Workshops and Development Series
The Graduate School offers several writing, teaching, communication, and professional development workshops and series. All workshops and development series adhere to the attendance policy (below).
Development Series
Development Series are non-credit course-style workshop series that provide sustained support, practice, and feedback on key aspects of teaching, communication, writing, and career management. Graduate students and postdoctoral scholars at any stage of their careers and in any discipline should enroll in these Development Series to improve their teaching, writing, speaking, and presentation skills, and preparation for industry. Development Series are non-credit bearing and free of charge (although some may require materials or refundable deposits).
Development Series that count toward the Teaching and Communication Certificate are indicated by an asterisk (*). Development series that count toward the Writing Certificate are indicated by a plus sign (+). Development series require compliance with the attendance policy. Email questions about Development Series to the instructor listed.
Fall 2019
Tuesdays 4:00-5:30 p.m. (August 27 through October 22), Hunt Library Teaching Visualization Studio
Instructor: Katie Homar
Video abstracts are a cutting-edge form of scientific communication that “advertises” a published article and conveys research to diverse audiences online. In this development series, participants will create their own video abstract from start to finish. In addition to composing a script and storyboard, participants will learn best practices for gathering footage, organizing video assets, and video editing through collaboration with NC State’s Library Media Team. This is a hands-on workshop series where participants will have opportunities to experiment with techniques for telling a research story on screen and get feedback at every stage from the instructor and peers. They will leave the session not only with a usable video abstract but also with strategies for managing a video project and communicating their research to diverse stakeholders. Open to all COE grad students and postdocs.
You may apply up to 18 hours of credit from this development series toward the Teaching & Communication and Writing Certificates.
Instructor: Shannon Madden
Participants in this 4-week, non-credit development series will learn and practice the conventions for writing strong grant proposals, including strategies for locating funding sources, aligning your proposed research project with the needs and values of the funding organization, articulating the broader impact of your work, and describing your project to non-specialist audiences, among other strategies.
You may apply up to 12 hours from this development series towards the Writing Certificate.
The Grant Writing development series will be offered twice during the Fall 2019 semester:
Section I: Thursdays, 2:30 – 4:30 PM, September 12 through October 3, Fox Hall
Section II: Thursdays, 2:30 – 4:30 PM, October 17 through November 7, Fox Hall
Tuesdays, 8:00-10:00 a.m. (August 27 through October 1), Withers Hall
Instructor: Joe Aldinger
This 6-week course will provide participants with information and strategies meant to establish a competitive edge during job searches the hiring process. Course topics will include the following: résumé, CV, and cover letter writing, best narrative practices for application materials, personal branding, interviewing, negotiating salary and compensation, networking, and how to develop professional portfolios.
Course participants will receive feedback for these features from their colleagues and the instructor along with feedback from professionals in academia, industry, government, and non-profit entities. Course activities will include workshops, guest speakers, and discussion based lectures.
Mondays 3:00-5:00 p.m. Withers Hall
Instructor: Vanessa Doriott Anderson
This development series aims to provide graduate students and postdoctoral scholars with an introduction to “backward course design,” a method that involves structuring course content according to desired results rather than “coverage.” We will practice writing learning outcomes that can be used for purposes of design and assessment, refine a discipline-specific syllabus through multiple peer-reviewed drafts, and consider the syllabus as a starting point for the creation of individual lesson plans as well as full-scale curricula. Finally, we will explore the uses of instructional technology in the context of course design. Participants can include the syllabus in their professional portfolio as evidence of their ability to apply a results-oriented methodology to the management of a learning and/or working environment. This series will be conducted in a blended online/in-person environment.
You may apply up to 44 hours from this development series toward the Teaching and Communication Certificate.
Tuesdays 1:00-4:00 p.m./ Fox Hall
Instructor: Vanessa Doriott Anderson
The Teaching and Presentation Practicum is designed to give graduate students at all levels, as well as postdoctoral scholars, the opportunity to engage in microteaching opportunities that will allow you to develop and refine your teaching and presentation skills in a supportive environment. You will read about a variety of strategies along with concrete examples of how they are used before tailoring specific strategies to your field of expertise. Each microteaching segment will be digitally recorded so that you have the opportunity to assess your own work; you will also benefit from giving and receiving constructive peer feedback related to teaching and presentation skills. Your final project will involve revising a previously taught segment in order to improve its efficacy. The recording of your project can be used in your professional portfolio as evidence of your teaching skills.
