The school year is coming to an end as the final exams are pressurizing us in the last week. Sadly, it also implies that this case study is the very last one.
In this case study, feel the aggression of Earth as the increasing trend of natural disasters in this decade is indisputably fatal and severe. From the malicious Hurricane Katrina to the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan, huge losses were accounted and many innocent lives were taken. However, are we learning from the lessons? I doubt it, but we MUST. It may not seen as important as the death of Bin Laden or the global economic recession, but Earth will reveal its stealthy nature after years if the ignorance continues, unleashing unimaginable environmental crises for humanity. (But don't worry, I have projected some solutions! Remember: Small creativity, big leap for the Earth.)
Last but not least ......... Enjoy this case study!!
Artifact 1 - Infographic: An Odyssey that We Must Succeed
The prezi below is the infographic I've created. It was also used as my presentation because this infographic contains all of the information and elements of my research and topic. Practically, I've included problem identification, causes of the problem, 3 countries impacted by the issue, and different solutions and various approaches made to lessen resolve this global issue.
Many of the images at the beginning of the infographic was made by me via Inkscape. From the indignant Earth on the top right corner to the big Natural Catastrophes Map in 2009, Inkscape proved to be a good companion while I was creating the disaster icons, human icons, and many other illustrations.
I hope you can understand the meanings behind each image and comprehend what message I'm trying to convey. Enjoy the infographic and let's endeavor to make Earth a better place!
Many of the images at the beginning of the infographic was made by me via Inkscape. From the indignant Earth on the top right corner to the big Natural Catastrophes Map in 2009, Inkscape proved to be a good companion while I was creating the disaster icons, human icons, and many other illustrations.
I hope you can understand the meanings behind each image and comprehend what message I'm trying to convey. Enjoy the infographic and let's endeavor to make Earth a better place!
Here are some explanations of the two major graphs I made in the prezi infographic:
Natural Catastrophes in 2009
1. Icons
Meteorological events are natural disasters pertaining to atmosphere, such as hurricanes and storms. Geophysics is the physics on Earth and its environment in space, thus including tsunamis, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions. Hydrological events are quite obvious, as they are related to movements, distribution, and motion of water, and the most common one is flood.
The larger icons represent costlier and deadlier disasters. For instance, there are a lot of huge storm icons on the southeast coast of the U.S. Similarly, East Asia experiences a lot of meteorological events since typhoons are quite prevalent there.
2. Population
First of all, compare the population density in different areas. Populous places such as the United States, European countries, and east Asia are huge birthplaces of natural catastrophes, or should we not say they're natural.
3. Developing Countries vs. Developed Countries
Again, similar to the previous section, you see developing countries, most notably African countries, to have less catastrophes occurred in that year. What does this have to say with my topic? What this sums up is the relationship between human development and the environment.
4. Northern Hemisphere vs. Southern Hemisphere
The Northern hemisphere has a greater landmass, and there are much more people in this hemisphere. Look at the number of icons. A first grade kid doesn't even need to count to notice the difference in the number of natural disasters between the two hemispheres. Apparently, the northern hemisphere has much more natural disasters that happened in 2009. This is not a coincidence as the reasons are tied with issues such as global warming, human activities, ozone depletion, and other developments that are deleterious to the environment.
Number of Natural Catastrophes in 20th Century
Here is a natural disaster trend diagram that presents the number of events happened in the last century. As you can see clearly in the initial trend of this graph, less than 50 catastrophic events happened until 1960. Starting from 1960, the line starts to rise up exponentially just as the line you see in population graphs. The CRED (Center for Research on Environmental Decisions) later reported that during the 2000 - 2009 period there had been 385 disasters, an increase of 233% since 1980 to 1989, and a 67% increase since 1990 to 1999. So what exactly is causing this dramatic augmentation? Continue the prezi to view the 3 causes - overpopulation, global warming, and ozone depletion - or you can watch the documentary to see me explaining those causes!
Number of Natural Catastrophes in 20th Century
Here is a natural disaster trend diagram that presents the number of events happened in the last century. As you can see clearly in the initial trend of this graph, less than 50 catastrophic events happened until 1960. Starting from 1960, the line starts to rise up exponentially just as the line you see in population graphs. The CRED (Center for Research on Environmental Decisions) later reported that during the 2000 - 2009 period there had been 385 disasters, an increase of 233% since 1980 to 1989, and a 67% increase since 1990 to 1999. So what exactly is causing this dramatic augmentation? Continue the prezi to view the 3 causes - overpopulation, global warming, and ozone depletion - or you can watch the documentary to see me explaining those causes!
Artifact 2 - Opinion Editorial : INN (Iveray News Network) Special Report
Earth Gone Wild
It is time for us to step up against the ignorance and irresponsibility and face this environmental challenge together.
It has long been a cliche to say that global warming is the culprit for drastic environmental changes, but Earth itself is defying this phrase with a dissenting voice and action. Vicious Hurricane Katrina demolished the tranquil coasts of Louisiana and Alabama in 2005, leaving unbearable loss for the United States. Mother Earth reminded China of its land exploitation when the 2008 Sichuan Earthquake shook people's homeland and hope. Seeing the ignorance of her dwellers, she unleashed a nuclear peril with the clash of the forceful earthquake and tsunami in Japan on May 11th, leaving the world panicking for a while. Just for a while. The U.S. has shifted its focus to its huge deficit and economic crisis, and even the death of Bin Laden received way more international spotlight. China is still continuously working towards becoming the largest economy in the world despite destructive earthquake and recent droughts in the south and frequent snow in the north. The Tohoku Earthquake in Japan projects big problem though. Indeed, numerous countries are worried about the radioactive emission from the exploded nuclear plants. But soon enough the news will divert viewers to political movements, economic situations, and other subjects that we value more than the increasing trend of natural disasters. To be frank, my memory for environmental losses disappears along with the elapsing time, and I believe few people really care about the problem of increasing natural catastrophes. The notion is simple - if there is one thing that can affect men so drastically but vanish before their eyes, it is natural disaster.
