Greg Gruschow – Final Project Reflection

For my final project, a few of my classmates and I went to East Campus Village and did a presentation on the importance of composting. In preparation, we made a PowerPoint based on our research of what to compost, what not to compost, the benefits of composting, and similar ideas. I was in charge of researching materials that are able to be composted. The process of looking up and summarizing information is something I may use in the future. Our research showed that only biodegradable things, such as food scraps, can be composted. Metals and plastics should not be composted under any circumstances. While it is possible to compost meat, it is not recommended since it can attract animals. Composting helps the environment by improving the quality of water and crops. Composting also decreases the total amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. My research and creation of the presentation greatly improved my knowledge of composting. Our presentation is intellectually stimulating because it forced the audience to consider how the world would be different if more people composted. It is relevant since composting can greatly impact the near future for the better. The images my classmates used on each of the slides could also be considered creative. My research led me to discover that it is a bad idea to compost meat and composting can reduce the carbon dioxide levels in the air. I analyzed the audience and noticed that there were a few individuals who seemed uninterested, as they were not making eye contact with us while we were presenting. In the future, I may want to create presentations with a few jokes or other aspects that would grab the audience’s attention. In the future, I will make sure to prepare better for questions the audience may have after I finish presenting a slide. The experience allowed me to better understand the aspect of the course focused on composting and improving the environment. The prior research was the factor that contributed the most to this understanding. I can use the information I learned to create my own compost pile at home and grow high quality crops. I tried to come off as an informed individual to the audience, which I believe I succeeded at. I would like to try and get better at answering questions in the future. This assignment was effective for me, because it allowed me to learn much about real world issues and a solution I can use in my own time. I thought the feedback on being better prepared for questions was very helpful.