You may apply up to 44 hours from this development series toward the Teaching and Communication Certificate.
Thursdays 9:00-10:00 a.m. (August 29 through December 5) EBII
Instructor: Katie Homar
This non-credit professional development series will introduce international graduate students to academic writing in the US. We will pay special attention to how academic writers use style, grammar, and vocabulary to communicate their research to audiences in their field and beyond. Participants in this series will have to opportunity to substantially revise a piece of writing, such as an article draft, research paper, or dissertation chapter as well as opportunities to interact online. Open to all grad students and postdocs.
You may apply up to 21 hours of credit from this development series toward the Teaching & Communication and Writing Certificates.
Wednesdays 9:00-11:00 a.m. (August 28 through October 16), Fox Hall
Instructor: Shannon Madden
Are you looking to transform your seminar paper, dissertation chapter, or conference talk into a publishable journal article? Participants in this 8-week, non-credit development series will learn the process and practices of manuscript development for article publication that are relevant across disciplines, and learn to utilize strategies for publishing research articles in disciplinary journals. Open to graduate students and postdocs in any discipline and at any stage of their graduate career.
You may apply up to 24 hours from this development series towards the Writing Certificate.
Workshops
Workshops that count toward the Teaching and Communication Certificate are indicated by an asterisk (*). Workshops that count toward the Writing Certificate are indicated by a plus sign (+). Workshops can only be counted for credit once unless otherwise indicated. Please be aware of the workshop attendance policy (below).
June 2019
Monday, June 3 / 1:00-2:00 pm / ONLINE
AND
Monday, June 10 / 1:00-3:00 pm / ONLINE
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.
Tuesday, June 4 / 1:00-2:00 pm / ONLINE
AND
Tuesday, June 11 / 1:00-3:00 pm / ONLINE
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.
June 4 / 3:30-5:00PM / Daniels Hall
AND
June 11 / 3:30-5:00PM / Daniels Hall
Attendance at both sessions is mandatory.
Get a competitive edge for your job search and/or A2i Immersion Week! In this two-part workshop, we’ll address the challenge of translating qualifications, skills, and experiences to the needs of employers. In part one, we’ll analyze job ads and strategies for designing application materials to “fit” with a position and company. In part two, participants will workshop cover letters and resumes implementing the strategies from the first part. Participants will leave the session with stronger drafts of their application materials, for example, to prepare for the A2i resume reviewing session. Open to all COE grad students and postdocs, and participants in A2i Industry Immersion Week are strongly encouraged to attend.
June 19 / 10AM-11:30AM / EB III
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. To get the most out of this session, participants should bring a laptop and drafts of a writing project. Open to all COE grad students and postdocs.
Note: This workshop was created in collaboration with NC State’s Engineering Online; it will be filmed and available to distance-education students.
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June 21 / 3:30-5:00PM / EB I
AND
June 28 / 3:30PM-5:00PM / EB I
Attendance at both sessions is mandatory.
In this two-part workshop, we address the challenges of creating persuasive reports for technical and nontechnical stakeholders. In the first part, we’ll discuss how to structure reports that achieve your goals and meet readers’ (users’) needs. In the second part, participants will implement those strategies to workshop a draft of their report, plus practice visual design techniques for formatting a “user-friendly” report. Open to all COE grad students and postdocs.
July 2019
Wednesday, July 10 / 10:00-11:00 am / Marye Anne Fox Science Labs
AND
Wednesday, July 17 / 10:00 am-12:00 pm / Marye Anne Fox Science Labs
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.
Monday, July 15 / 1:00-2:00 pm / Marye Anne Fox Science Labs
AND
Monday, July 22 / 1:00-3:00 pm / Marye Anne Fox Science Labs
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.
Friday, July 19 / 1:00-2:00 pm / Marye Anne Fox Science Labs
AND
Friday, July 26 / 1:00-3:00 pm / Marye Anne Fox Science Labs
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.
August 2019
Wednesday, August 7 / 11:00 am -12:00 pm / Talley Student Union 3221
This workshop will provide an overview of the ETD submission process. The ETD Reviewer will explain submission deadlines and introduce the resources on the ETD website that will help you prepare your document. Attendees are welcome to ask questions throughout the session. Attendance is not required for ETD submission or graduation.
