Strengthening Science Communication Professional Workshop Series at the National University of Mongolia

Workshop #2

“Tools for Smooth Communication”

But first, from last time….

Give your “Elevator Talk” in front of the class.

Elevator Talks Introduce yourself What do you do? (~30 sec) Avoid jargon or acronyms Focus on the big picture –

how does your science relate to larger issues in society?

Remember, your audience is an

educated, non-scientific one

Elevator Talks

Peer-Review Sheets

Javkha

5

4

4518

Too loud?

Too quiet?

Peer Review Process

Peer-Review Sheets

Elevator Talks

Any constructive comments – please put on back of sheet.

Javkha

5

4

4518

Great talk, but I didn’t understand what “quasi-geostrophic vorticity” meant. Is there a simpler explanation you could use?

Elevator Talk & Peer Review

The 3 people with the highest totals, will get a prize.

Questions?

small

Tools for Smooth Communication

What are some tools we can use to make communication easier?

Google Calendar

Tools for Smooth Communication

I will briefly explain the purpose of each. You will break up into groups to learn one tool, and then teach the rest of the class next time.

Google Calendar

A Web-based file hosting service

Tools for Smooth Communication

(1)Share presentations, papers, proposals, etc. for collaborations.

(2) Access this information anywhere (if you have a laptop with your account on it OR internet access on ANY computer)

(3) Online-backup & Synch (and on individual computers to which the account is linked)

Dropbox

Two possible interfaces:- Online- Download program

(only on your own computer!)

Team Dropbox (four of you) – will:- learn how to use Dropbox - teach the rest of the class- create and share a Dropbox folder for the

class. We will store class-generated files in there.

Tools for Smooth Communication

(1)All the benefits of an email listserv, but with online archive

(2) Easy to set up and free; Don’t need a Gmail account to join, but do need one to create a Google Group.

(3) There are literally millions of Google Groups already in existence on every topic imaginable…

Benefits

Google Groups

Team Google Groups (~four of you) – will:- learn how to use Google Groups - teach the rest of the class- create a Google Group for the class. We

will use it to communicate outside of the workshop.

Tools for Smooth Communication

Benefits:(1)Personal organizational tool

(2) Wonderful for coordinating task within a research group or class.

(3) Access this information online or off.

Google Calendar

Google Calendar

Team Google Calendar (~four of you) – will:- learn how to use Google Calendar - teach the rest of the class- create and share a Google Calendar for the class.

‘Wiki’ is a general term

Tools for Smooth Communication

Purpose:

A collaborative, constantly evolving place to store data.

A common confusion: Wikipedia is a specific wiki, here are a few other examples…

Creating/Editing a Wiki

Team Wiki (~four of you) – will:- learn how to create/edit a wiki page- teach the rest of the class- create and share a class wiki. We will

store class-generated files in there.

Teamwork

- The class will break up into 4 teams (approximately 4 people per team)

Google Calendar

- Each team will learn each new tool and create a class resource.

- Once your team has created their resource, they will create a PowerPoint to teach the rest of the class.

Go to it!

Now:- Form groups- Get packet for your tool (from me)- Work on the packet- Ask questions (of me and of each other) when you get stuck

- When you have completed your task, start the PowerPoint, explaining how to use your tool.

Clear CommunicationIs Tough!

If this can turn out like this…

…you can imagine, how difficult it can be to clearly explain your science!

Next Time

Your group will present its PowerPoint, teaching the rest of the class the tool you have learned.

We’ll discuss Being a Presentation Powerhouse!