The term "natural disaster" can no longer be called in modern days. Believe it or not, we are the culprits, the contributors to the increasing trend of natural disasters. As our current population increases exponentially during the last few decades, we are generating more CFC and greenhouse gas emission. In one year, each person on the planet consumes 1,675 units of energy according to the World Resources Institute, which have to be generated by some means, especially the burning of fossil fuels. Waste is also produced more, and it either goes to pre-existing landfills or is burned in incinerators. Together, these two factors emit greenhouse gas emission, most notable CO2, and deteriorate global warming. The growing population also uses more CFC-based products. Since CFCs are ozone-depleting substances, the Antarctic ozone hole has enlarged tremendously, leading to increasing wind speeds and intensified storms in the southern hemisphere.
Worsened global warming increases global temperature, but does an increase of 1ºF really matter? Take a look at this research: According to Tom Swetnam from the University of Arizona, the increase in temperature can augment the duration and frequency of wildfires and drought in the U.S. Disappearing Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets threaten to let loose underwater landslides, triggering tsunamis that could even strike the seas around Britain. Vanishing ice caps will also change the pressures acting on Earth's crust, setting off volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. If this doesn't sound serious enough, try imagining a tsunami as big as the one that struck Japan demolishing every single place on Earth.
Little do we realize the very nature of Earth. A believer of the proverb "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you", she is perfectly demonstrated this creed in this decade. According to a report released by the British charity Oxfam, earth is currently experiencing approximately 550 natural disasters per year this decade, which is around 4.5 times more than the number of catastrophes in the 1980s. In addition, Oxfam discovered that 174 million people were affected by disasters between 1985 to 1994, while the figure increased by 70 percent to 254 million people per year in the following decade. To make it brief, the number of natural disasters is directly related to the growing population. The same idea applies with human population to global warming and ozone depletion.
It seems like we are situated in an irrevocable state as if all environmental problems are substantially becoming severe crises. Although it is hard to find a balance between economic and industrial development, there have been many approaches to propose probable resolutions. Mike McKibben has led a "Step It Up" campaign to advocate green-jobs, hoping to build sustainable economies on renewable energies, such as solar energy, instead of coal and oil. Reusing recycled materials became the origin of creativity and savior of CO2 emission. The Okabashi Brand in Japan remanufactures old shoes into new shoes, and its products are 100% recyclable composed of 25% recyclable materials. Not to mention how kids in our ages can do something different, too. My classmate and I have developed the 3Ray Hanger with water bottles, tin cans, and styrofoam. We also utilized recycled cardboards to produce a solar oven. In fact, if we can spare some efforts to do something environmental, everyone can make a difference for the world, and it can be better.
If there are so many possible ways to slow down the pace of natural disasters, why are the problems still emerging? Ignorance, nonchalance, and neglect. One of my classmates doesn't even know how to recycle bottles. Also, many of us didn't truly experience humongous natural disasters in our lives. I live in Tainan, Taiwan, one of the safest cities on the west coast. However, if a tsunami as big as Japan's strikes Taiwan, the entire west coast would be submerged under the relentless water. We do not have the capital for every person to feel what it's like under an earthquake or tsunami because there is only ONE earth. It is time for us to step up, to face the challenge ahead for the greater good and a brighter future.
- Allen Wang at INN, May 30, 2011.
Little do we realize the very nature of Earth. A believer of the proverb "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you", she is perfectly demonstrated this creed in this decade. According to a report released by the British charity Oxfam, earth is currently experiencing approximately 550 natural disasters per year this decade, which is around 4.5 times more than the number of catastrophes in the 1980s. In addition, Oxfam discovered that 174 million people were affected by disasters between 1985 to 1994, while the figure increased by 70 percent to 254 million people per year in the following decade. To make it brief, the number of natural disasters is directly related to the growing population. The same idea applies with human population to global warming and ozone depletion.
If there are so many possible ways to slow down the pace of natural disasters, why are the problems still emerging? Ignorance, nonchalance, and neglect. One of my classmates doesn't even know how to recycle bottles. Also, many of us didn't truly experience humongous natural disasters in our lives. I live in Tainan, Taiwan, one of the safest cities on the west coast. However, if a tsunami as big as Japan's strikes Taiwan, the entire west coast would be submerged under the relentless water. We do not have the capital for every person to feel what it's like under an earthquake or tsunami because there is only ONE earth. It is time for us to step up, to face the challenge ahead for the greater good and a brighter future.
- Allen Wang at INN, May 30, 2011.
Artifact 3 - Darry King Live Show on Overpopulation, Natural Disasters, and The Influence of Art
Hello everyone! We're back with the Darry King Live Show! Sadly, this will be our last Darry King Shows for 19th Century Humanities Class. In addition, the Kings have faced some hideous issues that hamper the continuation of the show. Watch the videos and learn more about the current situation!
