Speak Easy TM

A series for graduate students to practice informal, impromptu

oral research communication

Spring 2019

Every other WednesdayStarting 2/27/19

BTP

Pre-qualifyingPre-proposal Pre-defensePractice discussing research area/topic

Practice discussing methods/early results

Practice discussing all results and impact

Speak Easy is for graduate students at all stages of degree timeline

Goals of Speak EasyWho is Speak Easy for? How it works Let’s discuss Conclusion

A recurring activity for graduate students to practice informal research communication

1. Practice communicating to technical audiences, without the crutch of slides

2. Improve active listening and question generation

3. Give and receive constructive feedback from peers

4. Learn what peers are working on

Goals of Speak EasyWho is Speak Easy for? How it works Let’s discuss Conclusion

Format for Speak Easy©

Week(s) Question Category

1Introduction

2-4Introductory

context

5-8Methods design

and analysis

9-11Results and discussion

12-14Implications and

utilization

Semester break down:Sign-up form (Google Docs):

Goals of Speak EasyWho is Speak Easy for? How it works Let’s discuss Conclusion

• In a 1-hr session, the activity is done twice• Students sign up to be speakers over semester

Fill out the presenter info form

Sign-up in Google Doc

Speaker 1

Speaker 2

Before the Meeting

Question examples– Introductory context:[1] How did your research question emerge?[2] What are the theoretical underpinnings of your work?[3] Explain your research in 2 minutes

Round 1

Speaker 1

Speaker 2

Audience

A question is asked

How did your research question emerge?

Round 1

Speaker 1

Speaker 2

Audience

Speaker 1 responds: 2 min

My research questions actually came to me in a dream!.....

Round 1

Speaker 1

Speaker 2

Audience

Online Feedback Form

Online Self Evaluation Form

Online Written Feedback: 5 min

Round 1

Speaker 1 Speaker 2Audience

Speaker 2 Clarifies: <10 min

What kind of dream?

Well… it was more of a nightmare…

Round 1

Speaker 1

Speaker 2Audience

Audience asks Speaker 2 Questions

It involved Batman.

What was the dream about?

Round 1

Speaker 1

Speaker 2Audience

Speaker 2 Answers Original Q for S1

It all started with a nightmare about Batman. The fear in the nightmare made him question

why some people find bats scary and led him to investigate fear responses to flying things.

How did S1’s research question emerge?

Round 1

Speaker 1

Speaker 2

Audience

Speaker 1 is asked Q1 again

How did your research question emerge?

Round 1

Speaker 1

Speaker 2

Audience

Speaker 1 offers revised response: 2 min

My research questions actually came to me in a nightmare about

Batman!.....

Round 1

Speaker 1

Speaker 2

Audience

Online Written Feedback: 5 min

Online Feedback Form

Online Self Evaluation Form

Round 2

Speaker 1Speaker 2

Audience

Speakers 1 & 2 swap roles

Round 2

Speaker 1Speaker 2

Audience

A new question is asked

What are the theoretical underpinnings of your work?

End of Session

Speaker 1 Speaker 2

Speakers get feedback, videos, self evals

Speaker 1

We can compare the speaker responses

My research questions actually came to me in a nightmare about

Batman!.....

My research questions actually came to me in a dream!.....

Revised response

Initial response

End of Session