Paper presented at ICI9 on 12 Aug 2009

Schedule of presentations at ICI9:
http://ici9.oum.edu.my/index.php?op=view&m=2&page=32

It all went well, despite my lack of preparation in terms of practicing for the presentation. My mind couldn't quite recall what I wrote in the submitted full paper even hours before the presentation.

I tried to scribble some notes during the last minutes, but eventually I used the panel's verbal guidelines as my 'short notes'. I hardly had a voice that morning, so I merely 'mumbled' if I could say so, and talked non-stop about my research paper, as softly as I could over the microphone.

Yes, I was nervous, even with the video camera focusing on me, which supposed to be my worst fear. Yet, I guess I was so unprepared to even feel the worse of the nervousness. It was mild.

Talking, and jumping the slides, and talking, and emphasizing the data and analysis... and the panel gave a signal of my last 3 minutes. OK, straight to the conclusion... yada yada yada...

I thought that would be it - 15 minutes presentation, and no one would be asking much because I hardly talk much (as what I thought). My assumption was wrong - hands shooting up one after another, impatient to bombard me with questions.

About 3 to 4 people were given chance to ask me questions, and the rest had to grab my attention after the presentation. Phew! I never knew it would be such a hot cake that I was selling! I received quite a number of compliments on my presentation, which was considered as 'very good' and 'very interesting'.

This was my first conference paper presented, and this was also my first experience of rapid knowledge exchange and networking. I exchanged business cards with other participants from other universities and colleges, and I also received invitations for presenting paper at conferences organised by them. They still want to hear my thoughts at other conferences, for sure, both in Malaysia and Singapore.

Thank you so much, everybody, for such opportunity. Thank you so much for showing me the way up the ladder of my career path. For I've never seen such light before, which made me surfed through forward with blinded eyes, knowing that such opportunity would bring me further and showing me the path ahead...

Utterly grateful,
- Shazz @ Teaching and Learning
16 Aug 2009