Workshops and Development Series

March 8 – April 16 | Self-paced Online

This free course is available to all faculty and staff within the UNC system. The course will provide an introduction to digital accessibility and offer multiple practical methods for incorporating accessibility into face-to-face, hybrid online, and online classrooms. The course is formatted as a self-paced, asynchronous, online class delivered via Moodle and is scheduled to run for 6 weeks. Participants who complete the course successfully will receive a joint certificate from NC State University and the UNC System office.

Fridays 1-3 p.m., Jan. 29 – April 9 | Zoom Webinar

Facilitator: Stella Jackman-Ryan

The Ahead of the Pack development series for first-year graduate students will be done virtually this semester! Ahead of the Pack is a comprehensive development series that supports adjustment to grad school. It provides sustained support, practice, and feedback on key aspects of graduate school and sets you on a path for success. Weekly sessions will cover strategies for wellness, time management, communication, writing, and career management, among other topics.

Thursdays 12 – 1 p.m., February 25 – March 25 | Zoom Webinar

Facilitator: Chris Smith

This development series will serve to introduce and familiarize graduate students and postdocs to the career exploration and life design process. We’ll cover topics around self-reflection as a means of identifying career paths of potential interest. We will also discuss how to use informational interviews to explore various careers and build your professional network. In addition, you will learn how to assess your current competencies, identify gaps in your training, especially as they align with potential career goals, and develop a plan to obtain the skills you need to succeed in your chosen career area(s).

Mondays 1-3 p.m., Jan. 25 – April 26 | Zoom Webinar

Facilitator: Vanessa Doriott Anderson

Communicating about your area of specialization involves so much more than content expertise and a captive audience. In this development series, we will explore tools and strategies to help you communicate more effectively with students, specialists, and the public alike. Topics will include motivation and development models, inclusive learning environments, the debate around teaching and learning styles, visual communication and multimodality, and more.

Participants may apply up to 44 hours from this development series toward the Teaching and Communication Certificate.

Thursdays 1-3 p.m., Jan. 28 – March 4 | Zoom Webinar

Facilitator: Katie Homar

Do you want to learn the basics of publishing journal articles? Writing for Journal Article Publication: Early Stage Development Series is designed to support graduate student and postdoc researchers in learning and utilizing strategies for publishing research articles as well as for students looking for an introduction to key strategies for effective academic writing.

This Early Stage workshop series is for you if:

• You want to get a head start writing a journal article or academic paper
• You are in the earlier stages of writing your article or paper
• You want to understand and implement some best practices for organizing information in academic writing

Participants in the Early Stage Workshop Series can apply 12 hours towards the Graduate Writing Certificate.

Thursdays 1-3 p.m., March 18 – April 8 | Zoom Webinar

Facilitator: Katie Homar

Do you want to make substantial progress toward submitting an article manuscript you are already writing?

This Late Stage workshop series is for you if:

• You are in the middle of a journal article or academic paper project
• You want to submit or revise-and-resubmit an article draft
• You are seeking feedback on a draft in progress
• You are looking for extra motivation to finish or keep working on a draft in progress

Participants in the Late Stage workshop series will practice:

• Strategies for time management and productivity
• How to give feedback as a reviewer of a peer’s writing
• Strategies for responding to journal reviewers
• Tips for self-proofreading and editing drafts

Participants in the Late Stage Workshop Series can apply up to 8 hours towards the Graduate Writing Certificate. 

Tuesdays 1-3 p.m., Jan. 19 – April 20 | Zoom Webinar

Facilitator: Vanessa Doriott Anderson

In this blended synchronous and asynchronous online development series, you will read and interpret job ads; draft and/or refine a variety of application materials (CV/resume, cover letter) and personal statements (e.g. teaching, research, diversity); practice interview techniques; identify and gather evidence of effectiveness in teaching, research, service, and/or other areas of professional activity; and use basic design principles to create an engaging online portfolio of your work.

Participants may apply up to 44 hours from this development series toward EITHER the Teaching and Communication Certificate OR the Graduate Writing Certificate.

Wednesdays OR Fridays 11 a.m. – 12:15 p.m., Jan 27 – Feb. 26 | Zoom Webinar

Facilitator: Joe Aldinger

The Industry Talks module of A2i provides masters, PhD students, and postdocs with an introduction to application materials and career pathways available in industry. Our five presenters from industry will cover topics such as: entrepreneurship, career paths, best application practices, and developing a network of mentors.

*PLEASE NOTE: This IJSS Interactive Workshops series appears scheduled for both Wednesday and Friday each week; however, only one talk will be held each week for the duration of this Development Series. The exact schedule of Industry Talks and Interactive Workshops will be released before the start of the course.

