Despite the small class size, we have students from quite a diverse range of background. I find my best learning experience comes from working with different classmates and understanding their perspective in different areas of work.
The next valuable lesson comes from observing how Brad delivers his ideas to the class. After my last Oral Presentation, when Brad commented that my pace was too fast, I initiatively noticed how he pauses naturally at different intervals to allow us to digest the ideas he just said. I find this practicing and observing flow a very good way to improve my presentation skills.
Finally, I am delighted to see how everyone in the class have bonded well together and was certainly glad to join in the after class lunch during the second half of the semester.
All the best to Brad and all my classmates! Keep in touch!:-)
Hi Ian,
ReplyDeleteThank you for this clear and concise post. I’m glad we worked well together as well. Because I have commented all great skills in your previous post, I detect 1 small issue for you to fix because we always want to learn and improve ourselves: “I initiatively notice” -> “I initiatively noticed”.
I’m really grateful for helping me a lot in the proposal. I wish you luck in your future!
HAHAHA Thank Chuong for pointing out my mistake!
DeleteI think you put in a good effort in the project too and I appreciated it!
Anyway you should continue writing the blogposts, this time just on all the funny jokes you alway think of. I will be your first follower;)!
Hi Ian!
ReplyDeleteI agree that engineering classes do quite little to promote learning in communications. The lack of chance for communication leads to a lack of practice. The modules made compulsory for engineering students to improve their presentation skills are hampered by the class culture, defined by the entire class of engineers. Thus, this class is really a great thing for us engineers!
Anyway, your post has also made me realize that Brad does pause to let the message sink in. All the while, I didnt realize he does it and your post was a "glass breaking" moment for me (for fans of the comedy show 'how i met your mother').
All the best in your future endeavors and enjoy your last semester! I'm beginning to miss school life already even before my last exam!
Hello Austen,
DeleteI always think that you have a good presentation style and I am sure you will do fine in the workplace!
Enjoy your last few weeks of mugging in sch!
Hi Ian!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the really concise post! Short and sweet :)
Yes, I, too, need to learn how to bring in suitable pauses during my presentation! Brad and some of our classmates, like Austen and Jack, are really good role models for us to learn from!
Lastly, I want to thank you for being such an awesome group mate! I really enjoyed working with you! You are highly efficient, helpful and resourceful! Thank you! Anyhow, I also want to say that you do have a flair in presenting your ideas too, just need a little more fine tuning and you will do really awesome! :)
Hello!
DeleteI enjoyed working with you on this YAH! as well! You are certainly much more meticulous than me! I am glad you are able to point out small errors in the project I missed out!
Similarly, I think you can speak much better if you relax more!
Hi Ian!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that engineering students get very little exposure and opportunities for classroom interaction! In a sense, this module actually feels like a breath of fresh air. Coming to class to interact and learn from each other has been something that I have not done since joining NUS.
Generally I always thought you're a really good speaker though. If you corrected the minor issues you had with pauses and speech pace, you'd be great. So, no worries there!
Anyway, enjoy your last semester in school while it lasts! Stay in touch yeah! :)
Hi Weizhe,
DeleteThanks you your advice!
Hope you would take more module like ES2007! Yup keep in touch!
Depending on whether Vaish ends up making a post or not, this reflection could be the very last ES2007S post that I comment on after six years of assigning students such a task. Imagine that, Ian. I've read and commented on over 1000 student blog posts in ES2007S, and then I open yours from the list of names under the Sem 2 2012-13 Group 7 heading, and what do I see?
ReplyDeleteA white mouth-wide-open smile, blazing from my Mac screen like a miniature sun. I love it.
Then I read your post and find three succinct areas that you have identified as being memorable take aways from ES2007S. You mention the value of learning diverse opinions, the relevance of observing the tutor's behaviors in relation to what has been taught or discussed, and finally, your "delight" at having a chance to bond with your classmates. For me each of these elements is extremely (if not supremely) appropriate, even with the haiku-like attention to detail. And maybe rather oddly, I find your brevity a bit of a relief at this point. You've gotten to the crux of the matter, Ian, for whatever reason. And I thank you for breaking this vast edifice of classroom experience down to these basics.
The chemistry for a special mix in this last class was there from the start, I suppose, seeing how we had mostly science and engineering students for whom, as you mention, participation was "alien." Everybody was ripe for engagement, and engage we did. The results may strike outside observers only in the form of grades and vaguely achieved objectives. But for those of us in the class, the liberation (from alien trends), the learning (from one another) and the exuberance (in bonding) were all very real.
Thank you, Ian, for putting the exclamation mark at the end of my own experience in ES2007S.
With you and so many other ready and willing students in the passenger seat, it's been a great ride.
It had certainly been a great ride for us too! Thanks for everything over the past 13 weeks Brad!:-)
ReplyDelete