Giovanni Rios - Post 1

 Giovanni Rios

Hello everyone,

    I have to admit that my experience with the presentations so far has been a bit...mixed. Since i

entered the class quite late due to unforeseen circumstances and registering into the fall term very

late, I unfortunately found myself in a position where I had to catch up quickly and was put into a

group at the last moment by the professor. It was certainly a challenging situation, and

unfortunately it did end up affecting my overall enjoyment of the presentations a bit, if I can be

frank. Being put into the group at the time that I did meant that I was initially a bit lost and unfamiliar

with what was going on. I struggled to grasp the context and the flow of the presentations since I

basically missed almost two weeks of the class sessions, which in turn made it difficult for me to

fully appreciate the effort and hard work put in by my fellow classmates. However, I do want to

acknowledge the fact that the leader of our group played a pivotal role in helping me out, even when

I was bombarding them with basically a bomb of questions and inquiries. Them, along with other

students that assisted me were so helpful to me, their guidance and support were invaluable, and

without them I honestly would have been even more overwhelmed then I already was!

    But, I will clarify that despite the initial difficulties i must say that the presentations themselves were

quite impressive. Each group showcased their unique ideas and perspectives, and in my opinion, it

was crystal clear that a considerable amount of effort had been invested in preparing for this

moment. I was particularly captivated by the sheer intelligence and enthusiasm displayed by some

of the presenters. It was apparent to me that they had thoroughly researched their topics and were

genuinely excited to share their knowledge with the class. One aspect that stood out to me was the

diversity of topics covered in the presentations. From things like preparing presentations for special

occasions to others like improving your delivery and language use while presenting, the range of

subjects were so vast and interesting to me. It was so cool to see how each group approached their

topic and presented their findings in their own unique ways. The presentations not only expanded

my understanding of these issues but they also sparked a feeling within me to delve deeper into

some of the subjects that they discussed, the ones that I were able to see after I joined the class at

least!

    Also, I need to give the presenters their flowers for their amazing delivery and presenting skills!

Despite my initial disorientation due to when I was placed into the course, I still found myself

engaged and attentive throughout most of the presentations. The use of some of the students

visuals, such as illustrated photos and videos, really added depth and gave me a bit more

clarification to the content in question that was being presented. Additionally, some of the

presenters incorporated personal anecdotes and real-life examples (and one person even added a

Kelly Clarkson video, haha), which helped establish a connection with us and make the topic more

digestible and streamlined. However, I must admit that there were a few presentations that didn't

resonate with me as much. While the effort put into these presentations was evident, if I can be a bit

frank, i felt that they lacked the same level of enthusiasm and coherence that I observed in others.

It seemed like some groups may have struggled to effectively communicate their ideas, which made

it challenging for me to fully grasp their intended message. Either way, I appreciate their dedication

and commitment to the presentations, and we were all new to the class as well, so nobody expected

everyone to immediately be perfect.

   

 One presentation that stood out to me was someone in a group that tackled the issue of Do’s and

Don’ts when Creating your Presentation. The presenters not only presented clear and simple

pointers and tips that were easy to comprehend, but they also emphasized the importance of other

visual and sensory resources as well, in addition to things like information on how to effectively use

visual and sensory aids. Their presentation was well-structured, and they effectively utilized visuals

to drive home their points. It was nice to see a clear-cut and digestible method of presenting that

most people can understand very simply. Another presentation that left a lasting impression on me

was the one about Helping People Learn Information (for Informative Presenting) . Although their

actual slides were very cut-down and simplified, their actual speech that they said while reading

their slides was chock-full of information. They spoke about things like the mission of your

presentation, and using humor and wit inside your presentation to garner the attention of the

audience. And I really love the way that they went into detail about each of their points per slide,

and ended it very cleanly and professionally in such a small amount of time.

    I will say, however, there was one of the presentations that may have fell a bit short. One group who

I won’t name, seemed to have struggled a bit with time management, as they rushed through their

slides and may have faltered a smidge in delving into the key points of their topic. This made it

challenging for me to fully grasp the significance of their research. Another group had an interesting

subject but lacked conciseness in their delivery. Their presentation also was almost missing some

“structure” and left me a bit more confused. Despite the very few times where I was confused, I still

believe that the presentations were overall a valuable learning experience, for me and for us all.

