Using a Wiki...

The wiki our group used most for this project is the Googledocs. Before this module, I already knew about Googledocs. As Yinghui mentioned, it is a great collaborative tool for project work with auto-save function and a chat-box for us to communicate.  While we also used the NUS wiki, I feel that Googledocs is much more convenient and easy to use; and I personally prefer its interface.

Besides using Googledocs for our group report, we also used email and Windows messenger to send powerpoint slides to each other. Thus, it can be seen how technology has indeed facilitated programmes which can provide great convenience and aid to project work.

As Yinghui mentioned, each of us in the group had the initiative to finish our tasks on time and did not resolve to slipshod work despite having a lot of other assignments on hand. This project was smooth-sailing and an enjoyable one for me, and I feel that perhaps one day in the near future, URA may really implement what our proposals have included. ;)

Reflection on Oral Presentation

The group project, done together with Charles and Yinghui, was focused on how to achieve sustainable development in Singapore. Our group came one with 3 proposals, one allocated to the each of us. 

The proposals included:

• Biodiesel- done by Xiuxian (me) 
• Cycling- done by Yinghui  
• Nuclear Energy- done by Charles

 

 

Dry Run

As Yinghui mentioned, as all 3 of us were taking different modules, there was a lack of time to meet up. As a result, our dry run was done with insufficient preparation. In addition to that, I had to be in charge of the introduction, and that made me additionally nervous. The video camera also made me uncomfortable. As a result, for my part, I fumbled and was unable to bring across my points to the audience. 

However, after the dry run, I realised my shortcomings in presentation skills due to pointers from the tutor and my classmates, such as I was too soft, points needed to be elaborated and I need to face the audience more. In addition to that, I also learnt that I MUST NOT put my hands in front of my groin in the 'Adam in Eden' stance while presenting. :P 


With these pointers in mind, I set my mind to do much better for the actual presentation itself.

Actual Presentation

For the actual presentation, our team re-did our slides and script. I added in more diagrams to visually aid the audience. There was a slip-up though, as our slides were unable to load properly. Luckily, Malcolm helped and it works! He was given the name 'IT wizard' aka 'Harry Potter' by the tutor. Haha. 

 

 

 

This time round with more preparation, I was more confident than during the dry run, and faced the audience squarely, while clearly bringing across my points. One bad thing was that I was still too soft. It is something I will have to work on, maybe I should bring a microphone while presenting in future and make full use of existing technology.

Reflection

As a whole, I feel that our group improved alot. Charles managed to find points to support our stand of building a nuclear plant in Singapore. Speaking of which, there has been recent news that Singapore is still going ahead with the plans of a nuclear plant despite the Japanese incident. Yinghui also did well in her part about cycling. Overall, this has been a fulfilling experience which allowed me to learn about and become more confident in presentation skills. (: