Reflection on Communication
Initially, I approached this task confident in my communication abilities. However, conveying all my research in just 1.5 minutes proved challenging. My first script ran far too long, so I repeatedly cut it down until it fit the timeframe. Yet this eliminated important details that would have helped my peers understand better.
I decided to leverage the slideshow strategically, placing text of eutrophication stages to limit verbal explanation while still enabling viewer comprehension. Similarly, I included images and data points of current actions regarding the eutrophication index, reducing the need for verbal detail. This approach proved effective—our demonstrator noted in feedback: "Great balance between audio and visual content, and appropriately limited text on screen".
Feedback revealed we failed to provide necessary background on the UNSDGs as a whole, focusing only on our specific goal. The comment from our demonstrator, "Some brief introduction to the UNSDGs as a whole would aid an uninitiated audience" highlighted this gap. I believe addressing this detail could have secured full marks, as it was our only negative feedback.
Moving forward, I would dedicate initial presentation time to establishing the "why" before the "how"—grounding technical content within its sustainability framework. This experience taught me that effective communication under time constraints requires not just condensing information, but distributing it between verbal and visual elements. More importantly, it reinforced the need to provide context before diving into specifics, ensuring audiences understand both the broader significance and the detailed content. These lessons will inform how I approach future presentations.