Because the video is 18 minutes long, I had to separate it into 2 videos in order to upload to YouTube. The live show talks about three different topics - overpopulation (by Daniel Liu), natural disasters (my topic), and the influence of art (by Alex Lay). Although they seem to be unlike subjects, we managed to forge the ideas together to form a captivating show of knowledge and creativity. The first half of the video features the topics of Daniel and I, while the second video displays Alex's topic.
At last.... enjoy the show!
At last.... enjoy the show!
By the way, the second part of the video has a lower volume because we didn't speak loud enough. Please turn on the volume a bit to hear our beautiful voice!
Artifact 4: Local Problem or Global Issue Identification and Solution Proposal
For this artifact, my infographic and documentary have included this artifact within their contents. You can find the solution proposal at the end of the Infographic Prezi and the global issue identification at around 8:00 in Darry King Live Show Part 1.
Even though artifacts 1 and 3 have already touched on this artifact, I will still include the information for this artifact separately here from those 2 artifacts to make it easier for you to view the contents.
Global Issue Identification / Problem
What is your reaction over the news that report natural disasters? Fear, helplessness, or simply nonchalance? At first glance, most people would be astonished by the catastrophes, but forget about them as time elapses because those people aren't the ones affected. To be true, they are indirectly affected as they are unaware of the increasing trend of natural disasters.
The problem is almost identical to global warming. We know it's getting worse, but we don't think it's serious enough to affect our lives or the entire human race. A lot do, but in general, we don't. We have no idea what will happen if natural disasters continue to increase per year - chaos, lamentation, and absolute destruction... That is why we have to start working towards an environmental future and begin to make a difference between present and future.
In Taiwan, we have this rather interesting but realistic proverb - 不見棺材不掉淚 - which simply means we don't mourn over our loss unless we see our own coffins. Do we really want to wait till every place experiences tsunamis and earthquakes as big as the ones that struck Japan in this March? It is time for us to understand the severity of the issue of increasing natural disasters about:homeand "STEP UP" to face this global challenge together.
Solution Proposal
Well, the most rudimentary way to lessen this global issue is to find an alternative energy source, such as hydrological energy and solar energy, or even limit industrial developments to cut down carbon dioxide, CFCs, and other greenhouse gases emissions. However, this is basically impossible since it is extremely difficult to find a balance between economic progress and environmental protection. There is also a great dissent between different countries as their development orientations are unlike from each other.Even so, there have been many approaches to resolve this terrible trend.
1. Montreal Protocol
The United States had signed the Montreal Protocol (1989, an international treaty to protect the ozone layer) and successfully reduced global CFC production to hamper ozone hole growth above Antarctica. In 2000, NASA satellites observed a record 11.5 million square-mile (18.5 million square kilometers) hole in the Antarctic ozone layer. In 2010 that had fallen to 8.5 million square miles (13.7 million square miles).
2. The Green Wall - Laying Foundation for the "Green Future"
Making the walls "green", literally green, has become a innovative way to lessen the issue of global warming. Mike Putnam aims to make the walls carbon neutral, meaning it can remove as much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere as we put in. As Mike Putnam stated, "It's about the 'greening' the whole constructions supply chain; it's about clearing the site and reusing the rubble and waste in the new build; it's about well placed stairways so employees walk more; it's about being close to public transport."
3. Step It Up
In 2007, Mike McKibben led a campaign called Step It Up to promote the idea of having green jobs and laid the National Day of Climate Action on November 3rd, 2007. He proposed the idea of transforming the economy from a coal- and oil-burning one to a sustainable economy build on a new set of energy sources. And in fact, he has gathered people from 1400 iconic places around the U.S. and come together to present the justice for climatic solutions.
4. Solar Energy
As Japan is currently experiencing a nuclear peril after the tsunami, renewable energy seems to be the best friend for the long term, and solar energy is a great option on account of its numerous advantages over nonrenewable energy:
- Viable, affordable, and safe.
- Photovoltaic (PV) cells provide power for communications, water purification, refrigeration, water pumping, medical equipment and lighting.
- Solar space heating is combined with solar systems that generate electricity and hot water.
- Extremely resilient when facing disasters or other emergency.
- There are many more advantages ---> PV has been used in a wide variety of emergency management situations...etc.
5.The 3Rs
It we can fully implement the 3Rs, we can reuse recycled materials to create useful products, reducing waste in landfill and incinerator. This ultimately lessens carbon dioxide and CFC production as less waste is incinerated.
a) Okabashi Brands, Inc.
The Okabashi footwear was established by American shoemaker Bahman Irvani. Almost every pair of shoe is made of 25% recyclable materials and is 100% recyclable. Customers can send the shoes back to the manufacturing companies, and they will be cleaned and reconstructed. Nothing goes into the landfill and garbage can! Just imagine how much space and materials can be reduced in landfills, and how the activities of incineration can be minimized!
b) 3Ray Hanger
We as students can also make a difference. The 3Ray Hanger, a 100% recyclable product made by Mark and me, is a kind of clothe hanger made of recyclable materials like styrofoam, sticks, cans, and water bottles. I know it looks quite ugly, and it has reflected upon our sales earning (only earned around 30 NT). However, this greatly reduces the amount of waste going to incinerators or landfills, thus lowering the amount of CO2 emission. If we can spare some efforts to do something environmental, the world can be different, and it can be better.
Note: This is our 3Ray Hanger Ad! See how Mark and I marketed our eco-friendly product!
Citation
Picture Citation
1. "Trends in Natural Disasters." UNED - Environmental Knowledge for Change, 2005. Web. 22 May 2011. .
