My Interpersonal and Written Communication Skills

During my communications and employability course I completed a task for an assignment which involved me and another member of my class creating and presenting a powerpoint presentation about web based communication channels.

To create and present the web based communication channels powerpoint I needed to use my interpersonal and written communication skills. Presenting the powerpoint also involved me using verbal communication skills because I had to speak to the audience while presenting. I used non-verbal communication skills also because I had to communicate using body language and written information which was included in the powerpoint presentation. The interpersonal and written communication skills that I used included presentation and team working skills.

Presentation Skills:

The powerpoint presentation needed to have definitions of a range of web based communication channels and include examples of their usuage including: Blogs, VLogs, Podcasts, Web pages and Video conferencing.

The presentation that I created covered all of the web based commmunication channels that I was tasked with. It included detailed definitions as well as examples of each of the different communication channels. The presentation included images, links to web pages relevant to the topic and also informative video content.

The presentation was targeted at my ICT class and my communications and employability teacher to help inform them about different web based communication channels. I feel the powerpoint presentation was targeted well toward this specific audience and included enough appealing content such as detailed information, images, web page examples and informative video content relevant to the topic.

When I was presenting I maintained a loud and clear voice to keep the audience listening. I maintained the tempo of my voice and tried not to talk to fast so that the audience would be able to understand everything that I was talking about and take it in. I also used a powerful and interesting tone of voice while speaking to my audience in order to keep them enthused. I used strong and powerful body language to ensure that my audience did not get distracted during the presentation and tried to keep the focus of the audience on me. I stood tall and looked at the audience as much as possible when I was speaking to ensure they were listening to me. I maintained eye contact with the audience and used enthusiasitic facial expressions in order to keep my audience interested in what I was saying. I feel I did a good job at maintaining the audience’s attention because everytime I scanned with my eyes the audience they were looking up and listening to the presentation. At the end of my presentation when I asked the audience questions I made sure to nod to what they were asking so that they knew I understood them.

To improve my presentation I could memorize the presentation off by heart next time to ensure that I can focus on only my body language and my tone of voice as I felt using notes may have been a distraction for the audience. If I was focused solely on giving the audience the best presentation experience then I would be overall able to improve the presentation.

At the end of the presentation I asked the audience if they had any questions about the powerpoint and I answered any questions they had. As this was a good technique I could have instead asked questions on each of the slides to get the audience more engaged with the presentation and make the presentation more interactive for the audience. I could also have included more open questions in order to get the whole audience involved in my presentation. That way they would really take in what was being said and leave the presentation feeling informed and knowledgable about the topic.

Teamwork skills:

I was paired with a member of my class and needed to work with them to create a powerpoint presentation that we would eventually present to my ICT class and communications and employability teacher. To complete this task to the best of my ability I needed to use my team working skills.

The powerpoint presentation needed to have definitions of a range of web based communication channels and include examples of their usuage including: Blogs, VLogs, Podcasts, Web pages and Video conferencing.

As there were many sub topics that were needed to be covered for the web based communication channels powerpoint, my partner and I first of all decided which topics each of us would cover. We decided that I would complete half of the powerpoint and cover the definition of web based communication channels, blogs and VLogs sub topics. My partner needed to cover the other half of the powerpoint which included the podcasts, web pages and video conferencing sub topics.

After we had assigned the topics that each of us would cover we set out to complete the powerpoint. The plan was that when we had both completed each half of the powerpoint we would merge all of the slides together into one powerpoint because this made the task of creating the powerpoint much more straightfoward and efficient. When we had finished all of the slides and merged them into one powerpoint we presented it. Me and my partner both presented each of the slides that we had made because we thought this was the most effective way as we would know our own slides better and would be more likely to do a better job at presenting.

Overall the presentation was a success and the work that we had done was equally split up which in turn paid off and we ended up with a quality powerpoint presentation on web based communication channels. I also feel that powerpoint was successful in its purpose of delievering information to a large group because I used all of the correct techniques for drawing a large audience in including detailed information, images, video content, web page examples, questions, good use of body language and a good tone of voice.

Sometimes not all of the audience will grasp the information in the presentation and will want to ask questions about the presentation in order to further their understanding of the presentation topic. It is important for me to ask questions for these types of people so that my presentation will be successful with the whole audience. Types of questions that I could ask the audience to futher their understanding would include: if we look at this slide we can see, if we now consider this slide or what can we learn from this slide.

Web Based Communication Channels - Corrected Powerpoint

Web Based Communication Channels - Original Powerpoint

Personal Development Plan

Personal Development Plan

Introduction

My personal development plan allows me to plan my own development based on the where I am at now in my life and also where I would like to be in the future. My personal development plan sets out my learning needs as well as training, learning and qualification opportunities that will develop my knowledge and skills.

Strengths acheived

ICT Skills

I think I was successful in achieving this strength because I met my goal of improving my Microsoft Excel Skills, specifically in areas such as: performing calculations and using functions and formulas.

I met this goal by attending a spreadsheet modelling class and learnt how to carry out different calculations in Microsoft Excel including: addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. To meet my goals I visited a tutorial website and learnt how to carry out formulas such as addition in Microsoft Excel and I also talked to one of my classmates who demonstrated how to carry out muliplications and division in Microsoft Excel.

In order to achieve my goals in the future I would find more tutorials online, attend another spreadsheet modelling class or ask a friend to teach me more advanced functions and formulas in Microsoft Excel.

I feel being an aural learner helped me to reach my goals because I was able to watch tutorial videos on how to learn functions and formulas in Excel, I was able to record lectures given in my spreadsheet modelling class and play them back to help myself learn functions and formulas in Microsoft Excel and I was also able to particpate in group discussion with my classmates to learn functions and formulas in Microsoft Excel.

I feel being a solitary learner helped me to reach my goals because I was able to concentrate better on Excel tutorials that I had carried out. I was also able to focus my attention on what my classmates demonstration of Microsoft Excel.

I feel being a physical learner helped me to reach my goals because it helped me to carry out the activities during the tutorial of Microsoft Excel and also when I tried to carry out tasks that my classmates told me to do while they demonstrated how to use Microsoft Excel.

Presentation Skills

I think I was successful in achieving this strength because I met my goals of improving my presentation skills in ares such as: my body language and how I engage the audience.

I met this goal by speaking with my communication & employability teacher and got her advice on how to give a successful presentation. I also completed an online course on how to improve my body langauge and read a book from the library which had advice on how to engage my audience more.

In order to achieve my goals in the future I would complete more courses to improve my body language further and make it the best that it can be. I would also buy and read more books to help me engage my audience more.

I feel being an aural learner helped me to reach my goals because I was able to discuss how to give a successful presentation with my teacher.

I feel being a solitary learner helped me to reach my goals because I was able to concentrate while reading books on how to engage my audience.

I feel being a physical learner helped me to reach my goals because I was able to complete the activities on the body language course online that I took and it also helped me because I was able to learn from the book I read on how to engage my audience.

Strengths not achieved

Microsoft Frontpage Skills

I was not able to acheive this strength because I could not meet my goals of improving my Microsoft FrontPage skills specifically in areas such as using HTML and linking web pages together.

As I was not able to acheive some action points I was partially able to speak with my web design lecturer and ask them how to link web pages together or give me a short demonstration of this. My web design teacher gave me a quick tutorial on this but was unable to complete the session as she was interrupted so I only learned this topic partially. I was also unable to complete an online course I found, on how to use HTML because I didn’t have enough time due to other work. I was able to speak with one of my classmates who has experience using Microsoft FrontPage and I asked them to to show me how to use HTML or link web pages together however I could only partially meet this action point because as they were showing me how to do this they the class finished and I only partially learned the topic.

In order to achieve my goals in the future I would find the time to ask my web design teacher for help on with my FrontPage skills. I would also make time so I could complete a course on how to use HTML and I would also arrange a good time for one of my classmates to show me how to use HTML and link web pages together.

