Chelsea Lugo - Reflection #1

Chelsea Lugo- Reflection #1

September 28, 2025

Reflection on Group Presentations

Introduction

When I think back on all the group presentations in class, I realize how much I learned, not just about the topics that were presented, but also about presenting itself. Watching my classmates presentations showed me a lot about what works, what doesn’t, and what I need work on to improve my own speaking skills moving forward. Each group had its own strengths and approaches, and seeing those differences made me reflect on my own habits as a speaker.

Group 1

Group 1 did a good job of breaking down their information. I liked that they delivered their information in a way that made sense step by step. What stood out the most to me, though, was that they included a video in their presentation. I had never seen that done before, it made their presentation feel more engaging. It added something extra that kept me interested, and it’s definitely something I want to incorporate into my future presentations.

That being said, I did notice that some of the group members read directly off their slides. I do the same exact thing sometimes. Seeing it from the audience’s perspective made me realize that is something I need to work on. When someone reads word for word, it can come across like they’re unprepared or not fully comfortable with the material. That’s not how I want to present myself in the future. Group 1 made me realize that I need to work harder at memorizing my main points and practicing more beforehand so that I can speak confidently without relying on my slides to provide all the information.

Group 2

Group 2 seemed really well spoken and knowledgeable about the information they were presenting. You could tell they had put in the effort to understand their material instead of just repeating it. One thing I really liked was when one of the group members asked the audience a question. That made the presentation feel more interactive and relatable. It was different from the usual style of just talking to the audience and instead created a little dialogue between the presenter and the audience. Something else that another member in the group did was use analogies and examples to real world scenarios, that came off as very knowledgeable and informed.

Both of their techniques stuck with me because they reminded me that public speaking is about connection. It’s not just about giving out information it’s about making the audience feel like they can relate and understand the topic at hand. While I enjoyed watching them use those techniques, I would not incorporate that into my presentations because they're not my style. 

Group 3 (My Group)

Reflecting on my own group’s presentation, I think we did well overall, but there are definitely things we could improve on. Personally, I know I could have done a better job at memorizing the information. I caught myself reading off my slides more than I would have liked, and watching the other groups made me more aware of how that looks from the outside. It’s not that I didn’t know the information, but I relied too much on the slides to guide me, and that’s something I want to move away from in the future. Moving forward I'll make sure to practice enough beforehand to ensure I can deliver my presentation without relying on my notes.

As for the group as a whole, I thought my teammates did a really good job. Everyone seemed prepared and knowledgeable. The main area I think we need to work on is being more organized with our presentation designs. I think the way we put together our content could have been smoother. If we had coordinated the visuals to flow a little better, it would have looked more put together. That’s definitely something I want to focus on in future group projects.

Group 4

Group 4 stood out to me in a unique way. Not only did they present their information well, but they also clearly thought about how they wanted to appear as a group. I noticed right away that they were all dressed in black. I had never thought of doing that before but it made such a difference. Their outfits made them look cohesive, professional, and put together. I hadn’t seen any other group do something like that, and I thought it set them apart. It showed that they cared about their image as a group, not just the content of their presentation.

Their delivery was strong, too, they spoke clearly and confidently, which made their presentation easy to follow. Overall, I think they did a great job, and they showed me that even small details such as the way you dress, can make a presentation stand out.

Final Thoughts

Looking back at all the presentations, I realize that I took away something valuable from each group. From Group 1, I learned the importance of adding creative elements like videos, but also the risk of relying too much on slides. Group 2 reminded me of the importance of audience engagement and how a simple question can make a big difference. From my own group, I learned that I need to be more confident in my delivery and that organization matters just as much as the content itself. And from Group 4, I saw how presentation isn’t just about what you say it’s also about how you present yourself as a group.

Overall, I really enjoyed seeing how different groups approached a presentation in their own ways. Everyone had their own strengths, and even the weaknesses I noticed were actually lessons that helped me reflect on my own habits as a speaker. This experience made me more aware of what I want to work on and gave me ideas I can carry with me into future presentations.