Final post

Module learning

At the start of this module, I had told myself I would master more workplace and communication skills which would assist me during my upcoming internship. I also hoped to overcome the anxiousness I felt and become more confident when speaking with people. Thankfully, I had learnt more than enough to achieve the said objectives. I was glad there were multiple opportunities for me to practice one to one communication with classmates whom I had not known before. For example, I had to comment on a blog post with a new partner and open up my first impressions with another new partner. These had definitely helped as the lessons went beyond the theoretical aspects. Having to pen our ideas on the whiteboard also allows more inclusive learning where everyone had an opportunity to participate in. It also increased my confidence in voicing out my opinions. Hopefully, I could have this same level of confidence during meetings at my workplace later on. From this module, I also discovered that videos can be an interesting tool for learning. Examples include the TED talks or any videos on interpersonal skills, which could easily be found on YouTube. Therefore, I could continue watching such videos to build on my communication and workplace skills in the future. 

Presentation Showcase 

Unfortunately, my team wasn’t chosen to present for the Presentation Showcase. However, it was such an honour to see the other groups presenting their case studies along with the interesting and creative videos created. Among all the groups which presented, I was blown away by the Happy Tree group. Firstly, their chosen case study was refreshing as they focused on the spa industry instead. I could also relate to the industry as a woman. Furthermore, their slides were interesting as they incorporated the spa elements into it. The pink coloured slides felt feminine and fresh. Their agenda for the presentation was also nicely arranged, giving it a smooth flow. It allows the audience to follow the presentation easily, which is a bonus as some groups had a more confusing flow for their presentations. Moving on to the speakers, they were confident about their case studies as they presented. They maintained eye contact with the audience and their volume was also enough to let the whole auditorium hear them. They were neatly groomed, and their body language and gestures were also appropriate. For example, they did not refer much to the slides throughout the presentation. Like what we learnt in class, they avoided awkwardly passing on to the next speaker. Instead, the passing on was all done smoothly. There were few filler words used and the pace of their speech was also not too rushed, which showed their confidence. In the video, the settings of each situation were appropriate as it showed a real spa environment. The problem and solution were also clearly elaborated in the video. In conclusion, I was glad they were chosen to represent my class in the Presentation Showcase. All the other groups also did equally well in the amount of effort put in for the case study project. 

Critical Reflection on ‘Skills on Wheels’

 Out of all the modules provided, I could strongly relate to two modules the most: Handle Face-to-Face Interview and Converse with Confidence. Firstly, as I am entering the workforce soon, it is vital for me to understand what is required of me as an interviewee. Furthermore, I need to understand the areas that potential employers look for when hiring someone. I often found myself to be unsure of how to craft good responses during interviews. As a result, I tend to face difficulties in answering the interviewer. In addition, as I am a reserved person, I am used to keeping quiet and getting nervous or shy when having to converse with someone new. I tend to stutter over my words and get sweaty palms as a result. Therefore, these two modules are the most important areas personally for me. 

With the comprehensive information given during each module, I could grasp the important pointers needed for me to improve my skills. Therefore, I could successfully attain almost full marks for the activities in both modules. After going through both modules, one of the biggest takeaways is that I have to be honest in giving answers, especially in providing my weakness during interviews. Building trust with the new people is also important especially when you enter the workforce. Thus, I learnt that it is important to be honest and true to yourself. Furthermore, our personal branding is also not what we think we want to portray to others, rather it is what other people think of us. 

In conclusion, the learning experience was interesting as various methods of learning were incorporated, such as videos, interactive videos, quizzes and informational posters. Review of your scores after each activity can also be seen, which I believe was helpful for the improvement of the students. Each module has also strategically pointed out and emphasized the importance of interpersonal relationships both at the workplace and in school.