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COMM 1110 Learning Journal

Write a five- to eight-page typed (double-spaced) paper that addresses the following topics. Cite specific examples wherever possible. 

What are your three strongest points as a public communicator? (bullet point — no specific detail needed here)

What are three areas for improvement? (bullet point — no specific detail needed here)

Specifically, address the following on how, and how well, did you:

  • Introduce your speeches?
  • Clearly define and call out your central idea (thesis) statement for the audience?
  • Preview your speeches with a quick summary of the main points?
  • Organize your speeches? (methods, clarity)
  • Use transitions and signposts?
  • Establish and maintain eye contact with the audience?
  • Appear confident immediately before, during, and after speeches?
  • Use gestures effectively?
  • Avoid distracting mannerisms?
  • Use vocal variety?
  • Utilize PowerPoint and other AV?
  • Summarize your speeches at the end?
  • End speeches?
  • Adapt to the audience before and during the speeches?
  • Stick to the established time limits?
  • React as an audience member (listening to others’ speeches)?
  • Utilize library resources (including Galileo) while researching your speeches?

What did you learn about public speaking from your peers in this class? Make mention of at least three peers (by name) in your response. (Your peers will not see your responses, so you can feel free to use both positive and negative aspects of their speaking styles.)

Finally, include at least one well-developed paragraph on how you will take the skills you gained in this class and apply them to other college classes.

Include your outlines and speaking notes for each of your speeches this term. (Simply copy and paste them at the end of your paper.)

Want to listen to a Learning Journal from one of my students last spring?

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PRCA 3331 Final Project Presentation

IMG_8398 by JamesEverett.Develop a list of 10 Things We Should Know About _____ (your Fortune 500 company of choice)

  • The list can include anything that you found to be particularly interesting about your company.
  • At least one item on your list should revolve around career opportunities in corporate PR with the company.
  • Feel free to be creative with your title.

Create a PowerPoint presentation.

  • For the title slide, include the company logo and your name.
  • Rather than making bullet points of your things we should know, instead use photos to represent the ideas. (Please use some key words as titles on your slides, to help provide some context.)
  • One of the best places to find photos is in Flickr.
  • If you use photos that are not your own, include a photo credit at the bottom of the slide (like I did on this slide).
  • On the final slide, provide your contact information (name, blog URL, and perhaps your LinkedIn profile URL — please don’t show your phone number or e-mail address)

Embed your PowerPoint presentation in your blog (for 10 pts extra credit)

  • Save your presentation in PowerPoint 2003. (SlideShare does not yet support the newest release of PowerPoint.)
  • Go to SlideShare; join SlideShare if you haven’t already done so.
  • Upload your presentation to SlideShare.
  • Find the embed code at SlideShare, and embed your SlideShare into a blog post.
  • Publish your blog post.
  • NOTE: You should add this blog post to your “table of contents” page for your final project.

Prepare and deliver your 4-6 minute presentation, using these tips.

  • Never let your audience see you navigate to your file. Have the projector’s picture muted until you are ready to show your slides.
  • Speak to your audience, never to the screen or monitor.
  • When you’re not using your presentation, press B to blacken (or W to whiten) the screen. This helps the audience to focus on you, not the screen.
  • Additionally, here are some general tips I share in my public speaking classes.
Public Speaking Tips
View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: presentations speaking)

 

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jameseverett/2533124025/

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Twitter in the Classroom :: An Interview

In September, my Corporate PR students at Georgia Southern University were given the One Week of Twitter Assignment. In October, they blogged about their experiences with Twitter. A Canadian educator who I’m connected with on Twitter read my post “One Week of Twitter :: Revisited,” commented on it, and coordinated a time with me to discuss the assignment.

Rodd Lucier, an educator from Komoka (Ontario, Canada) and host of the Teacher 2.0 podcast, called me via Skype yesterday afternoon. I’ve been a subscriber to his podcast and blog (The Clever Sheep) for about a year now. Though the focus of his podcast and blog tends to be more for K-12 educators, I never fail to learn something from him every week. If you’re ever looking for someone who is stellar at making analogies, listen to Rodd’s podcast. He finds a way to connect things in our everyday lives with technology.

