Have you ever been in a class or presentation session where the silence felt like a heavy wet blanket? Or conversely, where the discussion veered deep into tangent-land? In this session, we will provide you with practical strategies for starting and guiding on-topic and inspiring discussions in your classes. You will be introduced to a simple structure that you can use to organize any discussion – to start off strong and continue to run smoothly. We will also give you tools to maintain student participation.
G+PS Grad Student Workshops This Fall
G+PS (formerly the Faculty of Grad Studies/FoGS) is offering great workshops this fall on a range of topics: preparing your thesis, doing presentations, having a better relationship with your supervisor, and more.
Leading Discussions (for TAs)
Tuesday, 25 August 2015 – 1:15pm
TA-Instructor Working Relationship (for TAs)
Wednesday, 26 August 2015 – 8:15am
As a Teaching Assistant, you will be working closely in different roles with an experienced instructor to teach. When this relationship goes well, it can be rewarding, educational, and fun. When it does not, it can be frustrating and overwhelming.
Presentation Skills (for TAs)
Thursday, 27 August 2015 – 1:15pm
This workshop on presentation skills is designed for participants who expect to present their research within academia, organizational departments, or at conferences. Participants might also consider joining if they are preparing to defend a thesis or dissertation, or if taking part in job interviews. This workshop will enable participants to increase their confidence and try new approaches in any presentation setting. We will collaboratively explore models for effective presentations and apply these during short presentations delivered by participants.
Submitting your Thesis
Thursday, 17 September 2015 – 9:00am
Who should attend? Graduate students who are preparing to submit their thesis or defend their research findings before an examining board.
Working on your thesis? This session will review the UBC formatting and submission requirements and include:
- Planning ahead
- Thesis formatting requirements
- Electronic submission of theses
Presenters: Kelli Kadokawa and Kristy Brimacombe, their work includes advising students on thesis preparation and formatting.
Doctoral Exam Preparation
Thursday, 17 September 2015 – 10:30am
Who should attend? Graduate students who are preparing to submit their thesis or defend their research findings before an examining board.
This session will assist doctoral candidates who are ready (or nearly ready) for their Final Doctoral Exams and will include:
Mentoring Workshop (For TAs and TA Training Coordinators)
Thursday, 17 September 2015 – 12:30pm
This half-day workshop is meant for senior TAs who will be serving, formally or informally, as mentors for other TAs in their department. The workshop is also open to TA Training Coordinators. During the workshop, you will focus on developing specific mentoring skills. The beginning of the workshop will focus on setting up the mentoring relationship, and the latter part of the workshop will focus on 3 core mentoring skills – feedback, reflection, and skill modeling.
Submitting your Thesis (via Webinar)
Thursday, 17 September 2015 – 1:00pm
Who should attend? Graduate students who are preparing to submit their thesis or defend their research findings before an examining board.
Working on your thesis? This session will review the UBC formatting and submission requirements and include:
- Planning ahead
- Thesis formatting requirements
- Electronic submission of theses
Presenters: Kelli Kadokawa and Kristy Brimacombe, their work includes advising students on thesis preparation and formatting.
Doctoral Exam Preparation (via Webinar)
Thursday, 17 September 2015 – 2:30pm
Who should attend? Graduate students who are preparing to submit their thesis or defend their research findings before an examining board.
This session will assist doctoral candidates who are ready (or nearly ready) for their Final Doctoral Exams and will include:
The non-academic job search for graduate students and postdocs
Wednesday, 23 September 2015 – 9:00am
In this three-part session, Dr. Anne Krook will first review her own path through and out of academics and describe the lessons graduate students can draw from it. She will then show how graduate students can prepare themselves for the non-academic job market at the same time that they do their graduate work and what they must do. Finally, she will review the process and mechanics of entering the non-academic job market.
Facilitation Basics 1 (For TAs and TA Training Coordinators)
Thursday, 24 September 2015 – 9:00am
This workshop is part 1 of the Facilitation Basics workshops which are meant for senior TAs who will be delivering facilitated sessions focused on teaching enhancement for TAs. During this workshop, you will focus on developing key skills for designing workshops: determining workshop objectives, designing activities, time management, etc. The workshop is an interactive, peer-based model which will give you opportunities to learn about, practice, discuss, and reflect on workshop development skills, and will run from 9:00 AM until 12:30 PM.
Facilitation Basics 2 (For TAs and TA Training Coordinators)
Thursday, 24 September 2015 – 1:30pm
This workshop is part 2 of the Facilitation Basics workshops which are meant for senior TAs who will be delivering facilitated workshops focused on teaching enhancement for TAs.
Discovering the Entrepreneur Within
Wednesday, 30 September 2015 – 9:00am
Discovering the Entrepreneur Within has participants analyze successful entrepreneurial ventures and identify what it took for those entrepreneurs to reach their goals. Using an interactive, team-based approach, this full-day workshop builds awareness of the current Canadian entrepreneurial landscape and resources available to those looking to start their own business. Using the tools and techniques used in the first part of the workshop, teams create a product or service concept that they will present to the group. May the best idea win!
Technical and Scientific Writing I and II
Friday, 2 October 2015 – 9:00am
Expand your knowledge of the necessary editorial, grammatical and structural conventions to create quality, impactful writing. You will learn to: Analyze your audience and tailor your writing to them; Identify the components of a technical report; Make effective use of writing and editing techniques; Use graphics effectively.
Breaking Patterns of Procrastination
Thursday, 8 October 2015 – 9:30am
This session is one of a series of seminars being offered by Graduate Pathways to Success in collaboration with the Life & Career Centre, Robson Square.
Improving Presentations through Productive Feedback
Wednesday, 14 October 2015 – 12:30pm
As graduate students, we are often asked to offer feedback on our colleagues’ presentation materials and/or presentations. Saying “good job” is too general and not particularly helpful! How can we be specific, while being helpful, respectful and constructive? What are the specific areas we can focus on to help others (and ourselves) create effective presentations?
In this workshop, we help you build your skills as a reviewer of presentations. You will be able to apply these skills to enhancing your own presentations.
By the end of this workshop, you will be able to:
Getting on Track with your Thesis
Tuesday, 20 October 2015 – 9:00am
Lost momentum? Having difficulty managing your research in an efficient way? Need motivation and strategies to complete your thesis? This workshop will offer information to graduate students on how to: Efficiently structure the thesis or dissertation process for timely completion; Manage the emotional roller coaster; