I worked with a team on projects related to the SUNY Oneonta OpenLab platform and presented our work at multiple campus events and at the national Reclaim Open conference. These experiences helped me build strong public speaking and professional communication skills.
Final Project Outcome
This artifact includes presentation materials, brochures, and showcase displays used during presentations at SUNY Oneonta’s Student Research and SRCA Showcase, other campus events, and the Reclaim Open conference. The presentations focused on our work developing accessible WordPress portfolio tools through the OpenLab platform.
What I did
I helped present our work to large groups of students, faculty, and conference attendees. At events like SRCA and other campus showcases, my team and I spoke with visitors throughout the event, explained our projects, answered questions, and handed out brochures about our work. I also co-presented at the Reclaim Open conference, where we gave a larger presentation about the SUNY Oneonta OpenLab platform and the accessible RedDragon WordPress theme we created for student portfolios. Along with presenting, I helped prepare materials and organize information for both the campus events and conference presentation.
What I learned
This experience helped me become much more comfortable speaking in front of large groups and presenting information professionally. I learned how to explain technical topics, like accessibility and web design, in a way that was easier for different audiences to understand. Presenting at multiple events also improved my confidence, communication skills, and ability to answer questions in the moment. I also learned the importance of teamwork and preparation when creating presentations for public events.
What’s next for me
Moving forward, I want to continue improving my public speaking and communication skills through future projects and professional experiences. These opportunities gave me more confidence presenting my work and talking to larger audiences in professional settings. I also want to continue building my skills in web development, accessibility, and digital design. Overall, this experience helped prepare me for future internships, careers, and other opportunities where communication and presentation skills are important.
