1. In terms of presentation skills (using your voice, body language, visuals etc.), what did you learn through the three presentation projects and lessons in AEP?
-Compared to my first presentation, I say "um" a lot less. -I learned to make better presentations. Lots of slides, big pictures, few words. If there are few words on the slide, I would be less tempted to look down or sideways at the screen.
-I feel a lot less nervous standing at the front. (Although it could be that I have gotten used to the people I was presenting to)
2. What do you want to continue to improve?
-Eye contact!!! I still look down at the screen on the laptop even though the information is in my head. I shift my gaze from one side of the room to the next, a lot. That looked a little awkward when I watched the videos.
-Recovering from mistakes
-Making smoother transitions
I hope to have more opportunities to do more presentations in the future so I won't loose the skills I've learnt in this class.
Delivery Body Language (Gesture/Poster): don’t fidget 4 3 2 1 Voice: loud and clear 4 3 2 1 Eye Contact: to the audience and Facial Expression: sincere but not too serious 4 3 2 1 Attitude / Appearance: persuasive, hopeful/positive 4 3 2 1 Time Management:keep a steady pace, don’t over-talk 4 3 2 1
Our group goals: Give a informative and persuasive presentation about Women`s Aid. Make sure the images correlate with what we are trying to say. There is a lot of information but make sure not to rush presenting it. Make sure to pause and emphasize.
Stand still as we present, but do not seem stiff. Because we are trying to persuade the audience, eye contact is especially essential.
The biggest problem was that I completely blanked at one point. Perhaps it was a good thing that the slides kept going so instead of freezing for a long period of time, I was able to jump right back into the presentation. I thought that I was going to be okay, but apparently that was not the case. If I were to do Pecha Kucha again, I should practice more. When I was practicing, I was doing the presentation in my head. However, next time I should rehearse it out loud a few times.
I think knowing the 20second limit made me speak faster than usual. Also I might have kept looking down at the laptop or the screen beside me, at the countdown on the slide. I would be nice if I can present unaffected by the countdown.
Except when I blanked at the beginning, I thought the overall presentation went ok. I hope that the audience was able to understand what I wanted to say.
Reflections:I am not sure whether the video recorder had anything to do with it, but my voice sounded small. Smaller than I thought I was speaking at that time. Also I did not pause between phrases and ideas. (ex when I was explaining the different reasons I liked lacrosse more than any other sports. Furthermore, I did not really emphasize any words.
Goals:I should speak a little slower with a louder voice. Also, as I mentioned above, I should pause more between ideas so the audience would be able to pick up what my main points were.
2. Body Language (eye contact, gestures, postures etc)
Reflections:Instead of looking at the audience, I looked upwards or downwards, and even at the slides next to me. A good point was that there were times when the gestures went well with what I was saying. However it was only one hand because in the other hand, I held the cross. . Another good point was that I did not move around much, I stayed in one place.
Goals: For my next presentation, I want to be able to look at the audience. At first it may feel embarrassing but at least make it look like you are looking at the audience. Just do not look upwards where obviously there is no one there. I looked down towards the notes that I had, even when I did not need it. I knew what I wanted to say so next time do not even bring notes so I won't be tempted to look down. Next time, perhaps I should put down the cross, or any other object I might bring, when I am not using it to explain something.
3. Visuals (images/texts on slides, timing etc)
Reflections:I thought the powerpoint slides were effective; few words and one picture to show the main point of the slide (except one about similarities with other sports). Or, maybe the way it was presented was a little boring? Title and one big picture.
Goals: Most of the photographs were taken from an actual game so it may have been difficult for the audience to understand (like offence and defense). I may have been able to understand because I play the game but to those who do not, it may need more explanation. So next time I should find a picture, or add more captions to the picture to make it more understandable.
4. Preparation Process (topic selection, notes, visual creation, rehearsals etc)
Reflections: I had the general ideas of what I wanted to say prepared during the brainstorming stage. And the powerpoint presentation was not too difficult to make. However, whenever I tried rehearsing the presentation to myself, I kept adding something else. Also, during the presentation, sometimes I had to pause to come up with the right word.
Goals: If I had rehearsed more, I would have know which words I would have been stuck on. So, I should have rehearsed more. Also, while rehearsing, I should keep in mind that there are audiences so I would focus on my eye contact and gestures.
5. Others
When I looked at the clip, the whole presentation took 4min 30sec. Which is 1min 30 more than what it was supposed to take. Also, I said "um" a lot. I should not do that. Furthermore, I started fidgeting with the laptop and the cross before the presentation was officially finished. I should have had said "Thank you", waited for the audience's reactions, then start cleaning up.
Overall I thought it was an OK 1st presentation. It was so weird watching myself on video!
