Information

Question:
What is the best way for you to get information? (written, audio, presentation, pictures, etc.) What implications might this have for your presentation next week and beyond?

Answer:
The best way to attain information differs for every individual because everyone has a different style of learning. Personally, I retain information best when it is provided in a written format which provides me the opportunity to re-read and even copy the information down. Any picture provided with this information helps me with retaining information because it provides me with a visual memory. However, I retain very little information when just listening to a speech or an audio presentation. Because I have no written copy or visual presentation before me, I can be very easily distracted. Audio presentations do little to capture and hold my attention and therefore I daydream and retain little of the information.

The issue of different styles of learning is very important to keep in mind for our presentation. During our presentation we must try to incorporate every style so we stimulate and keep the attention of everyone. I think our presentation will do this. During our presentation, we will have our project page showing on the large screen. This page has graphs, tables and images so it is visually stimulating. We will also provide a copy of our proposal so those who retain information better through reading will have a copy and will be able to read through as we present. And lastly, for those who retain information best from listening, we will present our proposal in a 10 minute speech. By addressing these issues, our presentation should be very thorough and easily understood and remembered by all.

This issue is also important for any future endeavors. When making any type of professional presentation/proposal it is important to address all learning styles. You may not know the learning styles of your audience but by addressing each style, you can be confident that the majority of the audience was able to understand and retain the information. In any type of professional presentation I think it is important to have a stimulating visual, a hard copy for the audience, and an audio component (mostly likely being your speech/presentation).