They did so, not only to see our current skills as we go further into the course, but also to learn from

mistakes that we make along the way. The presentations also provided us all with a chance to

broaden our knowledge on what we currently know, gain insights into newer and more specified

topics, and witness the creativity and sheer intelligence of my colleagues. Each and every

presentation has contributed and opened my eyes to my understanding of Public Speaking and how

to improve on it, and has even made me more intrigued with the subject. I’m glad to have been a

part of this experience and listen in on other students interpretations on what they chose and

presented. Lastly, I just want to express my appreciation to my group leader and fellow group

members for their support and guidance for our past projects, even despite some detours that may

have taken place along the way.

    As I’m nearing the conclusion of this blog, I want to summarize some major key points and say:

Although I truly did enjoy the presentations and was initially hindered by my late arrival, I was still

able to appreciate the hard work and dedication put into each and every presentation that the other

students created and read during our time in class. The vast range of topics, enthusiasm of the

presenters, and the attention-grabbing use of visuals and sounds made the experience all the more

interesting and fun! I hope that even if I make mistakes, I’m able to improve and be a valuable

contribution when it comes to my involvement in group projects and be more helpful to others.

Furthermore, the student’s presentations not only provided valuable insights into the art of public

speaking, but I also think that it gave way to the classmates having a sense of camaraderie among

each other. Although I couldn’t really participate myself due to my late entry into the course, It was

so inspiring and motivating to witness the supportive atmosphere in the classroom, as students

helped each other out and the professor offered constructive feedback for each and every student

and the group that they are a part of. The collaborative spirit that the class had encouraged me to

actively research and look further into public speaking and I do hope to be able to contribute to the

discussions and activities soon! I realized that even though I joined the class late, I still can share a

unique perspective and I hopefully could make meaningful contributions to the group dynamic in the

future.

    Also, the presentations served as a catalyst for personal growth and development. They pushed

others to step out of their comfort zone and enhance my own presentation skills. It even pushed me

into interacting with over students via group chats, even though I was not able to present as of yet.

Observing the presenters' techniques and delivery styles allowed me to learn new strategies and

techniques that I can apply in my own future presentations when I have a chance to give it a go. I

was very impressed by the presenters who demonstrated confidence and charisma during our

sessions, as they inspired me to work on my own stage presence and vocal projection in real life,

whether it’s for personal or professional purposes. In addition to growth and development, the

diverse range of topics that students covered expanded my knowledge in various areas related to

public speaking. From techniques for ethical language usage, to strategies for effective presenting,

each presentation offered a unique perspective and valuable insights. I found myself eagerly taking

mental notes and brainstorming ideas for the future. The presentations not only provided practical

tips but also encouraged critical thinking and reflection on the subject of communication and public

speaking.

    Furthering on this, the presentations that were presented highlighted the importance of preparation

and organization. It was evident that the successful presenters had put time and effort into

researching their topics, crafting engaging narratives, creating visually appealing slides, and

rehearsals to assure that they didn’t go over 3 minutes and stay within the limit per student.

Witnessing their approaches reminded me of the importance of the necessary preparation that you

need to have prior to presenting, so that you can be successful in delivering a compelling and clear

presentation. It also helped me remember that effective communication requires careful planning

and detail. Lastly, the presentations served as a platform for personal connections and inspiration.

Each presenter brought their own unique voice and spin on things to the session, making the

presentations interesting and engaging. I found myself intrigued by their presenting methods, and

how they chose to illustrate and form their individual slides. Their differences encouraged me to try

to make my own version of something that’s unique to me, when it comes to creating and

presenting my own slides.

    In conclusion, the presentations in our class were not just a series of speeches, but was also a

learning experience of professionalism, learning sub-types of presenting, and delivery. I am grateful

so far for the opportunity to be a part of this course and to learn what it means to actually do public

speaking in a professional manner with my classmates. The presentations have left quite an impact

on me, both as a student of public speaking and as an individual seeking personal and professional

development. As I continue this course throughout the rest of this year, I’ll carry with me the lessons

that’s I learned so far from observing other students around me and from the professor’s own

lectures, the assignments that we’ve completed so far and that we will do in the days to come, and

the knowledge that I gained from the presentations that we’re shared with in our class by my

classmates.

Thank you for reading!