grateful I didn't get outbid for this class, thank you for showing me that learning how to communicate can also be this versatile, and enjoyable! The liveliness of your teaching style has left me much to reflect on, and I'm looking forward to the day I can finally be a professional communicator like you!
It has been a rewarding and fulfilling learning experience for me, albeit fraught with the endless exhausting deadlines. As much as I'm dreading the arrival of this coming Friday, I hope the friendships forged throughout these past few months will be able to last beyond The World Without Walls!
And of course, may these not be my last words, yet.
Monday, November 12, 2012
Sunday, November 11, 2012
The Engineers' Oral Presentation.
"We did it. We survived!"
That was the first thought that came to my mind after our oral presentation was officially over. It may sound trivial to some, but considering that the presentation was due in less than a week, an internal dispute was certainly worrying for all of us. Long story short, the dispute stemmed from communication breakdown. Nonetheless, it could actually have been a blessing in disguise. We not only overcame the differences, but also gained a better understanding of one another. This undoubtedly helped pave a smoother path of communication among the group after that.
I cannot deny how relieved and overwhelmed I felt when it was over. It was quite surreal for me, because it seemed like just yesterday that we decided to pursue the overcrowding problem for our proposal. Since all four of us were from Engineering, handling the content came off much easier, as the subject matter was not too much of a stranger to us.
Also, I felt that the mock oral presentation was a really good idea. I got a better sense of how my part can be fitted into the whole presentation. Before that, I was lacking all the "links" but thankfully, we had the run-through and received constructive feedback from Brad and Ronald's team on how to improve the structure, flow and organisation of our presentation. I personally thought the overlapping parts were more or less minimised during our final show, after we went back and rearranged it into a more logical flow.
As I was looking back at the video of our presentation, I couldn't help but cringe at my performance. My pace is clearly still a major flaw. I was staring at myself rattling off and I was thinking to myself, "Are you sure the video hasn't been tampered with?" Shiying actually told me about this after the presentation but I didn't know it was THAT fast. This is actually quite surprising for me, because I was feeling very sleepy during the presentation. While my other group members were presenting, I started feeling drowsy and lost balance halfway through my part and almost tripped on my own foot. This definitely distracted the audience and I slipped a subconscious "Sorry" that was caught by Sai and Sumea, who noted it down in the feedback for us.
Despite having a few rounds of rehearsal before this, I realised my choppy delivery was still very much peppered with awkward pauses, "Ahh", "Ummm" and "And". It was actually very uncomfortable listening to myself speak. I felt I knew what I had to say, but the pause fillers still flowed out so freely. My team members were always telling me to not "present from a script in my head" and if I miss out any point, I should just move on to the next one. Likewise, one of the main feedback I got from the mock presentation was to work on my "infamous" long pause, something that also happened during my peer teaching. So I am pretty happy to say that I managed to improve slightly, because my long pause didn't seem as long this time round!
On a side note, I am really very grateful to Shiying and Yongsheng for their reassuring responses throughout my entire presentation! It made me feel like I was engaging them and that actually boosted a teeny bit of confidence in me.
When it came to our visual cues, we had to maintain a dark surrounding for our slides to have its intended effect, so I hope that did not affect the audience much. I was actually very tempted to chuck away the slides after the attempt during mock presentation, but I realised the nature of our proposal did not allow us to try that stunt, nor did it encourage the use of Prezi. And so, PowerPoint took the stage once again. After receiving Rohit's feedback on the colour scheme, I am hoping the overall product did not turn out too incoherent after all.
Although my presentation skills are still far from ideal, I've had the time of my life learning through this entire process. It broke down my stage fright into the various specific aspects that I will need to work on for a smoother delivery in future.
And of course, I would like to say a big thank you to Chandra, Thao and Eric for making this team special in their own ways! Amidst all the fun, sweat and tears of effort, I hope we actually picked up more than just mere presentation skills!
That was the first thought that came to my mind after our oral presentation was officially over. It may sound trivial to some, but considering that the presentation was due in less than a week, an internal dispute was certainly worrying for all of us. Long story short, the dispute stemmed from communication breakdown. Nonetheless, it could actually have been a blessing in disguise. We not only overcame the differences, but also gained a better understanding of one another. This undoubtedly helped pave a smoother path of communication among the group after that.
I cannot deny how relieved and overwhelmed I felt when it was over. It was quite surreal for me, because it seemed like just yesterday that we decided to pursue the overcrowding problem for our proposal. Since all four of us were from Engineering, handling the content came off much easier, as the subject matter was not too much of a stranger to us.
Also, I felt that the mock oral presentation was a really good idea. I got a better sense of how my part can be fitted into the whole presentation. Before that, I was lacking all the "links" but thankfully, we had the run-through and received constructive feedback from Brad and Ronald's team on how to improve the structure, flow and organisation of our presentation. I personally thought the overlapping parts were more or less minimised during our final show, after we went back and rearranged it into a more logical flow.
As I was looking back at the video of our presentation, I couldn't help but cringe at my performance. My pace is clearly still a major flaw. I was staring at myself rattling off and I was thinking to myself, "Are you sure the video hasn't been tampered with?" Shiying actually told me about this after the presentation but I didn't know it was THAT fast. This is actually quite surprising for me, because I was feeling very sleepy during the presentation. While my other group members were presenting, I started feeling drowsy and lost balance halfway through my part and almost tripped on my own foot. This definitely distracted the audience and I slipped a subconscious "Sorry" that was caught by Sai and Sumea, who noted it down in the feedback for us.
Despite having a few rounds of rehearsal before this, I realised my choppy delivery was still very much peppered with awkward pauses, "Ahh", "Ummm" and "And". It was actually very uncomfortable listening to myself speak. I felt I knew what I had to say, but the pause fillers still flowed out so freely. My team members were always telling me to not "present from a script in my head" and if I miss out any point, I should just move on to the next one. Likewise, one of the main feedback I got from the mock presentation was to work on my "infamous" long pause, something that also happened during my peer teaching. So I am pretty happy to say that I managed to improve slightly, because my long pause didn't seem as long this time round!
On a side note, I am really very grateful to Shiying and Yongsheng for their reassuring responses throughout my entire presentation! It made me feel like I was engaging them and that actually boosted a teeny bit of confidence in me.
When it came to our visual cues, we had to maintain a dark surrounding for our slides to have its intended effect, so I hope that did not affect the audience much. I was actually very tempted to chuck away the slides after the attempt during mock presentation, but I realised the nature of our proposal did not allow us to try that stunt, nor did it encourage the use of Prezi. And so, PowerPoint took the stage once again. After receiving Rohit's feedback on the colour scheme, I am hoping the overall product did not turn out too incoherent after all.
Although my presentation skills are still far from ideal, I've had the time of my life learning through this entire process. It broke down my stage fright into the various specific aspects that I will need to work on for a smoother delivery in future.
And of course, I would like to say a big thank you to Chandra, Thao and Eric for making this team special in their own ways! Amidst all the fun, sweat and tears of effort, I hope we actually picked up more than just mere presentation skills!
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