Saturday, 3 September 2011

Level 6 Assignment 8 Technical Presentation Skills/ Specialist Vocational Skills

Title & Code of Module Communications G30001

Assessment Technique Technical Presentation Skills
Specialist Vocational Skills

Weighing 20% (100 divided by 5)

Title Specialist Vocational Skills

Guidelines:

Develop and deliver an oral, technical presentation, presented on videotape
(approx 10 mins) on a computer related product. The presentation should include appropriate visual aids, demonstrations and support materials.

Assessment Criteria:

Appropriate use of vocabulary (Techno-speak) (15)

Structure of technical presentation (10)

Clarity of Presentation (10)

Selection of level of delivery to specified audience (10)

Use of support materials (eg demos, drawings, slides) (20)

Glossary of terms (10)

Ability to answer technical questions on product (10)

Overall effectiveness of presentation (15)

When presenting about your chosen computer related product, it is important for your audience to het an introduction to the product. Perhaps a little bit of history about the product or a description of the industry would be useful.

Remember to mention both the advantages and disadvantages of the product. Are there features which could be improved upon?

I usually advice students to pick a computer related product which appears to have a good future and not become obsolete too soon. Is there any computer related product which may help your future career? Becoming an expert about a computer related product can help your employment prospects in relevant companies which may use or manufacture them.

When concluding, remind the audience about 2 or 3 clear points and give your overall impression of the product.

Youtube Video

How to create an Awesome PowerPoint presentation

Uploaded by mattedmundson on 3 Nov 2009

Youtube Video

Presentation skills - How to improve your presentations

Uploaded by Speakfirst on 20 Jul 2009

Glossary
As stated earlier do not expect your audience to be experts. You had to research this, not your audience. It is therefore useful to have a glossary of terms to indicate to the audience key terms with short explanations to facilitate a deeper understanding and to prevent them from switching off.

Youtube Video

Education: Teaching & Writing : How to Make a Glossary

Uploaded by eHow on 1 Jun 2009

Questions and Answers
How do I make people want to ask questions? Have you invited them to? Are you secretly hoping that you don't get asked anything about your presentation? What does it say about your presentation if nobody asked anything?

Youtube Video

Sample Presentation: Starting a Q&A & Answering Questions

Uploaded by CarlKwan1 on 16 Mar 2010 from http://www.youtube.com/redirect?q=http%3A%2F%2Fpresentationexpressions.com%2F&session_token=ALmWlGPBRMOVuLxQJvgJqqFQuIR8MTMxMzU5NTk3M0AxMzEzNTA5NTcz

What if I get asked a question I don't know how to answer?
What will people think of my presentation if I can't answer their questions?
Is someone leading me to a particular answer by their question?
Repeat the question asked so both your audience can hear it and you have a clear understanding of it. This also gives you more time to construct your answer.
If you feel lead into answering a certain way state that you don;t see the issue raised that way and give reasons why.
Do not be afraid to ask the person what do they mean by the question.
Do not be afraid to state that you hadn't considered the topic from a particular viewpoint and thank them for their great question. This could be a good point to restate the perspective of your presentation. Not knowing something about your topic does not diminish your authority on the subject depending on how it is handled.

Youtube Video

Ep 10. How To Answer Questions On Your Presentation - Presentation Skills - Public Speaking

Uploaded by BananaManaTV on 21 Jun 2010

This documentary might help you decide on the type of computer product that would be useful for you to present on as it looks at emerging opportunities and trends in the new networked society.

Networked Society 'On the Brink'

Uploaded by ericssonmultimedia on Nov 3, 2011

Friday, 2 September 2011

Level 6 Assignment 9 Oral exercise

Title & Code of Module Communications G30001

Assessment Technique Case Study and Oral Skills

Weighing 15% (150 divided by 10)

Title Oral Exercise

Guidelines: The candidate should role play dealing with a customer on the telephone, using active listening and communication skills. Evidence on the interaction should be presented on audio tape.

