Group Presentations

I learned a lot this week in class as group presentations started. The groups that have presented their assigned chapter have done an amazing job using effective visuals, dividing up the material equally, using good hooks, and involving the audience. For the presentations on the chapters in the book, we are only given 7 minutes. When you think about it that's not that much time for 4 people to be presenting a whole chapter of information. Even with the lack of time, each group has done a great job so far and helped generate ideas for those that have to follow.
I will continue watching those that present as my group awaits its turn, taking notes of things to do as well as things not to do.

Power Pointing

This week in MCOM we talked a lot about presenting, and a lot about how to use Powerpoint. I've always known the very basics of Powerpoint (probably a little more than Michael Scott), but nothing crazy impressive. CARBS is something that is easy to remember that can make a big difference in any Powerpoint presentation. Contrast, alignment, repetition, balance, and spacing. Understanding how to use these five treatments can have a drastic impact on the presentation we are giving. They are what will capture and hold the attention of our audience, or without effectively using them, do the opposite.
At the end of class on Thursday, our teacher gave us an assignment to make a good slide in Powerpoint of an invitation to a valentine's day dance. My group decided to make it right after class, and working with my group members, I learned more things about Powerpoint than I previously knew. It was also a good moment to put into practice the things I learned in class and from reading the book.


“PowerPoint doesn’t kill meetings. People kill meetings. But using PowerPoint is like having a loaded AK-47 on the table: You can do very bad things with it.”

                          (Peter Norvig, Google Director of Research)

Grammar

This week seemed like a never ending barrage of grammar. The grammar test we have been studying for like crazy since the beginning of the semester is on Monday. I don't want to think about the test too much, because all I have heard since the semester started is how hard the grammar test is. Horror story after horror story hasn't left me too excited to take it, but all the studying has definitely helped me feel a little bit more comfortable.

As I have studied the grammar rules, I have started paying attention to the way people speak and found myself wanting to correct them when they speak incorrectly, which surprisingly happens quite often. I know that even after studying all this grammar however, that I still am not perfect in my usage of the English language. The grammar portion of MCOM has been very helpful and has improved the way I speak and write and I know that it will help me in various facets of life.