Post #1 Karely Mayor

My Thoughts on Presentations 

The group presentations were a different experience than what I expected. I usually do not love speaking in front of a whole class because I can get nervous and start thinking too much about what everyone is thinking. Being able to watch other students before it was my turn helped me understand what the assignment was about. I also got to see different ways that people presented their information.

Group 1

When I watched Group 1, I was still getting used to the idea of having to do a presentation. Since they went early, I paid attention to how they explained their topics and how they moved through their information. Something I noticed was that every person seemed to have their own way of presenting. Some people spoke more naturally while others seemed a little uncomfortable. It showed me that you do not have to present exactly like someone else. I also liked that the presentation gave me a chance to learn something without having to do all the reading on my own. Hearing the information from other students made it easier to stay interested in what was being discussed. Another thing I took from this group was that listening matters. Even though it was not my turn yet, I could still learn things from their presentation that could help me later.

Group 2

Group 2 was easier for me to watch because I already had an idea of what the presentations were going to be like. I was able to focus more on the actual information instead of wondering what was going to happen. I noticed that a group presentation takes cooperation. Everyone has to know what they are supposed to do, and the different parts have to come together. If one person is not ready, it can make things harder for everyone else. It also made me think about communication. When people are working together, they have to keep each other updated and make sure everyone understands their job. This is important because one person cannot always do everything for the group. Watching another group also made me think about my own presentation. I started realizing that I did not need to make everything perfect. I just needed to understand what I was talking about and be ready when it was my turn.

Group 3

Group 3 was my group, so this presentation was more personal for me. I could not just sit back and watch because I knew I would have to participate. Before we presented, I made sure I understood the part I was responsible for. I was nervous about standing in front of everyone, but I knew I had to do it. Having other people in my group helped because I knew I was not up there alone. I liked that we were able to divide the work between us. Each person had something to focus on, which made the whole project feel more manageable. We also had to depend on each other to make sure the presentation made sense from beginning to end. Once I actually started presenting, I realized that it was not as bad as I had imagined. I was still nervous, but I was able to finish my part. I think sometimes worrying about something beforehand can make it seem worse than it actually is. Doing this presentation gave me more practice speaking in front of people. I still would not say that public speaking is something I feel completely comfortable doing, but I know I can handle it better now.

Group 4

By the time Group 4 presented, I had already experienced the project myself. This made me look at their presentation differently because I knew how much work probably went into preparing for it. I could also pay attention to things that I may not have noticed before my own presentation. I noticed how each person had to stay involved and know when it was their turn to speak. It was also interesting seeing another group because their presentation was not exactly like the others. Everyone has their own personality and their own way of explaining things. That made each presentation a little different. Since I was already finished with my part, I felt more relaxed while watching Group 4. I did not have to worry about what I was going to say anymore, so I could just listen and take in the information.

My Intake

After seeing all of the groups, I realized that presentations involve more than just standing in front of a classroom and talking. There is preparation, teamwork and communication involved before anyone even gets up to speak. I also learned that being nervous does not mean you cannot do a good job. I was nervous before my presentation, but I still got through it. Seeing other students do the same thing also helped me feel more comfortable. Another thing I learned is that working with other people can make a big project feel easier. Everyone has their own responsibilities, and when people actually do their part, the work can come together better.

My Final Thoughts 

I think this project was a good experience for me. It gave me a chance to work with other students and learn from them at the same time. I liked being able to see how different people handled the same assignment. The biggest thing I got from this experience was more practice with speaking in front of people. I know I will probably have more presentations in college, so having this experience is helpful. I still get nervous when I have to speak in front of a class, but now I know that I can get up there and do it. I think the more I have to do it, the more normal it will feel.