Lesson 1 Reflection

Positive Statement

1. From my Lesson 1 presentation, I am most proud of my content/information. I spent a while trying to decide which answer I should present about, in my presentation. I finally decided that I wanted to explain to the class that residential areas being destroyed is one way that human kind is most affected by climate change. I spent a long time researching just that component of how humans are affected by climate change. I  went really in depth with my answer, and I believe that depth was shown when I presented to the class. I was especially proud when Mrs. Wonders told me that my content was very good; it confirmed that I did my research well and presented it well. 

Questions to Consider

2. 
  a) The assessment I would give my Lesson 1 presentation: P
  b) I deserve a P because according to the contract: 

• I had great body language (I did not fidget around or make disruptive moves)
•  I maintained eye contact at all times (I never took my eyes off my audience and always made sure they were registering my message)
•  I engaged my audience by showing them pictures of different ways human kind is affected by climate change (it was engaging because we can all relate to the different climate situations), I also asked their opinion of how they think human kind is affected by climate change
• I gave three specific examples of instances where human kind was affected by climate change (hurricane Katrina, my house almost being burned down, and the lakes being dried out that I wanted to vacation at)
• I cited 5 published sources (I had the MLA url at the bottom of each slide of which source I used, and each time I had a fact, I also said the author's name who primarily had that information.)
• My whole presentation was a source from my mentor, as I said at the beginning of my presentation, because in one day that I spent with my mentor, we were discussing how human's residential areas are affected by climate change. So, a lot of that discussion information was relayed in my presentation.

What Worked for me in My Lesson 1 Presentation

3. I believe my information worked best for me. I researched a lot and in depth, so I knew my information very well. I also rehearsed my presentation many times, so spoke smoothly and without looking at my powerpoint. My powerpoint also did not contain a lot of text, but was simply a visual aid. I maintained eye contact with the audience as well, at all times. I also remained calm and professional and kept the audience's attention.

What Didn't Work

4. There were two components that did not work out as I had expected they would,  
  unfortunately. 

1. One was my volume. I believed I projected my voice well. I believed this because as I spoke, I saw kids nodding along to my words, as if they were agreeing. I saw them paying attention and engaged, and none of them looked confused or like they couldn't hear me. Also, after my presentation, I asked a couple of classmates how I did, and they said they could hear me well. Therefore, I thought my volume was not a problem. However, Mrs. Wonders pulled me aside and told me that I had spoken in a low volume. This broke my heart. Therefore, if I could, I would go back in time and speak louder and make sure that my teacher is able to hear me loud and clear. In future presentations I will also make sure I am loud and clear to everyone.
2. The second component was my time. Before my presentation, I spent a lot of time practicing my speech; to say my information in a calm and confident manner, and to also make sure I could make time. However, I noticed that whenever I present, I get carried away on my information (I get into the zone) and I just talk and I end up talking faster than when I practice my speech beforehand. That is what happened in my Lesson 1 presentation. Before, when I had practiced my speech, I hit a time of 7:10. In my Lesson 1 presentation, though, I got into the zone and talked faster and hit a time of 4:58. This is unfortunate since I could have made 7 minutes of time, at least, if I had spoken slower. If I could go back in time, I would slow down my speech speed, and also keep an eye on the clock, to make sure that I am not talking too fast. For future presentations, I will practice more on slowing down my speech.

Because of these two components that did not work out, I gave myself the self assessment grade of a P, and not an AE, sadly. 

I still give myself a P and not an AP because my content and research that I did and reported in my presentation was far better than the speed of my speech and my not so loud volume, to my teacher.