Professional Presentation

My professional presentation was about assistive technology’s use in the universal design for learning.  I gave this presentation to the research club at the University of South Carolina Lancaster.  The purpose was to help faculty know what they can add to their lesson plans to make it easier for students to succed when they have a student with a disability.  This was also geared towards students that need to do presentations in class and know how to help their classmates succeed. 

I learned and reinforced a few things through this presentation.  First showing up early to ensure everything works well is essential.  I had everything plugged in and ready to go but the projector kept flickering.  When the professor who normally teaches in this room arrived before I began, I asked if there was a way to fix it.  Asking for help when you need it is crucial to success.  Unfortunately, we didn’t have many students attend due to student life scheduling spring fling and free food at the same time as this presentation but those who did attend were engaged.  We had a lot of good ideas and conversations within the guided discussion of the presentation and stayed on track well.  One thing I hold dear is don’t take things too seriously.  I’m visually impaired and have ADHD.  I presented from a PowerPoint that was behind me and I would have had to stand up next to see.  I reminded people by using a paper copy of my PowerPoint that I need it in front of me and in large print.  At one point I started to read a quote from the previous slide and easily moved to the right one owning up to the fact that I had the wrong paper in front of me.  Admitting to an audience that you don’t know something or have an answer to something is acceptable and honesty builds trust.  You can always find out and get back in touch with that person. 

In the future, I will continue to make presentations in this way.  Leaving space for conversations and discussion to guide the presentation forward.  Covering terminology definitions so that everyone starts out on the same page.  Setting up early to ensure a smooth presentation.  I have two faculty members who will be reaching out to me for more information on things due to this presentation.