Wednesdays OR Fridays 11 a.m. – 12:15 p.m., Jan 27 – Feb. 26 | Zoom Webinar

Facilitator: Joe Aldinger

In conjunction with Industry Talks, A2i Industry Job Search Strategies also offers small Interactive Workshops. Topics covered in the five workshops include: resume design including scannable resume design, career exploration, Clifton Strengths Assessment, and key documents for project management (i.e. project scope and project timeline).

*PLEASE NOTE: This IJSS Interactive Workshops series appears scheduled for both Wednesday and Friday each week; however, only one workshop will be held each week for the duration of this Development Series. The exact schedule of Industry Talks and Interactive Workshops will be released before the start of the course.

Wednesday, Feb. 3 | 2 – 4 p.m. | Zoom Webinar

AND

Wednesday, Feb. 10 | 2 – 4 p.m. | Zoom Webinar

Facilitator: Katie Homar

In this two part workshop, we’ll focus on strategies for planning and managing a writing project, as well as fundamental tips for structuring the engineering writing. Participants will clarify their writing goals for the semester and leave with strategies to implement on current and future writing projects. We will use different genres of engineering writing projects as case study, so participants will also gain tips for summarizing, paraphrasing, and synthesizing their writing projects.

Attendance at both sessions is mandatory.

Participants may apply up to 4 hours of credit toward the Graduate Writing Certificate.

Thursday, Feb. 4 | 1 – 3 p.m. | Zoom Webinar

Facilitator: Katie Homar

Get a head start on your journal article or report! In this interactive workshop, participants will explore common strategies for organizing information in academic writing. Specifically, we will practice strategies for:

• Identifying common organization structures for articles and papers
• Comparing how information is organized in different disciplines using sample journal articles
• Critically reading articles with an eye for structure
• Applying common organization structures to your own writing project

This workshop is designed for writers starting to draft a journal article or papers, as well as those looking for a refresher on the organization of academic writing and/or strategies for effectively summarizing articles.

To prepare and get the most out of this interactive workshop, you should have access to a published journal article in your discipline, such as an article that you are currently reading.

Participants may apply up to 2 hours of credit toward the Graduate Writing Certificate.

Monday, Feb. 8 | 10 – 11 a.m. | Zoom Webinar

AND

Monday, Feb. 15 | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Zoom Webinar

Facilitator: Vanessa Doriott Anderson

In this two-part workshop, we will explore how universal design for learning can be used to engage diverse learners. In the first session, we will conduct an assessment of a task that has multiple solutions and discuss concrete strategies to motivate students that approach tasks in different ways. In the second session, you will receive feedback on an activity that you designed based on what you learned in the first session. Open to ALL graduate students and postdocs regardless of your teaching experience. 

Attendance at both sessions is mandatory.

Participants may apply up to 3 hours of credit toward the Teaching and Communication Certificate.

Wednesday, Feb. 10 | 10 – 11 a.m. | Zoom Webinar

Facilitator: Vanessa Doriott Anderson and Peter Harries

Preparing the Professoriate is a nationally recognized program designed to give exceptional doctoral students and postdoctoral scholars an immersive mentoring, teaching, and future faculty preparation experience. Come learn about the application process for the upcoming academic year!

Thursday, Feb. 11 | 1 – 3 p.m. | Zoom Webinar

Facilitator: Katie Homar

In this workshop, we tackle the challenge of composing two key components of a research article: Abstracts and introductions.

Participants will specifically practice strategies for: 

• Adapting common abstract structures to their own article projects 
• Effectively organizing introductions using the “Create A Research Space” (CARS) model 
• Using appropriate verb tenses in introductions and abstracts
• Starting or revising their own abstracts and intros

Open to all graduate and postdoc trainees.

Participants may apply up to 2 hours of credit toward the Graduate Writing Certificate.

Wednesday, Feb. 17 | 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. | Zoom Webinar

Facilitator: Emily Anderson

QPR is intended to teach individuals how to recognize the warning signs of suicide including verbal, behavioral, and situational clues. It provides guidelines on how to question a person about suicidal thoughts, persuade them to get help, and refer the person for help. The QPR training is both educational and experiential, and includes:

• An overview of statistics regarding suicide
• Myths versus facts
• Identifying behavioral, verbal, and situational warning signs
• Practicing concrete tools for helping someone in distress

Participants may receive credit toward the Teaching and Communication Certificate upon submission of the Reporter course completion certificate.

