Microteaching

Mini-Course

“Public Speaking for Physicists”

 

Welcome!  The goals of this mini-course are to practice giving a formal presentation in front of a small group, and discuss the challenges and joys of public speaking. We believe that oral presentation skills are important to your future.  These skills do not come naturally, but can be practiced and l

learned.

 

NOTE: This course ran in 2006/07 from Jan.-Feb., 2007. The results of course evaluations are available in Web Format / PDF Format.

 

Coordinator: Jason Harlow

Office: MP251A (North Wing)

Email: jharlow at physics

Phone: (416) 946-4071

 

Senior TAs:

Catherine Robin

Office: MP415

Email: crobin at physics

Phone: (416) 978-5177

and

Rob Adamson

Office: MP056

Email: radamson at physics

Phone: (416) 946-3162

 

Students: All 1st Year Physics Graduate Students

 

Duration: 3 meetings, 5 hours total, spread out over Jan.12 – Feb.16, 2007.

·         1st meeting is 1 hour: 11:10 – 12:00, Friday Jan. 12, 2007 in MP111 (Grad Lounge). 

·         Each group will meet for two hours twice (4 hours total), once during the weeks of Jan.22 – Feb.2, and then again exactly 2 weeks later.

 

Presentation Tips (PDF)

 

Feedback Form (PDF)

 

Groups

Last

First

Group

Al-Qasimi

Asma

H

Bardon

Alma

D

Bolingbroke

Nick

J

Braden

Jonathan

I

Chan

Justin

B

Chen

Antony

F

Cheung

William

C

Davis

Jon

A

Dean

Jesse

E

DeViveiros

Pier-Olivier

G

Dhaliwal

Saminder

B

Dharmaraj

Girija

G

Fridman

Igor

A

Halpin

Alexei

C

Hay

Carling

J

He

Shun

I

Hornosty

Jason

C

Hossein-Nejad

Hoda

D

Jiang

Zhe

E

Li

Ding

D

Li

Shuo

F

Liu

Baoxu

I

Liu

Xiaoxian

F

MacKenzie

Dave

G

O’Farrell

Keely

F

Prodan

Snezana

I

Qin

Guoying

J

Ramachandran

Ganesh

A

Rodica

Lindenmaier

H

Sidhu

Jaspreet

B

Sloan

Peter

J

Smiarowski

Adam

E

Stewart

Trevor

E

Tardif

Dominique

G

Wang

Jing

H

Yan

Peifeng

H

Yuan

Liang

C

Zhao

Xueping

D

 

Schedule
Group A: Tue. 11:00 – 1:00.  Jan 23 (MP129) and Feb 6 (MP1218)  - Senior TA: Rob Adamson

Group B: Wed. 10:00 – 12:00. Jan 24 (MP129) and Feb 7 (MP408) - Senior TA: Catherine Robin

Group C: Fri. 1:00 – 3:00.  Jan 26 (MP129) and Feb 9 (MP1218)  - Senior TA: Rob Adamson

Group D: Mon. 10:00 – 12:00. Jan 29 (MP129) and Feb 12 (MP1218) - Senior TA: Catherine Robin

Group E: Mon. 1:00 – 3:00. Jan 29 (MP129) and Feb 12 (MP1218)  - Senior TA: Rob Adamson

Group F: Tue. 11:00 – 1:00. Jan 30 (MP129) and Feb 13 (MP1218)  - Senior TA: Rob Adamson

Group G: Wed. 10:00 – 12:00. Jan 31 (MP129) and Feb 14 (MP1218)  - Senior TA: Rob Adamson

Group H: Thu. 10:00 – 12:00. Feb 1 (MP129) and Feb 15 (MP1218) - Senior TA: Catherine Robin

Group I: Thu. 12:00 – 2:00. Feb 1 (MP129) and Feb 15 (MP1218) - Senior TA: Catherine Robin

Group J: Fri. 1:00 – 3:00. Feb 2 (MP129) and Feb 16 (MP1218) - Senior TA: Catherine Robin

 

Payment and relation to TA work

  • This course is not for marks.  Attendance will be taken, and a record will be kept by the graduate chair of who participated as Pass/Fail only.
  • 2 of the 5 hours are considered “TA Training” and you will be paid for this if you attend at least 2 hours.  The other 3 hours plus preparation are considered as required coursework for your degree.

 

During the Two Hours Sessions

  • There will be 4 students and 1 Senior TA.
  • Each student will deliver a 10 minute presentation on a topic of their choice.  The topic should be Physics related.  The level of delivery should be understandable to a typical U of T undergraduate.
  • After each presentation, the presentation will be reviewed for 20 minutes, and comments may be made for the benefit of the speaker.
  • 4 speakers with 30 minutes each = about 2 hours

 

First Session

  • The First Session will take place in the small conference room in MP129.  Only the 4 students and the Senior TA will be present.
  • Each presentation will be timed and video-taped.  Immediately after each presentation, the tape will be reviewed by everyone, with minimal commenting.
  • After watching the video, the remaining 10 minutes will be used for discussion and constructive comments about the delivery.

 

Second Session

  • The Second Session will take place exactly 2 weeks later, with the same group members and Senior TA.  Each student will either repeat the original 10 minute talk or give something different.
  • The room for the second session will be MP1218, which has about 15 seats and guest observers will be welcome.
  • Comments, questions, discussion, and comparison with the first presentation will last 20 minutes after each talk.

 

Preparing your talk:

  • You are encouraged to use visual aids, such as powerpoint, or the chalk-board.  A laptop with projector will be present in each room; you may bring a talk on a USB key, CDRom, or bring your own laptop.
  • Time yourself!  You must not go over the 10 minute limit – the Senior TA will be timing each presentation and cutting you off at 10 minutes.

 

Speaking Tips:

  • Be well prepared; plan and rehearse the timing of what you will present.
  • Have eye contact with the audience members.
  • Speak clearly, and loud enough so everyone in the room can hear you.
  • Make sure your visual aids are easily readable to all.
  • Smiling, open hand-gestures, and voice inflections are okay – don’t monotone!
  • Relax and be yourself!

 

This web page is maintained by Jason Harlow.
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