Final Reflection on Learning

There has not been many 12 weeks as enriching as the one which just passed, marking the end of ES2007S. Professional communications entails a spectrum of skills which would propel and differentiate us in the workplace. I took the wonderful advice of my friend who had taken this module the semester before, and have never looked back since.

3 points come to mind when I revise the learning outcomes for the module. Firstly, in the workplace or life in general, people skills such as conflict management and being assertive are indispensable. These skills define us, how we perceive ourselves and others, and ultimately shape us into unique individuals.While we communicate verbally, non-verbals are often as important, if not more, as verbal cues. Specific to the workplace, written communication tips were also given. How to convey good and bad news, how we write application letters, these are useful life skills to be equipped with. 

Next, we were exposed to 4 presentation opportunities, consisting of a peer teaching session, research proposal as well as both dry runs. The amount of "air-time" one has in the module does wonders to our presentation prowess. Constant feedback by mdm Radhika and peers were generously exchanged, and have resulted in immense improvements as seen from the final presentation. That was, in my opinion, a "graduation" moment for students in the module. Tips like where to stand, where to place our hands seem trivial but they actually paint a better image of us as presenters. The video recordings of our presentations allow a glimpse of a third party view of ourselves, giving us another perspective to assess ourselves.

Lastly, we experienced firsthand the amount of work needed to create a persuasive proposal. Being able to persuade and convince audiences is yet another important skill at the workplace, this is how we can bring people into our perspective and encourage them to do the same for a common greater good.

This module has been extremely beneficial, especially since I am about to enter the working world. I will keep the learning points in mind, and create a successful personal brand at the workplace.

Reflection on Project Proposal

I had the good fortune of being grouped with Si Kai and Yumeng for the research proposal. I knew Si Kai is a cooperative and self-initiated team member from the peer teaching project, and was looking forward to working with him again. A new member onboard was Yumeng, whose working style I had to explore and synergize with our group dynamics. Initially, she was reserved and quiet which was understandable given her unfamiliarity with us. I initiated frequent communication with her and soon enough the ice was broken and she was contributing enthusiastically by the second meeting. Communication is a delicate and important aspect in group projects, and sometimes to maintain a pleasant working relationship you have to talk on a personal level to make the other party feel comfortable.

The next challenge was about finding credible primary sources for our project within a short span of time. The initial idea was to conduct face-to-face interviews, but when replies came back, the problem was about finding a time when everyone could make it. Within a matter of minutes, we decided to switch to email interview instead, effectively reducing the inconvenience for all parties. NEA (National Environment Agency) was the only company to get back to us, and their reply proved to be robust and informative enough. This has shown that things can go wrong or go off track during a project, but one has to be flexible and forward-thinking enough to proceed and not stagnate.

I would be entering working life soon, and projects would be my bread and butter. This module has equipped me with the necessary communication skills which I have to continually hone and practise. Possible improvements that I will execute include the ability to communicate deadlines and the managing the intricate balance between getting the job done and understanding the cause for delays. Also, I will improve on the distribution of tasks for the group members. Factors to juggle and balance are each member's strengths and weaknesses, as well as their willingness for the task.