Thursday, Feb. 18 | 1 – 3 p.m. | Zoom Webinar

Facilitator: Katie Homar

Write up the results! There’s more to it! In this workshop, we explore how to create strong results, discussion, and conclusion sections. Specifically, participants will practice and discuss strategies for:

• Choosing an appropriate structure for results/discussion sections in their field
• Effectively organizing data commentaries 
• Linking discussion section to literature/past findings
• Answering the “so what question” (impact) about their research in discussion and conclusion section
• Starting and/or revising their own results/discussion section

Open to all graduate and postdoc trainees.

Participants may apply up to 2 hours of credit toward the Graduate Writing Certificate.

Monday, Feb. 22 | 10 – 11 a.m. | Zoom Webinar

AND

Monday, March 1 | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Zoom Webinar

Facilitator: Vanessa Doriott Anderson

In this two-part workshop, we will explore strategies to make PowerPoint slides more visually engaging and interactive. In the first session, we will analyze effective and ineffective forms of visual communication. In the second session, you will present your own slide(s) for peer review. Slides can be course- or research-based. Open to all graduate students and postdocs regardless of your teaching experience.

Attendance at both sessions is mandatory.

Participants may apply up to 3 hours of credit toward the Teaching and Communication Certificate.

Wednesday, Feb. 24 | 3-4 p.m. | Zoom Webinar

Facilitator: Vanessa Doriott Anderson and Peter Harries

Preparing the Professoriate is a nationally recognized program designed to give exceptional doctoral students and postdoctoral scholars an immersive mentoring, teaching, and future faculty preparation experience. Come learn about the application process for the upcoming academic year!

Wednesday, Feb. 24 | 2 – 4 p.m. | Zoom Webinar

Facilitator: Katie Homar

Do people say that your writing is wordy? In this interactive workshop, we’ll address the challenge of building clear, concise sentences that represent your science to diverse stakeholders. Using Richard Lanham’s famous “Paramedic Method” and other approaches, participants will leave the session with strategies for “user-friendly” sentences in reports and other workplace documents. Open to all grad students and postdocs.

Participants may apply up to 2 hours of credit toward the Graduate Writing Certificate.

Thursday, Feb. 25 | 1 – 3 p.m. | Zoom Webinar

Facilitator: Katie Homar

You’ve gathered lots of articles and other sources.  What next? In this workshop, we address tips for effectively structuring and synthesizing sources (“literature”) in journal articles and research papers. Participants will specifically practice strategies for: 

• Summarizing sources and organizing summaries
• Integrating sources into their article of research paper using common “lit review” structures
• Paraphrasing sources
• Using appropriate reporting verbs and transitions to synthesize sources
• Starting/revising their own selective  “lit review” section for an article or research paper

Open to all graduate and postdoc trainees.

Participants may apply up to 2 hours of credit toward the Graduate Writing Certificate.

Monday, March 1 | 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. | Zoom Webinar

Facilitator: Emily Anderson

QPR is intended to teach individuals how to recognize the warning signs of suicide including verbal, behavioral, and situational clues. It provides guidelines on how to question a person about suicidal thoughts, persuade them to get help, and refer the person for help. The QPR training is both educational and experiential, and includes:

• An overview of statistics regarding suicide
• Myths versus facts
• Identifying behavioral, verbal, and situational warning signs
• Practicing concrete tools for helping someone in distress

Participants may receive credit toward the Teaching and Communication Certificate upon submission of the Reporter course completion certificate.

Monday, March 3 | 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Zoom Webinar

Facilitator: Vanessa Doriott Anderson and Peter Harries

Preparing the Professoriate is a nationally recognized program designed to give exceptional doctoral students and postdoctoral scholars an immersive mentoring, teaching, and future faculty preparation experience. Come learn about the application process for the upcoming academic year!

Monday, March 8 | 10 -11 a.m. | Zoom Webinar

AND

Monday, March 15 | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Zoom Webinar

Facilitator: Vanessa Doriott Anderson

In this two-part workshop, we will explore strategies for writing a teaching statement that is professional yet personalized. In the first session, we will look at models of effective and ineffective teaching statements and hone our ability to critique and revise them. In the second session, participants will present their own draft teaching statements for peer review. Open to ALL graduate students and postdocs regardless of your teaching experience.

Attendance at both sessions is mandatory.

Participants may apply up to 3 hours of credit toward the Teaching and Communication Certificate.

Wednesday, March 10 | 2 – 4 p.m. | Zoom Webinar

Facilitator: Katie Homar

Contact colleagues at NCState and beyond with tact and ease! In this workshop, you will gain strategies for crafting effective professional emails. Specifically, participants will practice and discuss strategies for: 

• Organizing a professional email message
• Making inquiries and requests
• Creating a professional tone or voice in email

Participants may apply up to 2 hours of credit toward the Graduate Writing Certificate.