I feel being an aural learner didn’t affect me in not completing my goals because it was simply down to the fact I didn’t have enough time due to completing other work.

I feel being a solitary learner stopped me from completing my goals because it affected me when I was being shown by classmates on how to use HTML because I was not learning on my own.

I feel being a physical learner didn’t affect me from completing my goals because when I was completing my goals being a physical learner helped my to take a practical look so that actually helped instead of stopped me from learning how to use HTML and link web pages together.

Weaknesses achieved

Time Management Skills

I think I was successful in reaching this strength because I met my goal of improving my time management skills and making sure my assignments were done before the deadline and handed in on time.

I met this goal by organazing my time and spending some of it in the library on a Friday to make sure I got my assignments done. I created a timetable and stuck with it to make sure I had enough spare time to work on my assignments and get them finished before the deadline. I also made sure not to plan any events on the weekend if I knew my assignment work was due the week after and I should be working on it over the weekend instead. All these actions helped me reach my goal of getting my assignments done before the deadline and handed in on time.

In order to acheive my goals in the future I would spend more time in the library after and between classes to make sure all my assignments are complete before the deadline and ready to hand in.

I feel being an aural learner was of no advantage when reaching my goals of improving my time management skills because none of my goals involved the use of listening or sound.

I feel being a solitary learner helped me to achieve my goals because I was able to privatley study in the library on my own and concentrate on completing my work independantly.

I feel being a physical learner has helped me to achieve my goals because I was able to take action in not planning any events over the weekend that would take time away in which I could be getting my work completed.

Weaknesses not achieved

Verbal Skills

I was feel I could improve this weakness because I could not meet my goals of improving my verbal skills in areas such as: reading slowly, more clear and also using the right tone of voice.

I was able to speak to an english teacher however she only showed me how to read text slowly and at a slow pace so I only partially met this action point. I was not able to complete an online verbal test because I didn’t have the time due to other assignment work I had to complete. I also couldn’t arrange a time with a friend who I knew was good at reading out.

In order to achieve my goals in the future I would find the time to ask an english teacher to give me more advice or a short demonstration on reading out. I would also take time out of my assignment schedule to complete online verbal tests to help improve my verbal skills. I would make sure to arrange a good time with a friend who is good at reading out to give me some advice.

I feel being an aural learner was of no advantage when reaching my goals of improving my time management skills because none of my goals involved the use of listening or sound.

I feel being a solitary learner affected me in achieving my goals in a negative way because reading out is not a strong solitary trait and I would prefer to read out alone.

I feel being a physical learner partially helped me in achieving the goal of reading out slowly because taking a practical outlook on reading slowly to an audience helped me alot.

Written Communication Skills

I was not able to acheive this strength because I could not meet my goals of improving my written communication skills in areas such as proofreading and using punctuation.

I was unable to speak to an English teacher and ask them to give me advice on how to use comma’s and apostrophe’s correctly because I was too busy completing other assignment work. I was able to ask a classmate to read over my work but they were only able to read over half of it until they were interrupted so I only met this action point partially. I found a good educational website that could help me with my use of spelling and grammar but I was only able to complete one lesson on it so I only partially met my action point.

In order to achieve your goals in the future I would make more time to ask my teacher to give me some advice on my use of punctuation. I would also arrange a good time with one of my classmates and get them to read over my work before I hand it in. I will also research for an educational website that can help me improve my written communication skills and use spelling and grammar properly.

I feel being an aural learner was of no advantage when reaching my goals of improving my time management skills because none of my goals involved the use of listening or sound.

I feel being a solitary learner helped me in achieving my goals because practicing and learning how to write out independantly came very easy. Also being a solitary learner helped me when I was completing activities on the educational website for improving my spelling and grammar.

I feel being a physical learner helped me in achieving my goals because I was able to take a physical approach to activities that I carried out on the  educational website. I was also able to take a physical approach to reading over my work to make sure spelling and grammar was correct.