Assessment Criteria:
Listening, interpreting, responding to questions (30)

Positive tone, confidence (30)

Modulation, inflexion, breathing, pace (30)

Receipt and transfer of information (30)

Use of appropriate language (30)

As a potential employee in a business, being able to demonstrate that you can actively listen could be the difference in getting you hired or not. Why? An employer will want to see that you can interact well with customers as well as being able to work as a team and demonstrate a capability for being able to handle conflict resolution. To do any of these requires a degree of active listening.

When somebody is saying something to you, are you actually listening to what they are saying? Or are
you preoccupied with what you were going to say next? When you are a customer and ringing up
particular companies, do you feel listened to? Have you had to deal with automated phone answering
machines before you get through to a customer service representative? Are you dealing with a
customer representative in Ireland? Do you feel listened to more or less as a result? Is the customer
service representative more interested in listening to you or making a sale.

Active listening is a method of listening and responding appropriately to somebody else. It is where the focus of attention is on the speaker.

Customer service representatives are under enormous pressure from supervisors and management to
deal with customers within a certain time limit to meet company targets. The downside to this is
if customers don't feel listened to, they may simply never call again and switch their business. So in a nutshell, your manner on the phone has the ability to make or lose money for the company you work for.

Active listening is an important skill to have, particuarly in The Samaritans

Active listening in your class exercise. Discuss:

Do you listen in class to your teachers?

Ever drift off? Get distracted?

Secretly texting under the desk or looking at Facebook when you shouldn't be? Why? Is it because you were bored?

Do you find it easier to learn visually?

Would Powerpoint presentations help keep your interest?

Was the teachers delivery not interesting enough for you?

Did the teacher interact with the class or simply lecture?

Was the delivery of the topic too complicated or too simple?

Do you have difficulty recognising the real world benefit of the topic?

Did you have something else on your mind?

What happens you when this happens?

Do you ever regret not listening to your teacher?

How can you listen better?

What has that exercise got to do with the real world? Maybe the customer you are dealing with
or their query is boring? Maybe you are tired at work from going out the night before?Maybe
it's a busy day at work? Maybe you are thinking about something else? The distractions in your
classroom can be similar to the ones you face at work.

Do you think this couple are actively listening?

Here is a tongue in cheek clip taken from the Channel 4 show, The I.T, crowd. Most of us have had to
ring up at some stage about computer problems.
How do you think active listening wasn't used in these examples?

Youtube Video

The IT crowd - Truest moment about tech support

Uploaded by johnnyricoMC on 21 May 2010

How could the customer service representative in this roleplay have used better active listening skills?

Youtube Video
Call Handling Skills

Uploaded by arun79ccna on 21 Jul 2007

Here is a video about what people randomly selected off the street think of customer service in
Ireland.

Youtube Video How Good is Customer Service In Ireland?

Uploaded by TheLineIreland on 21 Jul 2011

Here is an American video highlighting examples of how to provide good customer service. The video is useful because it shows 2 examples of bad customer service at the start of the video. Next the aggrieved customers are asked how they feel and then 2 positive examples are shown. Have a look and think about how your scenario for the assignment is going to play out.

Youtube Video Customer Service Training DVD

Uploaded by NewmarketLearning on 18 Dec 2008

Sample Roleplay Scenarios
You may create your own scenario however if you are stuck for ideas, these may help you

1- One of you is a Bank Manager while the other person is looking for a loan. The Bank Manager is refusing to give the loan and the customer must convince them why they should get the loan.

2- One of you is a courier delivering a product (of your choice), while the other is a customer/recipient. Te customer wants to tell to the courier that they have delivered to the wrong place, while the delivery person says that he as the right address/business. The courier says that the customer must pay for the courier/transport charge because they gave the wrong address.

3- One of you is a driver who has been charged for using the Easyflow toll bridge, while the other is an Easyflow representative on the phone. The driver must convince the Easyflow member that they were not driving that day and that the fine is incorrect.

