Reflection on Group Presentations

 Throughout the course journey, I was able to be a part of all three different groups in the class by contributing to their conclusions on their individual projects. All three of the presentations offered unique insights into different topics that they talked about. I was able to see how each project differed from the other in their own way, some presentations were longer than others, some were more complex and some had humor in them which I loved to see! In this essay I will discuss my thoughts on these presentations analyzing their effectiveness in terms of content, delivery and impact to the class.

Intercultural communication

Group 1 discussed chapter 3 with the theme of intercultural communication, one thing i loved about this group, is how organized they were in terms of trying to push for the slides to be done as quick as possible, this way they had enough time to practice each slide individually, and prevent the group from being lost. I personally think they covered the theme perfectly, showing confidence in presenting their slides and making sure they get their point across. The presentation had multiple visuals and bullet points that helped with the PowerPoints theme, making it all look smoother. One of the strongest aspects of this presentation was the use of examples. The presentation had examples for different topics of the chapter, covering culture, values, dominant cultures, cultural identity, race, ethnicity, and many others that are inside of intercultural communication. Overall this presentation was very informative, it was well researched and the delivery was good, I definitely walked away with a good understanding of the chapter.

Communicating in Groups 

Group 2 presented chapter 9, their theme was communicating in groups. Some of the key points they spoke about were different types of groups, characteristics of healthy groups, strategies used to manage group communication and many others. The speakers provided a balanced discussion highlighting both the positive and the negative effects of communicating in groups. I personally think that the content in the presentation was strong, however, the communication was not the best and this made the group fall into procrastination. Some participants of the group seemed confident presenting their slides and some others relied on their notes. This is a common practice, however I think the group would look more professional if all of us collectively presented using our notes for support, but not as our main source of information. The group was very supportive to each other when it was time to present, and were very empathetic to those who struggled presenting, giving them words of affirmation and encouragement.  Apart from this, the presentation was very well organized, and it looked good aesthetically speaking. The presentation was all in one uniformed color and it was super informative. The delivery could have been improved to make it more engaging as a group, but either way it’s something that we will put into consideration next time.

Group Leadership and problem solving 

Group 3 did chapter 10, focusing on group leadership and problem solving. This final presentation explored the roles of a good leader and the different dynamics to problem solve. For this final presentation I believe that the group did a good job presenting their slides, the information was also pretty clear and straightforward, enhancing the decision making in the workplace when it comes to leadership. They also touched on ethical concerns in the presentation slides. As a group I consider they work together on the presentation, not too much communication but they all pulled their own weight in the group and make sure no one stays behind on their assigned tasks. Overall this last presentation was well structured and the speakers did a good job, all of them. They used visuals to help each other present and went pretty smooth, but I think visually speaking all the slides looked a little bit different. We also relied on notes but as I said before it’s something we will continue to improve as the semester goes by.

Beyond just evaluating these presentations, this experience has made me more aware of the qualities that make a speaker effective. Public speaking is not just about conveying information, it is about engaging, inspiring, and persuading an audience. A strong presentation requires a combination of well researched content, confident delivery, audience engagement, and clear visual aids. Watching these presentations has shown me how different approaches to these elements can affect how an audience perceives and retains information. Moving forward, I will strive to incorporate these elements into my own presentations, ensuring that I deliver my ideas in a way that is both informative and compelling. Additionally, this experience has made me reflect on my own listening and critical thinking skills. Often, we passively absorb information from presentations without analyzing the effectiveness of what the group is communicating. However, actively evaluating these presentations has taught me to be more discerning in how I consume information. I now recognize that even the most well researched topic can lose its impact if not presented effectively, and conversely, a simple idea can become powerful when delivered with confidence and engagement. This realization will help me not only in my academic journey but also in my professional and personal life, where effective communication is crucial.

To finalize my reflection, I think  that all three presentations had their strengths and areas for improvement. The first presentation had great communication skills and organization overall. The second presentation stood out on aesthetics in my opinion, I like how organized it looked but fell short on delivery. Either way they did a fantastic job. The third presentation was highly analytical but I think it could have benefited from better visual design. 

All three presentations offered unique insights and learning experiences. Each had a distinct approach and while none were perfect, they all had valuable takeaways. Watching and analyzing gave me a clear understanding of what makes these presentations successful. A good presentation is not all about having good content, but about working together as a group to achieve a common purpose. Moving forward, I will apply these lessons in my own academic and professional pursuits, ensuring that I communicate my ideas in a way that is both engaging and meaningful. The presentations allow you to gain deeper critical listening, and most importantly the presentations inspired me to improve my own presentation skills. Watching my peers present provided the balance needed to develop a strong research, and have a good delivery.