Wednesday, August 28 / 11:00 am -12:00 pm / Talley Student Union 3221
This workshop will provide an overview of the ETD submission process. The ETD Reviewer will explain submission deadlines and introduce the resources on the ETD website that will help you prepare your document. Attendees are welcome to ask questions throughout the session. Attendance is not required for ETD submission or graduation.
September 2019
Thursday, September 12 / 11:00 am -12:00 pm / Talley Student Union 3221
This workshop will provide an overview of the ETD submission process. The ETD Reviewer will explain submission deadlines and introduce the resources on the ETD website that will help you prepare your document. Attendees are welcome to ask questions throughout the session. Attendance is not required for ETD submission or graduation.
Wednesday, September 18 / 3:30PM-5:00PM / EB III Room 2240
AND
Wednesday, September 25 / 3:30PM-5:00PM / EB III Room 2240
In this two-part workshop, we tackle the challenge of composing abstracts and introductions. For the first part, we’ll examine how intros and abstracts are constructed as well as best practices for composing these key components of articles and chapters. In the second session, participants will implement these strategies to workshop their own introduction or abstract, leaving the session with stronger openings for an article or chapter. Open to all COE grad students and postdocs.
Attendance at both sessions is mandatory.
October 2019
October 7th through November 15th
The course is available to all faculty and staff within the UNC system. This program will provide the audience with an introduction to accessibility and will offer practical methods for incorporating multiple accessibility techniques into face-to-face, blended, and online classrooms.
The course is formatted as a self-paced, asynchronous, online class delivered via Moodle. Moodle is NC State’s official Learning Management System.
Speaking about your research interests to general audiences, including the media, is an essential science communication skill. In this “hands-on” workshop facilitated by NC State’s University News Services Team, learn strategies for translating complex research projects to broad audiences and techniques for effective on-camera interviews. Participants in this small workshop will have the opportunity to tour NC State’s studios in the Butler Communications Building and practice the on-camera interviewing techniques.
Open to all graduate students and postdocs.
Wednesday, October 16 / 3:30PM-5:00PM / EBIII Room 2240
AND
Wednesday, October 23 / 3:30PM-5:00PM / EBIII Room 2240
In this two-part workshop, we address the challenge of finding appropriate sources (“literature”) and synthesizing sources to create a lit review that situates your research in the state-of-the-art. In the first part, join the University library system’s engineering specialists to discuss best practices for conducting searches and evaluating engineering journal articles. In the second session, participants will workshop lit review chapters or sections, drawing on strategies from the first session. Participants will leave these sessions with tips on locating relevant literature as well as a refined draft of a lit review chapter or section. Open to all COE grad students and postdocs.
Attendance at both sessions is mandatory.
November 2019
Wednesday, November 6 / 3:30PM-5:00PM / EBIII Room 2240
AND
Wednesday, November 13 / 3:30PM-5:00PM / EBIII Room 2240
In this two-part workshop, we address the challenge of creating discussion and conclusion sections. While these sections have many names in engineering writing, our workshops will focus on interpreting and evaluating results and answering the “big questions” about the applications or downstream impact of your work. For the first part, we’ll examine how discussions and conclusions are constructed across engineering fields. In the second session, participants will implement these strategies to workshop their own discussion/conclusion section, leaving the session with stronger drafts of an article or chapter.
Attendance at both sessions is mandatory.
December 2019
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, NC State will honor requests for reasonable accommodations made by individuals with disabilities. Requests can be served effectively if notice is provided at least 10 days before the event. Direct accommodation requests for professional development programs to professional-development@ncsu.edu.
Attendance Policy
Participants who cancel their registration for any Professional Development event (e.g., workshops, seminars, symposia) more than 24 hours before the first session of an event will not be penalized. Registrants who fail to attend an event or who cancel their registration less than 24 hours before the first session of an event will be marked as a “No Show” for the event. Those with two recorded “No Shows” will automatically be dropped from all future Professional Development events for the remainder of the semester in which the two “No Shows” occur.
This policy is in place to encourage students to practice time management and professionalism. The instructors create materials and activities based on attendance so this information needs to be as accurate as possible in order for participants to get the most out of the session.
For development series, please review the syllabus for the attendance policy specific to your course.
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