Strategic Presentation 2026 Course Takeaways

Last fall, when I was registering for classes for the Spring 2026 semester, I made a point to register for this course even though I am not a Digital Communication, Information, and Media (DCIM) minor. However, as a Communication major, I figured it would be really helpful to gain experience and get more comfortable and educated specifically on different digital communication strategies especially since so much of the communication field now revolves around online content, branding, and multimedia platforms. Looking back now, I’m really glad I made that decision because this course ended up teaching me a lot more than I originally expected. I honestly expected it to mostly be about making a website and learning a few technical skills. While that definitely was part of it, I ended up taking away a lot more than I expected. Looking back now, I am really glad I made that decision because this course ended up being one of the most practical and useful classes I have taken.

One of the biggest takeaways I got from this semester is how important it is to think about audience needs before creating any kind of content. This is something that I learned across multiple of my classes this semester, as I also take PR and entrepreneurship courses, so thinking about my audience is a major theme across all fields and courses. Specifically for this course, there was a major focus on understanding how to connect with different audiences and communicate a desired message through digital media. Now I understand that strong communication also requires thinking about who the audience is, what platform they use, what they care about, and how they prefer to receive information. That idea helped me throughout the semester, especially during the final project when my group created a podcast series promoting Verse One. It was really helpful to try to think inside the minds of my target audience and then adjust the podcast episode topics from there.

Another memorable takeaway was gaining confidence with digital tools that I originally had no clue how to use and felt intimidating at the beginning of the semester. Throughout the semester, we worked with platforms such as Audacity, SoundCloud, and YouTube. I also had to learn how to navigate creating a blog page on my Wix website, which was something I had never considered doing before but s

o far I've really enjoyed it. At first, some of these programs felt confusing and frustrating, but by the end of the course, I had built new aspects of my website, written blog posts, created a PSA, edited audio, and produced a full podcast episode. This reminded me that learning technology often feels

uncomfortable in the beginning, but becomes much easier once you practice and stay patient. You can listen to my Soundcloud podcast episode here and read about my process here.

One project that I remember vividly struggling with during the process was creating a custom

website header image using multiple Creative Commons images, layers, and editing effects. You can actually read about it here. That process was challenging for me because I was not very experienced with image editing on the specific Pixlr software our class had to use, but I appreciated being exposed to new software and learning how these tools work through hands-on practice.

Another important takeaway from that assignment was learning more about copyright, licensing, and Creative Commons rules. Before this course, I was aware of different copyright and licensing rules and how they work from a business standpoint however, I did not fully understand how to actually use media owned by other people legally and reusing them legally. Having to locate properly licensed images, credit creators, and think about ethical media use made me more aware of how digital content should be shared responsibly. I know that knowledge will be useful in future classes and professional settings because it really made me realize that when making future presentations with visuals I did not create myself, I must be more mindful.

I also became more aware of all the different ways that digital communication can be used for meaningful purposes, not just for entertainment or promotion. The course emphasized creating messages that supported nonprofits or social causes. especially through the final project, I saw how media tools can be used to highlight organizations, build awareness, and encourage involvement.

As I wrap up this semester, I am extremely eager to graduate, but looking back on my overall journey at Rutgers, I am very glad that I took this course in my last undergraduate semester. It really gave me practical skills, more confidence with technology and software I wouldn't have otherwise been exposed to in school, and a better understanding of how communication works in today’s digital world. I truly believe that this course found me at the most perfect time in my life, as I started a new job this semester as a digital communication and social media manager. In this new role, I am responsible for the entire digital presence of a small business, including redoing their web design, sending out mass emails to clients, creating advertisements, and performing the usual social media management tasks.

This class specifically had me learning so many different editing software and platforms in such little time every week that I've noticed that I am now able to pick up new tools more quickly. I recently was discussing this with my new bosses, explaining to them how even if they give me their current website on a software I've never used before, I am still really good at picking up new tools, and I honestly attribute the strength of that skill to the exercises I've done for this class.

Overall, I’m genuinely grateful I chose to take this class, and I know these skills have already become helpful in my professional life and that I’ll carry these lessons with me into my future.