2. Senthamizhvanan. "Ozone Depletion." The Global Socio-economic and Environmental Impacts - "Bitter Truth" Blogger, 2008. Web. 22 May 2011. .
3. 2009 Münchener Rückversicherungs-Gesellschaft, Geo Risks Research, NatCatSERVICE – As at December 2009
4. Sichuan Earthquake - Eunice : http://travelerfolio.com/2008-sichuan-earthquake/
5. Japan Earthquake - Brücke-Osteuropa: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:JAPAN_EARTHQUAKE_20110311-de.png
6. Montreal Protocol: http://www.qaindustrialservices.co.uk/airtreatment-domnickhunter.asp
7. Okabashi Footwear: http://www.bizrate.com/womens-shoes/oid2023114151.html
Resource Citation
8. Knight, Matthew. "Antarctic Ozone Hole Affecting Weather in Tropics, New Study Says - CNN.com." CNN.com International - Breaking, World, Business, Sports, Entertainment and Video News. CNN, 22 Apr. 2011. Web. 05 May 2011. .
9. "Ozone Depletion over Arctic 'unprecedented' This Winter - CNN.com." CNN.com International - Breaking, World, Business, Sports, Entertainment and Video News. CNN, 06 Apr. 2011. Web. 05 May 2011. .
10. Goodman, Amy. "Global Warming Link to Natural Disasters." Seattle News, Sports, Events, Entertainment | Seattlepi.com - Seattlepi.com. Seattlepi, 23 Oct. 2007. Web. 07 May 2011. .
11. McKie, Robin. "Global Warming Threatens Earth with Wave of Natural Disasters | Environment | The Observer." Latest News, Comment and Reviews from the Guardian | Guardian.co.uk. Guardian.co.uk, 06 Sept. 2009. Web. 07 May 2011. .
12. Ann Den Deering "SOLAR SOLUTIONS for Natural Disasters". Risk Management. FindArticles.com. 08 May, 2011. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa5332/is_2_47/ai_n28761801/
My Presentation!!
Special thanks to Herbert and Takumi, my presentation was video-taped and uploaded to YouTube! Here it is!
Reflection on Presentations
Reflection on Individual Presentations
----------------------------------All 19th Century Humanities Students----------------------------------
1. Nathan Lee: CO2 Emission
I'm pretty impressed in how you could fluently express your ideas without frequently skimming over your notes! You demonstrated great eye contact and interacted with your awesome "Earth-destroying-humans" paintings and .... and .... your nylon shorts.
Just like Mr. Kinzer has mentioned, everyone knows that carbon dioxide emission is increasing each year, worsening many existing environmental problems, such as global warming. Maybe you can tie CO2 emission to other areas to make your presentation different from others. For instance, you can probably say how CO2 emission are affecting the CO2 emitters, which include factories and industries.
Overall, I liked your presentation as you had grabbed my attention with the paintings and clothes. There are many facts that I didn't know prior to your presentation, such as the one that clothes are emitting CO2 as well. By the way, your topic is really closely related to Daniel's and mine! We should've made the Darry King Live with you again, but I thought your topic was about Palau ... Should've told me earlier~
2. Ilya Galayda: Demographic Crisis in Russia
Before your presentation, I've always thought that overpopulation is a serious problem, and we should gradually limit our population. Little did I know that Russia is having a demographic crisis. The infographic was a great tool to support your point, and it clearly conveyed your message of how Russian population is declining over these decades. The video of your friend talking to his teacher enhanced your position and perspective on this demographic crisis. Average wage of a Russian is only around 13,000 NTD, and how could a family possibly raise children with such scanty earning? This lays a path for Ilya's opinion - The Russian government isn't taking care of its people, and its citizens don't have the abilities to stop this crisis. Ultimately, this can lead to an unbalanced demographic composition and uneven distributions of age groups and labor force.
I like how Ilya presented with confidence. He didn't fidget a lot, and moved freely around the given space to either interact with the audience or explain his information on the prezi. He gave eye contact to all spectators, not just to Mr. or Mrs. Kinzer. However, I remembered Ilya sometimes looking at his right side while he was speaking. Sometimes I couldn't hear when he was doing that, so I would suggest him to constantly speak to the front. Another thing that I would recommend is that he should propose a solution to the problem. Is there any way for the government to change this issue? It doesn't seem so. What are some solutions that can encourage people to have more children?
4. Daniel Liu: Overpopulation
It would be really interesting to see Ilya and Daniel debating over the two different stories of our current human population. Daniel's presentation was a bit like the reverse of Ilya's - overpopulation. First of all, let's start with Daniel's opinions and facts. In my opinion, I wouldn't agree that overpopulation is not a problem since you said it causes problems such as pollution, hunger, and poverty. As it causes so many problems, it might as well be said as the origin of the problems, the "mainstream problem" that gave birth to these "sidestream problems". Also, I really doubt that there's enough food to feed everyone. At least Konig wouldn't agree as he will be talkin about the hunger in Africa. Even so, I liked how you stated your opinion strongly with confidence. Everyone has different opinions, and you declared yours clearly. However, it seemed like you weren't really supporting your point as you mentioned a lot of pollution, slum, and hunger problems. Those make me think that overpopulation is a scary issue. 0.0
As always, Daniel was a real comedian. He always have a way to entertain his audience and engage them more into his performance. The pictures were pretty interesting, but it seems like you didn't connect with the pictures at the beginning of your presentation when you were not explaining them. Also, I think you should give more eye contact. The lectern was an obstacle to giving eye contact. Overall, I enjoyed your humorous presentation, and it really gave me some ideas for my own case study!
