Monday, June 13, 2011

Evaluating

Today Jenny Lee did her WISE presentation and I was the student evaluator, along with Erin Hoover.  I just wanted to make a blog post to shout out to Jenny- GREAT JOB!!!

I also wanted to reflect on the experience.  It was such an incredible help to watch Jenny do her presentation and see what comments she received about it.  I hope that this will enhance my presentation.  Here are a few things that I learned:
- What did I really learn about myself?  Add a deeper meaning, do not just skim the surface
- A lot of the process may be clear in my own head, but I must make an effort to articulate clearly to the audience what that process is
- Its fun to have the audience use their hands, or get engaged through a different variety of visuals
-Use movement and eye contact!!
- Be prepared and organized- because that really shows through in your presentation!
-Have an overview at the beginning of the slide show, to give the audience a sort of 'road map' of where I will take them during my presentation
- Good enunciation, take my time while speaking
-show your passion and confidence about your topic

End of the Year

I have to say, my blog is looking a little lonely now a days.
However, I met the minimum requirements for my number of entries.  And I have been blogging up until the last day of WISE class.  To be honest, I wasn't sure if I still had to blog after the day when our WISE class ended...but anyway, here is another post!!

This semester has been incredible in so many ways.  I have learned a lot about myself, and a lot about my community in just a few weeks.  I found it very satisfying to be given a project of my choice to focus on for the last semester and seeing where I take it.  And I definitely took it in several different directions.  I became a master composter, I became a Cayuga Landscape intern, I am designing a garden for the Ithaca Children's Garden, and I am a much larger contributor to my community.  These are the things that I have gained from my WISE experience that I am very proud of, and that I will never forget.

There are very few things about my WISE project that I regret.  There are some things that I wish had gone differently.  For one, I wish I had more time to focus on my project.  With other class work, and college applications, and Green Team, it was definitely a challenge to give my WISE project all the time that it needed and deserved.  Another thing that I wish that had gone differently is the arrangements with the Ithaca Children's Garden.  I am STILL waiting to her back from them about when I can begin my gardening.  This was one of the most discouraging parts of my project.  I have spent hours upon hours preparing plans for this garden, and now I feel as though I have been led on.  I truly hope that they still want me to continue with this garden.  I have been itching to actually create my own garden, and unfortunately now I will have to do that after the school year ends.

Although it is a little inconvenient still having to do a lot of English work after the school year ends, I am very glad that I took WISE.  I feel that WISE allowed me to explore not only a topic of my choice, but myself way more than another English class would of.
I have my presentation on Wednesday, and honestly, I am a little nervous.  But I know that it will go fine.