Critical Reflection

 Module learning:

The two specific goals that I had for this module were to improve my non-verbal communication skills which included my body language and presentation of myself and to become a better critical thinker and effective communicator.  As part of my efforts to accomplish these goals, I utilized the most impactful lessons learned from the communication module which according to me were the written and oral skills applied and demonstrated through assignments such as the preparation of the summary reader response article and the oral presentation of the project report. 

The summary reader response article was based on NASA's Perseverance rover's navigational system where concepts including proper citations of the references taken from other sources were taught and learned according to the 7th edition APA citation guide on the Columbia College website. Similarly, the format of the reader response starts with a brief summary highlighting the purpose and problem of the navigational system which is then later on explored in more detail with appropriate thesis statements connecting the solutions and conclusion of the topic. The format preparation included various techniques such as paraphrasing, structuring sentences, and ensuring that each of the 7Cs (comprehensibility, correctness, clarity, and completeness) were addressed. Therefore, I felt that my idea was effectively communicated to the reader as a result of applying some of the aforementioned critical thinking concepts.

The oral presentation of my project report was done on the proposal to implement a new lidar sensor to increase the detection range and accuracy for search and rescue missions that the Atlas robot is built to perform. The oral presentation helped me develop my presentation skills in terms of tone and pitching of voice, body language, and slide organization to better engage the audience, and therefore were some of the non-verbal communication skills that helped me do a better job of presenting, however, I felt that they were not fully utilized due to my nervousness.

Furthermore, during my course in Republic polytechnic, I was not taught how to properly cite a report or a work that I have taken reference from, which was evident in my poly report at that time as it only included the list of references and works that I have applied without considering a standard to correctly credit and cite the sources. Similarly, most of the presentations performed during poly were only critiqued based on the content available and not how the presenter had effectively presented the content, hence I greatly appreciate and take into consideration the relevant criticisms I have received through the peer review feedback for future presentations. 

In conclusion, I will be able to apply valuable knowledge and feedback acquired in this communication module to enhance my writing and presentation skills for future applications in the university and workplace industry.

Project learning:

The project learning involved focusing on the research project which my team had previously presented on. During the project, I learned that the writing skills, as well as teamwork and interpersonal skills, were valuable to me as I was able to gleam into how I performed and worked with my team members when writing the report, which was evident as I felt that I performed well with my teammates, as I was able to complete my portion of the work assigned to me as well as to assist them in their work when required. This can also be reflected back to my course in Republic polytechnic, as we had to work together for multiple projects from each module where I learned how to work and handle issues arising in the team through active communication, therefore there was not a lot of difference in what I gained from working with my teammates. 

However, I was able to learn how to better effectively communicate with my teammates, by applying the critical thinking concepts to analyze and evaluate the report information presented.  These concepts were demonstrated through our meetings where we repeatedly question each other and try to understand the reasoning behind each statement through further elaboration on topics such as why the Ouster Os1 sensor was chosen as a proposal for the Atlas robot's navigational system and how it can be beneficial for the robot's operation in search and rescue missions. Additionally, active listening was applied to better comprehend our team member's ideas, arguments, and criticisms from an objective perspective, as instead of immediately trying to interrupt the person to convey the opposing ideas such as why other models of the Ouster company were better/not suited for the proposal, we would wait for the person to finish their argument and then analyze and counter it with our idea. 

Therefore, critical thinking is the driver of effective communication, as it aids in efficiently expressing ideas and thoughts which are clearly conveyed across to others, and then understood without any lack of ambiguity, which can then be used to conduct an objective evaluation.