---------------------------------------------Class Presentations--------------------------------------------
5. Daniel Chen - Sleeping
That is a really interesting topic! It really seems like Taiwanese kids have way less time to sleep, but I never knew people in Tokyo, Japan sleep little as well. Workers sleep less than 6 hours on average. That's quite terrible!
I like your solutions of how we should keep a regular sleeping schedule, but the life doesn't permit. Students are overwhelmed by cram schools. It may be a good idea to interview students in Taiwan, like what Anne did.
6. Kaho: Japan
I really learned a lot of Japanese culture in your presentation! You gave an overview of Japan, and indicated the health problems in Japan. Japan has the greatest life expectancy since the people has a healthy diet (fish...etc.). But I suddenly realized that Daniel mentioned how little hours an average Japanese sleep. It still bothers me how the lack of sleep can make Japan to have the highest life expectancy. It may be a good idea to collaborate with Daniel and connect your ideas together. Also, it seems like you didn't identify a local problem or global problem for Japan? Either way, your presentation is awesome, and you gave a clear explanation of Japan!
7. Anne - Overworking
I can totally relate to your topic since I studied in a Taiwan local school prior to coming to KAS. I agree with your classmate (by the way, nice use of interviewing!) in how you can't really say Taiwanese education is better than American or American education is better than Taiwanese one.
I like the interview since it presents a perspective different from your own. This adds a great supporting fact for your presentation. Great!
8. Peter - Manga in Taiwan
One word ... LOL . You're a natural born comedian, Peter. I like how you presented by drawing a comic, but I would really like to see how handsome the main character Peter is in the comic! Maybe you shouldn't draw with a pencil next time so that the audience can actually see the comic.
By the way, how can we increase the popularity of Taiwanese manga? To me, I wouldn't read the mangas unless it's better than One Piece, Naruto, or other mangas.
9. Angela - Rabbit Test
Terrible pictures and an awful test. I never knew that rabbits were like "lab rats" as well. It was really cruel to dissect their bodies, test if their bodies respond to the extracted materials from females, and simply throw them into the trash can.
I can really feel it as a real problem, but how can we solve it? Yes, as you say, we currently don't have the scientific technology to find other ways to test this experiment, but we will eventually. We will.
10. Kelly Lin - Hawaii
First of all, I LOVED the nuts and pineapples. At first, I thought it was a great way to truly experience the "feel" of Hawaii. However, the food gradually became a constant distraction to the audience because most of them were then craving for the food.
Another thing that I liked was teaching us the Hawaii dance. It was a great way to interact with the audience. However, as many previous presenters lack, was the identification of local or global problems in your country/area. Even so, you made a great interactive presentation! (Nice costume by the way XD)
11. Jasmine - Ecuador (HOT)
Good job in relating to your grandpa's personal experience! Those pictures were awesome as they showed realistic scenes in Ecuador and captured the issue. If I were you, I would come up with several solutions to the problem. It was great to resolutely express your opinion to the audience, but I would like to know what we can do to solve this problem. Great presentation anyway!!!
12. Jill - Opium War
I totally agree with you. Introducing the history of an historical event with captivating pictures is much more interesting than reading off papers. Nice introduction on the Opium War and its causes and effects. In addition, you consistently showed eye contact, making your presentation more "lively".
Just one suggestion ... What was the issue or problem? Is it the harm and repercussions of smoking opium? Or the relationship between Great Britain and China at that time? Also, is there any solution to this problem? Fabulous presentation, though! I really enjoyed your drawings! XD
13. Alex - Where is Art?
Alex, you need more practice (:P). You had great ideas, and you really stated your stand on this issue! The problem is you were stammering too much. Get more familiar with your speech and try not to fidget or stammer when you're presenting. It'll enhance your presentation skills!
It was great to see you relate yourself with your favorite subject - art. You also supported your statement with the unequal distributions of classes at Taiwanese local schools. However, many of your claims weren't supported by facts or examples. For instance, how can art influence politics? I know that you presented many artwork (such as the Obama one), but you need to expound of them. You could've done way better if you practiced more, but congrats on giving a fabulous presentation!
14. Stephen - Jakarta Transportation
I have to say you improved a lot! You had great eye contact for the entire presentation! In addition, you included 2 very interesting interviews that showed the perspectives of local citizens in Jakarta, and this help back up your facts and opinions. I thought they were pretty effective!
In your presentation, you also look like you're an expert in this area. You explained the information in your own words, and I can clearly see the awful traffic congestion in Jakarta. Many solutions were also proposed, and you explained how some of them were attempted but didn't prove to be resolving. Overall, I was really impressed by your presentation!
Nice presentation that included clear graphs which explicitly explained the crime rates in Los Angeles. It sounds like a really serious issue as many illegal immigrants go to Los Angeles without legal means, raising crime rates and increasing various crimes.
It seems like the best solution is to enact stricter laws to reduce crime rates, but judging that even governors were accused of sexual assault and other illicit actions, it doesn't seem really effective. Is it possible for education to be the cure? Overall, I like this local problem that you've chosen, and it was a great presentation!
---------------------------------------Open Presentations to All Audience-----------------------------
16. Mr. K - The Edge
What a TED Talk! First of all, I had to admit that Mr. K, you were pretty humorous. I liked the part where you said Mrs. K was taking pictures of you dying in the waves....But it sound pretty dangerous actually. It requires a lot of courage and guts to both surf on typhoon days and stand on the edge of a cliff.
