Week 7 Learning Journal

 Part One: Reflection on Final Research Video Project Planning

For our final research video project on the Deepfake Dilemma, our team collaborated primarily through Discord and shared documents via Google Drive. We scheduled two virtual meetings to plan out our slide content, divide responsibilities, and decide on the tone for both professional and general audience presentations. Each member selected specific slides to research and present, which made collaboration smoother since roles were clear from the start. To communicate ideas and edits efficiently, we used a group chat for quick feedback and had video clips uploaded to a shared drive for review. We also used OBS Studio for recording and editing, which allowed for individual screen capture and audio mixing. One thing that made the process effective was our use of shared timelines and check-ins to ensure we stayed on track. However, in future collaborative projects, we could improve by having a shared content outline earlier in the process to prevent overlapping research and redundant points. Better time management for meetings would also help make it easier in the future. Overall, our teamwork was solid, and we adapted well to the challenge of creating two versions of one project for different audiences. We are working on wrapping up editing now!

Part Two: Reflect on the Lectures Readings

This week’s readings and videos on presentation skills and TED Talk reflections gave me new insight into both the structure and delivery of effective communication. One key takeaway was the emphasis on storytelling as a means to connect with an audience. The TED presentations, especially those dealing with technology ethics, reminded me of the importance of framing facts with narrative, something we used in our final project. Rather than simply defining what deepfakes are, we used real-world examples to lure our viewers in emotionally. Another important lesson from the presentation skills resources was the value of clarity and pacing. In our early drafts, we spoke too fast and included too much jargon. After reviewing presentation advice, we revised the professional script to slow down and define terms like “GANs” clearly. These adjustments were small but significantly improved our delivery and made the presentation more accessible to professionals without deep tech backgrounds. I also learned how crucial visuals are to keeping an audience engaged. We applied that by making sure all slides followed a clean, professional format with consistent fonts and minimal distractions. Going forward, I plan to use these same strategies in future presentations, simplifying complex information and maintaining strong visual storytelling. These skills aren’t just helpful for class, they’re essential for any setting where I need to communicate clearly and persuasively.