Critical Reflection

Before taking this module, my main weakness in communication skills would be the lack of confidence, which causes me to be hesitant when I talk, as well as fear and anxiety. For example, during presentations, I tend to look down at my script due to fear of saying the wrong thing, and my mind often went blank due to stage fright. However, in this module, I was given multiple opportunities to speak in front of the class, which helped me gradually build confidence in speaking publicly. As a result, I became more confident during our presentation, maintaining a steady pace. However, I still didn't speak loudly enough for the entire class to hear me clearly. This experience helped me recognize the areas where I still need to improve. In the future, I aim to speak louder and with more confidence during presentations.

In addition to improving my communication skills, I have also learned more about critical thinking. Before attending this module, I typically completed assignments without using any specific framework or structure. However, after learning about the Paul-Elder Critical Thinking Framework and other formats for writing reports, I was able to write with more detail, clarity, and proper tone, which significantly improved the quality of my work. To further develop my critical thinking skills, I plan to explore other similar frameworks online and consider how I can apply them to my assignments.

And in project learning, I have learnt a lot about presentation skills, which is related to the weaknesses I mentioned earlier. One key takeaway is the importance of reiterating questions from the audience. This ensures that everyone understands what was the question that I am answering to and it also keep the audience engaged. Without this step, they might miss the context or fail to realize that I am addressing similar questions that they have in mind. I also learned that team members should not stand together at the side during Q&A sessions; instead, we should spread out. When answering questions, it’s important for the speaker to step forward so they can be heard clearly. In addition to these Q&A tips, I have also learned the value of actively engaging the audience during the presentation. For example, by asking questions or involving the audiences in activities, the presentation can be more interesting and easier to understand. Another important point which I have learn in this project was the impact of slide design and formatting on the overall effectiveness of a presentation. As the saying goes, “a picture is worth a thousand words”, using images instead of text-heavy slides helps the audience focus on the speaker and understand the content better, rather than overwhelming them with too much information.

In conclusion, this module has taught me a lot, from critical thinking to presentation skills. It has changed my perspective on learning these soft skills. There is always room for improvement, and learning is a continual process. The first step of learning would be to identify my weaknesses, learn from my experiences and work on them. From there, I can learn from others and explore resources, such as online frameworks, to further enhance my skills.