The Department of English- Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University is widely recognized for its innovative approaches to teaching and learning. As an integral part of our academic journey, the students in the Department of English engage in presentations. Each year, Dilip Barad sir orchestrates these presentations in a distinctive and enriching manner. These presentations typically encompass the use of PowerPoint presentations, interactive question-and-answer sessions, and live streaming on platforms like YouTube and Facebook.
The motivation behind live streaming these presentations is multifaceted. Firstly, it ensures that our work is archived, allowing us and others to access it at any time. Moreover, it provides an opportunity for a wider audience to witness and appreciate our efforts.
One of the most significant advantages of this presentation method is the opportunity for self-assessment and improvement. Personally, I take advantage of this by reviewing my presentation videos to identify areas where I may have made mistakes or areas for improvement. This process enables me to continuously refine my presentation skills and enhance my performance.
The primary objective of these live presentations is to document our progress. Within this presentation session, we employ two types of evaluation to gauge our growth and development.
In the context of these presentation sessions, there are two distinct methods of evaluation:
1. Teacher's Evaluation: Dilip Barad sir assesses the presentations based on a rubric that covers aspects like content, verbal skills, content quality, non-verbal skills, and research and research writing.2. Peer and Self-Evaluation: Students also receive feedback from their peers as part of the evaluation process.
Every day we can check how we are being evaluated by sir and our classmates. Self-evaluation is also there where we have to give a score to ourselves, which is included under Peer and Self-Evaluation.
The development of our skills through these presentations occurs in three distinct ways:
- Subject
- Presentation Skills
- Digital Skills
1. Subject:
In this first aspect, the goal is to enhance our understanding of the subject matter. By connecting various concepts and ideas, we expand our knowledge and develop new ways of thinking. To illustrate this, Barad sir shared Bloom's Taxonomy or Pyramid, which classifies thinkers into "LOT" (Low Order Thinkers) at the bottom and "HOT" (High Order Thinkers) at the top. We also aim to improve our articulation and language proficiency, including the formulation of questions for the subsequent question-and-answer session.
2. Presentation Skills:
This involves enhancing our ability to create visually appealing and effective presentations. It contains aspects such as graphic design, color schemes, maintaining a consistent theme between the presentation topic and slides, and selecting appropriate fonts. Moreover, it extends to our delivery skills during the presentation, which tests both our verbal and non-verbal communication abilities. Many of us have overcome stage fright as a result of these presentation sessions, and we have noticed a remarkable improvement in the effectiveness of our presentations over the course of these three presentation seasons.
3. Digital Skills:
In the 21st century, digital literacy is of paramount importance. Through these presentations, we become more familiar with technology and its practical applications in our academic pursuits. We all use mobile phones, but learning how to harness them effectively for our studies is essential. Our digital skilling encompasses tasks such as handling mobile devices and laptops, live streaming via platforms like Stream Yard, and re-uploading our presentations to our personal YouTube channels. Additionally, Web Quest has always been difficult. There are so many sites available for study but to find authentic sources, it is very much important to learn how to search and what to search. Learning how to search for and utilize high-quality materials and proper citation techniques is integral to developing our research writing skills.
These are some of the key takeaways from my experiences in our initial presentation season.
Bloom's taxonomy plays a critical role in our presentations, falling under the cognitive domain of teaching and instructional objectives. It's structured into six stages:
- Knowledge
- Comprehension
- Application
- Analysis
- Synthesis
- Evaluation
1. Remember - This stage involves recognizing and recalling facts, which is something we all did during our childhood and is fundamental to learning.
2. Understand - It's not enough to merely remember facts; we must also grasp the meaning and significance behind these facts.
3. Apply - Taking that understanding a step further, we must learn to apply these facts, rules, concepts, and ideas in practical and meaningful ways.
4. Analyze - The ability to break down information into its component parts is the next level of cognitive development. This helps us see the intricate details within a broader context.
5. Evaluate - Beyond analysis, the capacity to judge the value of information and ideas becomes paramount. This stage involves critical thinking and discernment.
6. Create - The highest level of Bloom's taxonomy is the act of combining these parts to form a new whole, fostering the development of new ideas and innovative thinking.
Education is not confined to the mere accumulation of facts and ideas. Instead, it encompasses our capacity to analyze, evaluate, and apply these ideas in various contexts, including history and cultural aspects. True education lies in our ability to think critically and act upon our knowledge. In this context, the final stage, 'Create,' does not refer exclusively to artistic expression like poetry or art, but rather to the synthesis of diverse elements to generate new, innovative ideas.
The purpose of our presentations aligns with the same goal. As students in the Department of English, we select topics, seek historical connections, and then apply these insights to contemporary issues.
Another significant element is the question-and-answer session. This practice enhances our ability to delve deeper into our chosen topics. This develops a habit to look deep into the topic we have selected, how aware we are in the areas related the topic.
During my first and second semesters, I faced challenges in effectively conveying my ideas in most of the presentations. However, I'm delighted to share that this time, I scored 100% in every presentation. I believe that this success stems from my comprehensive approach. I diligently considered past, present, and future aspects, along with their implications and advantages. I do acknowledge that there is still room for improvement, and I aim to make my future presentations even more engaging and impactful.
Happy to share that during this presentation season, I succeeded in clearly articulating my ideas, and I am pleased with my performance. I am optimistic that in the upcoming and final presentation, I will excel even further.
Thank you Barad sir for always introducing us to new ways of learning and filling that enthusiasm in us to work.
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