4- One of you is a tenant who has decided to move out before the end of your lease. The other is the landlord who feels you are breaking the memorandum of agreement/contract

Level 5 Assignment 7 Visual Communications skills

Visual Communications Skills

Guidelines:

Design and produce one of the following items: notice, poster, flyer, greeting card, ticket or some other image-based item with or without text.

Demonstrate the development of your ideas with support documentation (eg plans/sketches)

Evidence may be used in other skill areas as visual aids.

Assessment Criteria:

Support studies demonstrate development of ideas.(2)Materials/techniques selected complement the design and message (2)

Visual communication is clear, consistent and supports the message (2)

Product engages the audience and sustains interest (2)

Presentation enhances the final quality of the product (2)

The videos below are to help give you some ideas.

Remember: A good portion of the marks go for support documentation so provide as much information as you can.

Youtube Video: Making High impact posters

Uploaded by UPrinting on Jul 6, 2009

Youtube Video:Outdoor Advertising good poster design

Uploaded by garryhartley on Jul 20, 2010

Youtube Video:Making a poster in Publisher

Uploaded by QuantumBoffin on Jan 12, 2010

Youtube Video: Graphic Design projects: How To Create A Poster

Uploaded by QuantumBoffin on Jan 12, 2010

Youtube Video: How to make an effective poster

Uploaded by grofordproduction on Nov 21, 2008

Youtube Video: Make a event poster

Uploaded by ftjudesign on Dec 16, 2007

Youtube Video: How to make handmade greeting cards

Youtube Video: Make a 3D greeting card with flowers on the front

Uploaded by cyberseams on May 5, 2008

Uploaded by expertvillage on Nov 9, 2007

Youtube Video: How to create a greeting card with iPhoto

Uploaded by ComputerShyHelp on Nov 27, 2007

Youtube Video: How to create a greeting card with Publisher 07

Uploaded by MrRileysBlog on Nov 30, 2010

Thursday, 1 September 2011

Level 6 Assignment 10 Video CV

Title & Code of Module Communications G30001

Assessment Technique Case Study and Oral Skills

Weighing 10% (100 divided by 10)

Title Video CV

Guidelines: The candidate should make a 3-5 minute presentation focusing on his/her qualifications, skills acquired, experience, interests and career aspirations, using his/her CV as a basis for the presentation. The presentation should be recorded on videotape.

Assessment Criteria:

Planning-drafts, notes, timing, rehearsal (30)

Delivery-expressive language, fluency (20)

Content structured and focused on self and future career (20)

Engaging, captures interest (15)

Variety of tones, inflexion, breathing, pace (15)

Presenting a video CV can seem a daunting task. It is important not to just run through what is just on the CV, the employer has that already. Now is your chance to shine and give them a fuller picture of your job potential.

Have a look at this video from Brightwater Recruitment where 2 candidates are taken through a presentation class. Is there anything you could learn from the feedback they were given?
Youtube Video Jobs Club Presenting Masterclass

Uploaded by BrightwaterGroup on 2 Dec 2010

Here are 2 videos below from www.gradireland.com highlighting some of the big mistakes which graduates often make as well as dealing with competency based interviews.

Youtube Video

Graduate Interviews - Biggest Mistakes - Cara Fallon, Ericsson, Jameson, PwC, Fidelity

Uploaded by NCIRL on 5 Feb 2009

Youtube Video

Competency Based Interviews - PwC, KPMG,

Uploaded by NCIRL on 5 Feb 2009

Here are some examples of video CV's by graduates

Zookel Video CV Graduate

Uploaded by ZookelVideoCVs on 13 Feb 2009

Youtube Video
Short Video Resume

Uploaded by sajitanair on 11 Jan 2010

Here are some of the top questions being asked in interviews. Put your own style on how you answer them but it is more important than ever to prepare as interviewers want to be able to hire the best people for their job.