Listen to Rodd’s Twitter in the Classroom podcast episode here at my blog, or better yet, subscribe to Teacher 2.0 through iTunes.

A note: if you ever plan on using Skype or another VOIP service for an interview, be flexible and creative. Make plans for what to do if/when the call drops. Our call was disconnected no less than a dozen times during the 30 minutes we spent together. I was quite glad that we were not trying to do this interview live, in front of a classroom. Rodd was able to stitch together the many bits and pieces of our interview.

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One Week of Twitter :: Revisited

In September, my Corporate PR students at Georgia Southern University were given the One Week of Twitter Assignment. Most of the students started their adventures with Twitter a similar feeling. They typically had two types of confusion: confusion about how Twitter works and confusion about why there is any value in Twitter. One student even commented in class and in her blog, “At first I didn’t like it…I thought oh great another stalking tool.”

What did they get out of the assignment? Here are a few of their comments:

When I was first given the assignment I wasn’t quite sure what I had gotten myself into. However, I’m really glad that my Corporate PR professor had given us an opportunity to explore this GREAT social network. Twitter has taught me an entire new way to be connected to people. Reina Heard

I would definitely recommend becoming involved in Twitter; it is an experience that can help you gain contacts in the field that you are interested in as well as making an online reputation that will help you in the future. Megan Piper

My personal advice for anyone who hasn’t yet gotten into Twitter would be to join up, secure your username and play around with it for a while. Michael Tarver [NOTE: Take the time to click through and read Michael’s whole post, where he describes his impressions of Twitter’s possibilities, limitations and usefulness.]

Last week I was working on an important presentation and was having difficulty coming up with ideas to get the audience involved… so I turned to Twitter. I asked a direct question relating to audience involvement and within two hours I had four replies. I used the tips and my presentation was a success! Heather Atha

I have already made contacts through the site and Twitter is officially a part of my everyday life. I would recommend this site to anyone who is interested in networking and expanding their social horizons. Becoming an active tweeter has made me more interested in using other social media sites, and I am more involved online all together because of this experience. Kelli Martin

I used Twitter and my comment showed up on Current.com [during a presidential debate]! That’s exciting. William Foster

Using Twitter on my mobile allowed me to see immediate reaction of others on these topics. I found this especially fascinating; because as I viewed an event unfold I could watch others response to the event. This allowed to somewhat observe the cognitive faculties that are employed in one’s opinion formation process. Donovan Sharkey

Of course, not all the students found Twitter to be something they’d like to continue even after the assignment was over. Here’s one final comment that is similar to several criticisms that I read in their blogs:

I personally did not like Twitter because I have a hard enough time finding time to check my e-mail or my school account. I think Twitter is a wonderful networking site for the professional world but not for me at this point in my life. Lauren Jackson

Will I continue to use One Week of Twitter as an assignment in my public relations classes? Definitely. And do I recommend that my students continue to use Twitter? Definitely. [Students: See Twitter for College Students: 7 Tips Plus a Bonus.]

Questions about how I used this assignment?

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PRCA 3339 :: Photography Course for Friday

Instead of physically coming to PRCA 3339 on Friday, October 24th, please take the NewsU online course titled “Language of the Image.” You will need to register with NewsU — free — before you can take the couse. We will discuss some of the key points Below is NewsU’s description of the course: 

What will I learn? This module will explore the elements that transform a photograph into an image that tells a story. Through interactive exercises you will learn about quality of light, juxtaposition, point of entry, mood, emotion and a sense of place. At the end of the course, you will be able to communicate better, using visual language, with your newsroom colleagues, whether they are photographers, reporters or editors. And you can share with others who have taken the course how your new visual vocabulary will help you in the newsroom.

How long will it take? This self-directed module takes about one to two hours to complete. You can access the course on your own schedule, starting and stopping at your convenience. And you can come back anytime once you enroll.

About the instructor: John Davidson is a partner in Creative Eye Consulting, specializing in visual therapy for the newsroom. Before leaving in January of 2003, Davidson was Assistant Managing Editor/Photography and Senior Editor/Visuals at The Dallas Morning News. He has worked at five other newspapers as a photographer and photo editor.

Note: This course requires the Flash plug-in to view.

Cost: This course is currently available at no cost to registered users of News University.