Wednesday, March 10 | 11 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. | Zoom Webinar

AND

Friday, March 12 | 11 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. | Zoom Webinar

Facilitator: Joe Aldinger

Often during interviews candidates are asked not only about their strengths but also their weaknesses. In this two day workshop, participants will complete activities that will help them articulate their strengths as well as barriers across both verbal and written communication. A key aspect of this will be reflecting on the talents you use to get things done and how those same talents may hinder or create barriers for you. This workshop is part of the new CliftonStrengths programming offered by the Professional Development team.

Wednesday, March 17 | 2 – 4 p.m. | Zoom Webinar

Facilitator: Katie Homar

In this workshop, we address the challenges of conveying your research story in a persuasive way for technical and nontechnical stakeholders. We will focus on various writing forms in engineering that include organization and interpretation of results. These will include technical/non-technical reports, results & discussion sections or articles and theses, and similar types of writing projects. Specifically participants will practice and discuss strategies for:   

• Choosing an appropriate structure for reporting and commenting on data
• Effectively organizing data commentaries 
• Integrating figures and visuals in reports 
• Structuring and revising reports

Participants may apply up to 2 hours of credit toward the Graduate Writing Certificate.

Monday, March 22 | 10 -11 a.m. | Zoom Webinar

AND

Monday, March 29 | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Zoom Webinar

Facilitator: Vanessa Doriott Anderson

In this two-part workshop, we will explore strategies for delivering a compelling, accessible academic job talk. In the first session, participants will reflect on the purpose of their talk as well as its audience, and will engage in a number of exercises to help them pitch their research to an interdisciplinary audience. In the second session, 1-3 speakers will present their job talk for peer review. Open to ALL graduate students and postdocs regardless of your teaching experience.

Attendance at both sessions is mandatory.

Participants may apply up to 3 hours of credit toward the Teaching and Communication Certificate.

Wednesday, March 31 | 2 – 4 p.m. | Zoom Webinar

Facilitator: Katie Homar

In this workshop, we tackle the challenge of composing two key components of a research article: Abstracts and introductions. Participants will specifically practice strategies for: 

• Adapting common engineering abstract types to their own research projects 
• Effectively organizing introductions using the famous “Create A Research Space” (CARS) model 
• Choosing appropriate intro and abstract structures for their research goals
• Starting or revising their own abstracts and intros

Participants may apply up to 2 hours of credit toward the Graduate Writing Certificate.

Wednesday, March 31 | 11 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. | Zoom Webinar

AND

Friday, April 2 | 11 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. | Zoom Webinar

Facilitator: Joe Aldinger

Working with A2i’s Certified Strength Coaches, participants will learn how to create an impactful “About Me” section on their profile and engaging descriptions of the work/projects they’ve completed. The workshop will also cover best practices of LinkedIn including how to use the platform to set up informational interviews, grow your network, and help you with your job search.

Monday, April 5 | 10 – 11 a.m. | Zoom Webinar

AND

Monday, April 12 | 10 – 12 p.m. | Zoom Webinar

Facilitator: Vanessa Doriot Anderson

In this two-part workshop, we will explore strategies for managing conflict in the classroom. In the first session, we will examine various approaches to preventative and reactive conflict management, using real-life examples. In the second session, participants will role-play a variety of scenarios to practice assertive conflict management. Open to ALL graduate students and postdocs regardless of your teaching experience.

Attendance at both sessions is mandatory.

Participants may apply up to 3 hours of credit toward the Teaching and Communication Certificate.

Thursday, April 8 | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Zoom Webinar

Facilitator: Emily Anderson

QPR is intended to teach individuals how to recognize the warning signs of suicide including verbal, behavioral, and situational clues. It provides guidelines on how to question a person about suicidal thoughts, persuade them to get help, and refer the person for help. The QPR training is both educational and experiential, and includes:

• An overview of statistics regarding suicide
• Myths versus facts
• Identifying behavioral, verbal, and situational warning signs
• Practicing concrete tools for helping someone in distress

Participants may receive credit toward the Teaching and Communication Certificate upon submission of the Reporter course completion certificate.

Monday, April 19 | 10 – 11 a.m. | Zoom Webinar

AND

Monday, April 26 | 10 – 12 p.m. | Zoom Webinar

Facilitator: Vanessa Doriot Anderson

In this two-part workshop, we will consider best practices for reading, analyzing, and using the data from your course evaluations. How can you make your evaluations work for you, so that they become part of a cycle of reflective teaching practice? How can you use them as evidence of effective teaching in your job materials? How can you separate constructive criticism from ad hominem attacks and excessive praise? And how can you supplement your standard course evaluations to get the information you really need to improve your teaching?

Attendance at both sessions is mandatory.

Participants may apply up to 3 hours of credit toward the Teaching and Communication Certificate.