Youtube Video Top 36 Interview Questions

Uploaded by MaryNLowLow on 18 Mar 2010

Level 5 Assignment 8 Communications Technology

Assignment 8 Communications Technology

1 way communication

2 way communication

Guidelines:

Candidates should show evidence of using communications technology (CT) eg:

· Sending and receiving both one-way (fax, answering machine, downloading information from the internet) and two-way (email, mobile phone).

· Displaying awareness of current and relevant issues, such as discussion of the uses, advantages/disadvantages and impact of CT. This may be a short written/oral piece and could be a topic for the report, oral presentation of discussion.

Assessment Criteria:

· Wide range of technology used successfully and with confidence.

·         Extensive summary of aspects of communications technology, with clear understanding of impact on both private and public life.

      Youtube Video
       Did You Know 3.0 (Official Video Edition)

Uploaded by vlbworks2010 on 2 Mar 2010

Youtube Video Technology by http://www.markfiore.com/

Uploaded by markfiore on 16 Jul 2009

Youtube Video Technology and the Family

Uploaded by eliecp on 20 Oct 2007

Co-founder of the internet Robert Kahn is one of the guests in this video clip which look at the impact of ICT (Information and Communications Technology) on society today. Although it is 18 mins long, it is a great video for discussing some key points about communication technology's effect on our personal and business lives. Issues such as security, the increase in social media, the adoption of the internet in developing countries, cyber-terrorism and security, the impact of dial-up to broadband, electronic mobile devices, the growing Apps market, mobile creditcard transaction machines like Square, as well as how climate change is affected.

Youtube Video ICTs for a better future (18 mins)

Uploaded by itutelecommunication on 1 Nov 2010

You may also find this other 20 minute documentary useful about some of the more likely technological changes of the future and what effect that can have on society. The documentary looks at the past, present and future of connectivity, as well as key personnel from Flickr, Wired UK and Soundcloud discussing the emerging trends and opportunities as the new networked society develops.

Networked Society 'On the Brink'

Uploaded by ericssonmultimedia on Nov 3, 2011

Social media is a more recent development in the evolvement of communications technology. Everyone from business to your friends, is empowered through the use of blogs, Twitter, Facebook and other social networking sites to reach wider audiences. Here is a short video below explaining the phenomenon and potential of social media.

Discuss:
How is technology creating a borderless method of business?
What are the new emerging business models?
What do you think the documentary means by the "dumb society"?

How is communications technology creating an increasingly interconnected world?

A Day in the Life of Social Media

Uploaded by DBAworldwide on 22 Sep 2010

How is social media changing how we communicate?

What are the potential advantages of social media for the individual and for business?

What are the disadvantages of social media for the individual and for business?

Here is a video that I made for this blog highlighting how advances in communications technology are allowing social media, I.T. and cloud computing industries to create jobs for Ireland.

Ireland 2012 - A Gamechanger

Directed and edited by Marcus Howard, Communications lecturer in O'Fiaich College and owner of http://irish21stcenturystudents.blogspot.com

Uploaded by irish21ststudent on 9 Mar 2012

Some statistics about the growth in the medical technology sector in Ireland can be seen in the video below

Ireland - medical technology - by the numbers

Uploaded by IBECInformation on 10 Nov 2011

How are videogames changing people's lives?
How important is technology for Ireland's future?

2010: Year of the iPad

Uploaded by Thishall on Mar 2, 2011

Ipad Helps the Autistic Speak

Uploaded by vabchocnlvr on 8 Feb 2011

How is mobile technology such as the iPad shaping our lives?

What are the benefits of mobile tablets like the iPad?

Technology and the Future

Here is a Ted talk video below by Patties Maes demonstrating the newest version of 6th sense technology. If you have seen the film Minority Report with Tom Cruise you may be surprised at how fast technology has developed towards making the technology used in the film a reality. The technology you see below allows users to interact with their environment in a more profound way.