The Vancouver Island Marmot: A Science Project Reflection
“The more I study nature, the more I am amazed at the miracles of creation.” — Charles Darwin
Introduction
The presentation I created for our Ecology unit in science is about the Vancouver Island Marmot, a critically endangered species of Marmot native to Vancouver Island.
When working with Ms. Lauder, I understood the assignment better from the insights she gave me. This allowed me to decide which endangered animal to do this presentation on.
She also recommended I refer to the Ecology Booklet we completed in class, which included key concepts like food webs, the carbon cycle, and types of ecosystem interactions. This suggestion was key in shaping my research and understanding the topic.
Project Description
In the presentation, I gave the audience a brief description of the animal, the economic factors that cause it to become endangered, how climate change impacts them, and explained the environmental law I created to preserve the animal and its habitats.
My presentation slides are featured below:
Challenges Faces During the Presentation
During the presentation, I tried to maintain eye contact with my audience but it was hard. I also exceeded the 5-minute time limit as I had a lot to say, and I hadn’t rehearsed much.
In the end, this presentation taught me not only about the Vancouver Island Marmot but also about overcoming setbacks and failure and managing time more effectively.
Reflection on Mistakes
Upon reflection, I noticed a few mistakes in creating and presenting my PowerPoint presentation. A key mistake I realized I made was using my time as I had spent too much time researching my animal, leaving me little time to create the PowerPoint presentation and make it pretty.
Actional Steps for Improvement
A few ways I could improve my presentation are by:
- Practice and be prepared before presenting
- Learning to speak fluently and gracefully
- Obtaining the skill of conveying messages or main ideas effectively and efficiently
- Training myself to maintain eye contact with the audience
- Being able to keep the audience engaged and encourage participation
A few ways I could improve on my PowerPoint are by:
- Adding more images and visuals to show the information and to grab the audience’s attention
- Shortening my script/notes
- By improving the organization, layout, and design
A few ways I could improve my work habits for my future passion project are by:
- Setting clear, defined goals and deadlines
- Establishing a productive routine that balances time for work and rest
- Supporting my motivation and passion
- Maintaining my mental and physical health
What I learned
This experience taught me a lot more than just the Vancouver Island Marmot. It showed me the importance of planning, time management, and communication. It also gave me the opportunity to learn from my mistakes and reflect to improve for future presentations.
If I were to do this project again, I would focus more on visuals, creating the PowerPoint and manage my time better.
Key Takeaways
- Effective time management and preparation is key.
- Visuals and design play a critical role in keeping the audience active.
- Personal reflection and learning from mistakes are essential for improvement.