Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Reflection and a Video: Kinda like dinner and a movie, but most reflections are not edible

While Tuesday's class didn't go the way I expected, I hope you all are figuring out more and more exactly how your final presentation will come together.  I'm excited to see what you come up with and hope you have fun communicating with your group and the campus/community.

Before your final presentation, I want you to watch your Persuasive Speeches and reflect on your experience and presentation. (You can come by my office in the Noel Studio with a USB Drive to get a copy of your video, or take your chances on the technology in the classroom to download your video.) Once you watch your video, write your responses to the questions below and give them to me on or before the beginning of class on Thursday, December 8.
  1. Your Persuasive Speech was your third speech in the class, how do you think you've been able to progress as a speaker?
  2. What do you feel are your strengths as a presenter? Give me some examples you noticed in your video.
  3. What about your presentation style do you feel could be improved? Again, give me some examples you noticed while watching your video.
  4. Based on what you noticed in the video, what steps do you plan to take to prepare for your final presentation in this class? Be specific.
  5. What about this speech assignment did you find challenging? What did you enjoy? What could I do to improve the assignment for my next class?
Remember, we have one more reflection due by Thursday, December 15 at 12:30 p.m. (that's the end time for our final exam.) After your final presentation, I will post the questions on this blog. Answer these questions and email them to me before the day/time above. This will be your final exam for this class.

For Thursday watch this Ted Talk. Consider how the speaker uses video and pictures to help us understand his project.



Have a fantastic Wednesday!

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Thanksgiving Video

We had a good turnout in class today, and I think you all made good use of our time. Your tribe now has a speech outline finished, so you should know how your videos and photographs will be integrated into the final presentation.

Your outlines may change as your project progresses, but I hope these outlines serve as a helpful starting point.

Have a great turkey day on Thursday. I'll see you back in class on Tuesday. Until then, watch this video. Consider how Anna uses video and photographs as she talks about her project.



Have a happy Thanksgiving break!

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Meet in Groups on Thursday and Syllabus Overview

I hope class today has helped you formulate your project and that you all are going to have fun applying some of the concepts you learned in our reading and class discussions to a small-group, community-outreach project and presentation.

On Thursday I'll be presenting at NCA, so use that time to plan or actually conduct your project. Here is the syllabus for the rest of the semester, so we all have a sense of where we are heading (please note, this plan may change):

Week 14
November 22: Discuss Ted Talk (see below for embedded video); In class composition of final outline; Final outline due by the end of class
November 24: Thanksgiving

Week 15
November 29: Discuss Ted Talk; Cloud-based software overview and workshop
December 1: Final Presentation Workshop - Meet in class

Week 16
December 6: Final Presentation Practice Run - Meet in class
December 8: Final Presentations

Week 17
Finals Week: Skill Development Self-Assessment Assignment due during exam period. Class will not meet for a final. Write where you feel comfortable. Turn in assignment via email before exam period ends.



See you on Tuesday.

Friday, November 11, 2011

A few things to do before class on Tuesday

Now that you know your new tribe and project (see blog entry below), I want you to begin thinking about ways that you will present your experience to the class as a tribe. I think the video below is a good example of a group of people having fun and then sharing their experience using public speaking, video, and photographs.

Unlike the video below, you will present with your entire tribe, but you will be using video and photos of your project to share with the class.

Also, as you watch the video, think about the unique ways Chris gets people's attention and makes people laugh. 

Remember, I'm presenting at a conference on Thursday, so be sure to attend class on Tuesday. You will have class on Thursday to complete your project. Tuesday, therefore, is a very important day to plan your project and talk about ideas with me. If, for some horrible reason, you cannot come to class on Tuesday, be sure to contact your group. Don't be left out of the project.

Since you'll be working in tribes to complete this project, I want you to read Epilogue A (pgs. 392-398) which discusses working in groups. 



Have a great weekend!

Thursday, November 10, 2011

New Tribes: Here are the projects you've chosen

I'll post more in the next day or two, but for now I wanted you to know what projects are formed and who is assigned them. Congrats to those who pitched the winning topics. I think we'll have some good experiences and learn something about communication in the process. 

Be the Light
1. Lauren
2. Mackie
3. Liz
4. Michelle

Hypermilling
1. Ben P
2. Trevor
3. David
4. Hillary

Relay for Life
1. Molly
2. Cassandra
3. Ben W
4. Aubrey

Richmond Nightlife
1. Don
2. Sean
3. Evan
4. Malachi
5. Robert

Recycling
1. Micah
2. Matthew
3. Victor
4. Carmen

Ronald McDonald House
1. Kaitlyn
2. Bree
3. Chinonye
4. Shukura

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Last Day of Persuasive Speeches: Thursday, November 10

We heard 12 persuasive speeches on Tuesday, so we are right on track to finish up our speeches on Thursday. If you didn't give your speech on Tuesday, be sure to attend class on Thursday to present.

After we finish the speeches on Thursday, I will ask you to write out a list of your top 10 projects. I will do my best to put you on a project that is as close to your first choice as possible. If you are not in class, I will put you in the group of my choice.

Once these new tribes are formed, I will post the chosen projects and tribe members along with the homework due on Tuesday.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Get those Xtranormal likes and prepare for speeches on Tuesday

We tried something new today, and I hope you had a positive experience with Xtranormal. I thought it would be a unique and memorable way to "discuss" chapter 11 in the book. Some of you might have had some fun with the project, and that's great.

If you haven't done so yet, post your link on our Facebook group (EKU Class), and vote for the videos you like the best. If you were absent today, the prompt for the assignment is on the Facebook page; just scroll down a bit.

Ask your friends/family to "like" your video if you want; it doesn't matter to me, but keep in mind that the video with the most likes by the beginning of class on Tuesday, November 8 will be rewarded. In fact, the entire tribe will get bonus points, so help each other out.

Thursday I'll be traveling to a conference, so be good. Use class time to practice your presentation. Scroll down on the blog entries to refresh yourself on the assignment if needed.

See you Tuesday and have a productive weekend.