The poem was inspiring. It really seemed like I have confined myself within the edge. 19th Century Humanities class has encouraged everybody to "comer to the edge" and explore the hidden creativities of each individual. When we really accept the challenge, a lot of new things are unexpectedly learned, such as being independent and creative.
Another thing I liked was Mr. K sharing personal experience. A lot of pictures were shown in the presentation, and they were captivating (at least to me). They make your message clearer and support it greatly. By the way, I really wanted to see the albatross video! :D You have set a great paragon for us, Mr. K.
17. Samantha - Consumerism
It sounded pretty bizarre when you actually propose wearing uniforms. No offense, but I don't think you're the type that wants to wear uniforms right? LOL. Anyway, you kept me anticipating for your presentation after your short preamble last Wednesday, and you sure have impressed me with the nicely done infographic and solution. Nice use of various equation signs to show the sequence of your events, but I have some questions for you...
Quite similar to Jeremie's, how do uniforms minimize bullying incidents? I've seen A LOT OF news around Taiwan that've been talking about bullying incidents in Taiwanese high schools. And according to Ilya, he said there were so many bullies fighting around in his previous school, which there is a uniform system. By the way, I liked how you immediately responded that the number of students differ in American schools and Taiwanese schools. All in all, well done!
18. Sabrina - Over Limitations
Absolutely engaging. From the tiny story you related at the very beginning to designing our two recipes, you kept the audience engaged in your presentation. I was impressed by your overall structure and well-supported facts. I particularly liked the part where we had to design our 2 recipes. Indeed, it was much easier and less pressurized to make a recipe under free will without certain requirements. This also connects to Mr. K's presentation, which encourages us to embrace more creativity on the other end of "the edge". Often, the results can be unexpectedly better when work is done without requirements or boundaries. Awesome presentation, and I'm glad I didn't burn myself! S-P-A-R-K~~
19. Neil - Tigers: On the Brink of Extinction
You made your presentation unique by utilizing music to interact with us. First you presented the sound that we USED to hear - relaxing, comfortable, and tranquil. However, as we progress towards technology and industrialization, we hear the unethical honking of drivers and huge traffic jams in New York City. At last, we will eventually hear nothing but silence if we do not solve the problems of tiger extinction (technically, we won't even be able to "hear silence" since by then Earth would've taken her revenge.)
Because of this original idea and great eye contact, I loved your presentation a lot and can feel the severity of this problem. Your conclusion was both memorable and strong. Nice job!
20. Herbert - Ethnicities and Education
Interesting start for your presentation.... Great question, and I've only heard of the book, didn't really read it before. Anyway, nice opening!
I can tell that you spent a lot of time making the slideshows, but if you could explain them a bit and not just let them vanish away one by one, I think it'll be better. I was also a bit distracted by the slideshow, causing me to not fully hear your speech. Even so, your presentation was awesome!
21. Tina - Tetris
Tetris battle.....You have convinced me not to play Tetris.... :D Anyway, those death examples were quite scary....extreme, and POTENTIALLY dangerous. Video games, according to your presentation, seemed so detrimental and virulent that I would actually stop playing a FB game for a while.
I wanted to see the 1 minute documentary, maybe just to see how you beat other users so easily. This problem was really unique as it doesn't really pertain to environmental and educational issues like many other presentations do. I would actually suggest you to minimize the number of death facts you give and put more time on other sections since they do sound pretty intimidating....XD
22. Tracy - Education: Asian vs. American (or Western)
As always, Daniel was a real comedian. He always have a way to entertain his audience and engage them more into his performance. The pictures were pretty interesting, but it seems like you didn't connect with the pictures at the beginning of your presentation when you were not explaining them. Also, I think you should give more eye contact. The lectern was an obstacle to giving eye contact. Overall, I enjoyed your humorous presentation, and it really gave me some ideas for my own case study!
---------------------------------------------Class Presentations--------------------------------------------
5. Daniel Chen - Sleeping
That is a really interesting topic! It really seems like Taiwanese kids have way less time to sleep, but I never knew people in Tokyo, Japan sleep little as well. Workers sleep less than 6 hours on average. That's quite terrible!
I like your solutions of how we should keep a regular sleeping schedule, but the life doesn't permit. Students are overwhelmed by cram schools. It may be a good idea to interview students in Taiwan, like what Anne did.
6. Kaho: Japan
I really learned a lot of Japanese culture in your presentation! You gave an overview of Japan, and indicated the health problems in Japan. Japan has the greatest life expectancy since the people has a healthy diet (fish...etc.). But I suddenly realized that Daniel mentioned how little hours an average Japanese sleep. It still bothers me how the lack of sleep can make Japan to have the highest life expectancy. It may be a good idea to collaborate with Daniel and connect your ideas together. Also, it seems like you didn't identify a local problem or global problem for Japan? Either way, your presentation is awesome, and you gave a clear explanation of Japan!
7. Anne - Overworking
I can totally relate to your topic since I studied in a Taiwan local school prior to coming to KAS. I agree with your classmate (by the way, nice use of interviewing!) in how you can't really say Taiwanese education is better than American or American education is better than Taiwanese one.
I like the interview since it presents a perspective different from your own. This adds a great supporting fact for your presentation. Great!
