Critical Reflection

Module Reflection

One of the goals I had when I started the module was to improve my communication skills as I have a tendency to be shy so I sometimes lack confidence when it comes to expressing myself. The professor has also been great throughout the course with interactive discussions and in class presentations which help me overcome the challenge. For instance, in one lesson, they had us talk about our opinion on a subject, something new to me that intimidated me at first, but eventually got easier and easier to do over time. Moreover, speaking to the group during the group presentations helped me to speak more clearly. These were learning experiences that allowed me to gain confidence and say whatever it was that I wanted to say without being fearful of judgment. When I first started sharing these ideas I would be hesitant, afraid that they weren't going to be received well. Fortunately, the classroom environment was supportive and people were really supportive of me, and pointed out to me the value of my contributions. I started to become less rigid as time went by, I could speak more easily and communicate much better with fewer people and with larger groups as well. I aim to improve my communication skills by actively speaking more in front of people and trying to find constructive feedback from my peers and mentors. Moreover, it is important to practice mindfulness techniques to keep me calm before I speak so I have confidence in nerve rack situations. Other important lesson I learned was to be confident in expressing my own opinions even when it differs from others. Group discussions confirmed this, as I was unwilling to offer a different view and raise my voice when I didn’t agree with something. After a little encouragement from the professor and my peers, I really started to get into it. More importantly, this experience reinforced the notion that more opinions, especially broader range of opinions, enrich discussions. Stepping out of my comfort zone made me realise that expressing my opinions doesn't have to be bad, it's actually an important part of meaningful communication. It also made me realize how important it was to listen to someone else’s point of view, while confidently presenting my very own. This has allowed me to grow positively outside the classroom in professional as well as social settings.

Project Learning

Given that it was a research project, working with other people to accomplish a common goal gave me a great chance to develop some teammate skills. This was something I knew I needed to improve on.

For example, you had to work with a team, you had to communicate with different people who did it different ways, you had to delegate and manage and make sure you did work that matched each person’s strength. At one stage of the project I took it upon myself to organise meetings and communicate roles so that deadlines were achieved. As a result, the group was able to present a well researched presentation.

I learned the value of flexibility and active listening in a team. I learned from valuing each member’s input on how much the quality of a project can be enhanced through the diversity of those with which you work with. But I also had issues regarding how to balance conflict and the rightful participation of all. The initial reaction on my part was to not be diplomatic with disagreements thereby hindering the effectiveness of the group. I picked up over time of mediating discussion and encouraging feedback, and attempting to bring about a collaborative vibe.

In the future, I would like to improve my teamwork skills by participating in more collaborative projects and practicing how to resolve conflicts with others. These are skills that are not only necessary for academic success, but they’re very useful in working day to day in a professional capacity as well.

The other focus of the project was improving my presentation skill, making the content delivered confidently, and engagingly.

It took a lot of research in preparation for the presentation, as well as the ability to distill complex information and take away points easily. I rehearsed several times to make sure it was clear and well timed and added different visual aids to make the information more interesting. What I heard however was that my delivery was clear and well paced, but that I could make more eye contact and rely less on notes.

This highlighted the importance of preparation and adaptability when communicating effectively. It also pointed out areas for growth: being more confident when appearing in public, and learning to deal with anxiety while delivering public speeches. This is crucial insight as it is often the case that indispensable presentation skills are important in academic and professional atmospheres alike.

I want to attend other public speaking workshops taking part in them because when I deliver it in front of my peers. The more regularly you seek feedback, the more it will help you refine your delivery, and increase your confidence over time.