Reflection is a crucial component of any learning task. We have good evidence that if you reflect on a task after completing it (rather than immediately rushing to the next task), you will learn more, learn deeper, retain learning longer, and be better able to apply what you learned to future situations.

Self-assessment is related to reflection. Humans are generally not good at self-assessment: often, people either overestimate or underestimate their ability. But improvement depends on accurate self-assessment. When you write this self-assessment, it helps us figure out if you and I agree on your performance.

As a way to get started in your thinking, consider the following questions. Some of these questions may be more important to you than others, but take a few minutes to consider each question before you compose your reflection.

Basic model: in a blog post of 150-500 words, reflect on and assess your own performance in your talk.

Alternate model: compose your reflection as an illustration or diagram — or make a sound recording or a video, or work in some medium or style I haven’t thought of.

• How did it feel to be up there presenting? What was it like as an experience (an intellectual experience, an emotional experience, a physical experience)?
• What is one thing that you did well in this presentation?
• What is one thing that you would have liked to do better, and why?
• How deeply do you feel you understand the material you presented? Thinking of your content, where do you have the most expertise and where do you have the least expertise?
• Do you feel that you conveyed the information to the audience or made the impact you wanted to make? Did you connect with the audience in the room (students)? How does this audience differ from other audiences you’d like to reach?
• How did you feel about your delivery? What is a good plan for keeping what’s good and improving what needs improvement?
• Did working on this presentation help you learn about credibility (your own and that of others)?
• Do you feel that you learned about the ethics of public speaking? Did you face any ethical considerations while working on this talk?
• Think about how you will plan, prepare, and deliver future presentations. Do you think you’ll do anything differently? If so, what and why? If not, why not?

You can learn more about the importance of reflection and self-assessment in these videos:

This video from the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University (Toronto) is a practical guide to self-assessment as a general practice that will help you identify your own strengths and build on them:

 

Here’s how professors talk about the importance of this. Professor Margaret Hahn-Dupont of Northeastern University School of Law describes some strategies she uses to help students do better at self-assessment.