8. Peter - Manga in Taiwan
One word ... LOL . You're a natural born comedian, Peter. I like how you presented by drawing a comic, but I would really like to see how handsome the main character Peter is in the comic! Maybe you shouldn't draw with a pencil next time so that the audience can actually see the comic.
By the way, how can we increase the popularity of Taiwanese manga? To me, I wouldn't read the mangas unless it's better than One Piece, Naruto, or other mangas.
9. Angela - Rabbit Test
Terrible pictures and an awful test. I never knew that rabbits were like "lab rats" as well. It was really cruel to dissect their bodies, test if their bodies respond to the extracted materials from females, and simply throw them into the trash can.
I can really feel it as a real problem, but how can we solve it? Yes, as you say, we currently don't have the scientific technology to find other ways to test this experiment, but we will eventually. We will.
10. Kelly Lin - Hawaii
First of all, I LOVED the nuts and pineapples. At first, I thought it was a great way to truly experience the "feel" of Hawaii. However, the food gradually became a constant distraction to the audience because most of them were then craving for the food.
Another thing that I liked was teaching us the Hawaii dance. It was a great way to interact with the audience. However, as many previous presenters lack, was the identification of local or global problems in your country/area. Even so, you made a great interactive presentation! (Nice costume by the way XD)
11. Jasmine - Ecuador (HOT)
Good job in relating to your grandpa's personal experience! Those pictures were awesome as they showed realistic scenes in Ecuador and captured the issue. If I were you, I would come up with several solutions to the problem. It was great to resolutely express your opinion to the audience, but I would like to know what we can do to solve this problem. Great presentation anyway!!!
12. Jill - Opium War
I totally agree with you. Introducing the history of an historical event with captivating pictures is much more interesting than reading off papers. Nice introduction on the Opium War and its causes and effects. In addition, you consistently showed eye contact, making your presentation more "lively".
Just one suggestion ... What was the issue or problem? Is it the harm and repercussions of smoking opium? Or the relationship between Great Britain and China at that time? Also, is there any solution to this problem? Fabulous presentation, though! I really enjoyed your drawings! XD
13. Alex - Where is Art?
Alex, you need more practice (:P). You had great ideas, and you really stated your stand on this issue! The problem is you were stammering too much. Get more familiar with your speech and try not to fidget or stammer when you're presenting. It'll enhance your presentation skills!
It was great to see you relate yourself with your favorite subject - art. You also supported your statement with the unequal distributions of classes at Taiwanese local schools. However, many of your claims weren't supported by facts or examples. For instance, how can art influence politics? I know that you presented many artwork (such as the Obama one), but you need to expound of them. You could've done way better if you practiced more, but congrats on giving a fabulous presentation!
14. Stephen - Jakarta Transportation
I have to say you improved a lot! You had great eye contact for the entire presentation! In addition, you included 2 very interesting interviews that showed the perspectives of local citizens in Jakarta, and this help back up your facts and opinions. I thought they were pretty effective!
In your presentation, you also look like you're an expert in this area. You explained the information in your own words, and I can clearly see the awful traffic congestion in Jakarta. Many solutions were also proposed, and you explained how some of them were attempted but didn't prove to be resolving. Overall, I was really impressed by your presentation!
15. Christie - Los Angeles Crime Rate
Nice presentation that included clear graphs which explicitly explained the crime rates in Los Angeles. It sounds like a really serious issue as many illegal immigrants go to Los Angeles without legal means, raising crime rates and increasing various crimes.
It seems like the best solution is to enact stricter laws to reduce crime rates, but judging that even governors were accused of sexual assault and other illicit actions, it doesn't seem really effective. Is it possible for education to be the cure? Overall, I like this local problem that you've chosen, and it was a great presentation!
---------------------------------------Open Presentations to All Audience-----------------------------
16. Mr. K - The Edge
What a TED Talk! First of all, I had to admit that Mr. K, you were pretty humorous. I liked the part where you said Mrs. K was taking pictures of you dying in the waves....But it sound pretty dangerous actually. It requires a lot of courage and guts to both surf on typhoon days and stand on the edge of a cliff.
The poem was inspiring. It really seemed like I have confined myself within the edge. 19th Century Humanities class has encouraged everybody to "comer to the edge" and explore the hidden creativities of each individual. When we really accept the challenge, a lot of new things are unexpectedly learned, such as being independent and creative.
Another thing I liked was Mr. K sharing personal experience. A lot of pictures were shown in the presentation, and they were captivating (at least to me). They make your message clearer and support it greatly. By the way, I really wanted to see the albatross video! :D You have set a great paragon for us, Mr. K.
17. Samantha - Consumerism
It sounded pretty bizarre when you actually propose wearing uniforms. No offense, but I don't think you're the type that wants to wear uniforms right? LOL. Anyway, you kept me anticipating for your presentation after your short preamble last Wednesday, and you sure have impressed me with the nicely done infographic and solution. Nice use of various equation signs to show the sequence of your events, but I have some questions for you...
Quite similar to Jeremie's, how do uniforms minimize bullying incidents? I've seen A LOT OF news around Taiwan that've been talking about bullying incidents in Taiwanese high schools. And according to Ilya, he said there were so many bullies fighting around in his previous school, which there is a uniform system. By the way, I liked how you immediately responded that the number of students differ in American schools and Taiwanese schools. All in all, well done!
