Week 4 Journey

[Figure 1: The CARL Cycle ]

This week, I have decided to experiment with a new reflective model to find the most suitable one for me.

Context

This week has been a mix of progress and challenges as I worked on multiple fronts. My primary focus was on finishing Assignment 2 for my DES301 course. Concurrently, I moved forward with my green roof project, shifting gears from research to ideating possible prototypes and curating mood boards. A significant portion of my time was also dedicated to writing my ethics and preparing for a presentation.

Action

The week was a whirlwind of activities. For my green roof project, I dived into the ideation phase, brainstorming potential prototypes that could effectively boost biodiversity on Auckland's Queen Street CBD buildings. To aid in visualising my ideas, I created mood boards that captured the aesthetic and functional aspects of my prototypes.

In addition to this, I spent considerable time writing the ethics section for my project. This involved ensuring that my designs would not only be environmentally sustainable but also socially responsible, considering the impact on local communities and urban wildlife.

A significant part of the week was dedicated to preparing for a presentation. Despite my thorough preparation in terms of content and slide design, I found myself grappling with nerves during the actual presentation. This affected my public speaking skills, particularly my ability to maintain eye contact with the audience. While my slides were clear and well-organised, the delivery of my presentation left much to be desired.

Results

The outcomes of my efforts this week were a mixed bag. On the positive side, I made substantial progress with my green roof project. The ideation phase generated several promising prototype ideas, and the mood boards effectively conveyed the envisioned aesthetics and functionality of these prototypes. Additionally, completing the ethics write-up was a crucial milestone, ensuring that my project aligns with ethical standards.

However, the presentation did not go as well as I had hoped. Despite having strong content and visually appealing slides, my nervousness hindered my public speaking performance. The lack of eye contact and the overall delivery of my presentation were areas that clearly need improvement.

Learning

Reflecting on this week, I recognise the importance of balancing content preparation with honing public speaking skills. While it is essential to have well-researched and clearly presented material, the delivery is equally crucial in effectively communicating ideas. My experience this week has highlighted the need to build confidence in public speaking, particularly in managing nerves and maintaining eye contact with the audience.

Moving forward, I plan to invest time in practicing public speaking, perhaps through small group presentations or revising the skills learnt in this weeks sustainability team share session. This will help in building confidence and improving my delivery skills towards my final presentations. Additionally, I will seek feedback from peers and mentors to identify specific areas for improvement and to gain tips on managing presentation anxiety.

Overall, this week has been a valuable learning experience, reinforcing the importance of comprehensive preparation that includes both content and delivery aspects. With these insights, I am better equipped to tackle future presentations and continue progressing on my green roof project.

References:

DES301. (2024). miro.com. https://miro.com/app/board/uXjVKwhlN3g=/

The CARL framework of reflection. (2018, November 9). The University of Edinburgh. https://www.ed.ac.uk/reflection/reflectors-toolkit/reflecting-on-experience/carl