Reflection on project

I have gained valuable learning experiences through this project from brainstorming of ideas, collaborating with team members to gathering survey results and writing a formal proposal.

At the beginning of this project, our group had a tough time deciding on the topic in relation to Concept Plan 2011. However, after much discussion, we came to a consensus quickly and decided on the idea of implementing rooftop gardens as an avenue to generate more social interaction among residents. As our understanding for this project was clear, we were able to get started on the project quickly.

For this project, we had used various modes of communication such as face-to-face meetings, emailing and wiki.NUS for discussion. During the meeting, wiki.NUS was used as platform to record the minutes. Wiki.NUS was very useful as we could access to it easily to check our responsibilities and the deadlines. This had also improved our efficiency. However, it was not used as the main form of discussion for this project. This was because we felt that face-to-face meeting provided a better avenue for us to share our opinions regarding the project, especially in evaluating the survey results.


I believe that one of the reasons why this project could be completed successfully was because there was effective communication among the members. We were clear of our responsibilities and made effort to write a well substantiated report. The deadlines and what was expected of each of us were also understood. Thus, we were able to complete the project efficently. I also felt that as we had cooperated as a team previously for the peer teaching assignment, it was easier for us to collaborate this time.

Even though doing an individual project might seem hassle free, I felt that without the help of my team mates, I might not be able to achieve the same quality of work. I had also learnt a lot from them. For example,they taught me how to phrase my sentences in a more concise way. They had also encouraged me and built up my confidence for the oral presentation. Good team mates not only contribute to the project significantly or do their work responsibly, but they also help one another to improve. I am glad to be part of this team and to learn many useful things from them.

Lastly, I would like to thank Dr Radhika for advising and guiding us in this project! Thank you!:)

Reflection on Oral Presentation

Preparation

In preparation of the presentation, we prepared our speech individually and our group met only on the day of the oral presentation dry run and the actual day to rehearse. We could have met more frequently to practise the presentation together, so that we would be more familiar with each member’s script. In addition, we should have allocated more time to evaluate and make changes to each other’s script. During the rehearsal, there was a lack of opportunity to evaluate our gestures. This is important as we would be able to make corrections and not repeat them during the presentation. Appropriate gestures should be adopted so as to engage the audience effectively. Our facial expression was also not evaluated as well. Thus, we were not aware of the facial expression that we were giving to the audience. This could lead to an ineffective presentation.

However, during the rehearsal, we practised more than two times to ensure that our presentation was smooth. Individual preparation was also done adequately. I did many individual rehearsals prior to the final rehearsal. Also, I timed my speech to ensure that my presentation was not too long as compared to other presenters. During the dry-run, I was given feedback that my speech was too long and hence, I tried to cut down on the details to make the speech concise.

Delivery

During the actual presentation, I was too tense at the beginning and stumbled at the second slide of my part. In fact, during the practice, I found that phrasing my speech for the second slide was a difficulty. This could also be the reason why I was not able to present smoothly during the presentation. I also felt that my presentation was not enthusiastic enough to convince the audience that there were a lot of benefits gained from implementing rooftop gardens on HDB buildings and carparks. Due to my nervousness, I was unable to bring out my personality during the presentation. If I had done so, I would be able to sound more passionate and enthusiastic about this project.

Despite my nervousness, I was able to engage the audience by attempting to look at every audience. At the middle of my presentationm, I managed to regain my cheerfulness and confidence, and I sounded more passionate for this project. I believe that being passionate and enthusiastic for this project was important in the delivery of this presentation, as it would be able to convince the audience that this proposal would be feasible.

Use of slideware or other audiovisuals                           

In our presentation, there was sufficient animation and transition of slides. Pictures were also included to illustrate the ideas we were conveying on almost every slide. This made our presentation more appealing and effective. Nonetheless, we could have included videos to make the presentation a more engaging experience for the audience.