18. Sabrina - Over Limitations
Absolutely engaging. From the tiny story you related at the very beginning to designing our two recipes, you kept the audience engaged in your presentation. I was impressed by your overall structure and well-supported facts. I particularly liked the part where we had to design our 2 recipes. Indeed, it was much easier and less pressurized to make a recipe under free will without certain requirements. This also connects to Mr. K's presentation, which encourages us to embrace more creativity on the other end of "the edge". Often, the results can be unexpectedly better when work is done without requirements or boundaries. Awesome presentation, and I'm glad I didn't burn myself! S-P-A-R-K~~
19. Neil - Tigers: On the Brink of Extinction
You made your presentation unique by utilizing music to interact with us. First you presented the sound that we USED to hear - relaxing, comfortable, and tranquil. However, as we progress towards technology and industrialization, we hear the unethical honking of drivers and huge traffic jams in New York City. At last, we will eventually hear nothing but silence if we do not solve the problems of tiger extinction (technically, we won't even be able to "hear silence" since by then Earth would've taken her revenge.)
Because of this original idea and great eye contact, I loved your presentation a lot and can feel the severity of this problem. Your conclusion was both memorable and strong. Nice job!
20. Herbert - Ethnicities and Education
Interesting start for your presentation.... Great question, and I've only heard of the book, didn't really read it before. Anyway, nice opening!
I can tell that you spent a lot of time making the slideshows, but if you could explain them a bit and not just let them vanish away one by one, I think it'll be better. I was also a bit distracted by the slideshow, causing me to not fully hear your speech. Even so, your presentation was awesome!
21. Tina - Tetris
Tetris battle.....You have convinced me not to play Tetris.... :D Anyway, those death examples were quite scary....extreme, and POTENTIALLY dangerous. Video games, according to your presentation, seemed so detrimental and virulent that I would actually stop playing a FB game for a while.
I wanted to see the 1 minute documentary, maybe just to see how you beat other users so easily. This problem was really unique as it doesn't really pertain to environmental and educational issues like many other presentations do. I would actually suggest you to minimize the number of death facts you give and put more time on other sections since they do sound pretty intimidating....XD
22. Tracy - Education: Asian vs. American (or Western)
The last presentation of 19th Century Humanities final exam....Asian education vs. American education! I've always loved this topic since I experienced both kinds of educations both in the past and present. I used to study in a Taiwanese local school (last year), and I greatly felt the huge amount of knowledge I learn. However, they usually don't last long, but math really lingers in my brain. We really have better science and math compared to western countries, but when it comes to creativity and independence, they win.
Currently, I go to a math cram school so that my math doesn't get too bad (no offense) and receive American education in KAS! So this is Asimerican right? XD. You could've collaborated with Anne as she also talked about Taiwanese education. Your presentation was awesome, and I could totally relate to the topic!
Overall Reflection on All Presentations
What was good?
These points possess the qualities of good presentations:
- Interaction with audience: It is important to engage the audience into the presentations. This can be done in various ways, such as having simulations, asking questions, listening or watching youtube videos....etc.
- Eye contact: Having constant eye contact with the audience is essential. Spectators get distracted if the presenter is completely reading off papers.
- Personal Experiences: Tying personal experiences within the presentation can connect the audience with the presenter. Also, this increases the engagement of the audience.
Here are some of the things that we can improve after I reviewed my own presentation and saw my classmates' presentations:
- Reading off the paper: It's good to have your script with you, but it should only be a assisting tool to remind you of what you need to say next. It's not that good to read directly off papers since remaining eye contact with the audience is essential.
- No problem indentification and solutions: In my opinion, I think it would be better to clearly identify a specific problem that you are proposing probable solutions for. Some presentations encompassed a wide range of topics in a certain country but didn't identify what problem is affecting that place.
- Voice: It is important to have a loud voice so that the audience can hear you. Also, practice is needed to prevent situations such as stammering.
- Different types of distractions: Not to say it is bad, but food and slideshows are quite distracting for me. For instance, Kelly brought unimaginable delicious Hawaii nuts for us to eat. Eventually, some were consumed in eating the food but not fully concentrating on the presentation. It was a great way to interact with the audience and let them experience the "culture" themselves though. Also, Herbert must've spent a lot of time making the slideshows, but I think he should spend some time to actually explain the pictures. When I was listening to Herbert's presentation, my concentration was a bit dissected into 2 portions - listening to Herbert and watching the slideshow.
After listening to so many presentations, I have concluded many improvements that I can make to enhance my presentations in the future:
- Interview: Interviewing people that are either related to the issue or experts in this area can back up your claims and opinions. It also allow the audience to see a different perspective from the presenter. (Anne, Stephen, and Herbert all did interviewing.)
- Personal Experiences: I think it was both attention grabbing and interesting if the presenter relates his own experiences for the audience. For instance, Mr. K showed a lot of his pictures of risking his own life on the edge of the cliff, jumping off a waterfall, or choking over the sea water. This enhances his belief of how we learn more and better when we are willing to "come to the edge" and take challenges we have never taken before.
- Interaction with the audience: Of course it is better if you can keep the audience awake and listening. In my presentation, I didn't really interacted with the audience much. Take Sabrina for instance, she not only related her own experience with the recipe incident with her mom, but also realistically asked us to create 2 pieces of recipes ourselves. This way, I can really understand her message, and I was even convinced by her! Neil also interacted with us by using 3 different musics (actually only the first one was). Again, we weren't passive spectators who simply listen to the presenter blabber. We became aggressive learners that experience what the world was like prior civilizations and human progress (first song, Africa - Relax), what our current world is like (honk, honk, honk!), and what our world WILL be like if certain measures weren't taken (silence....).
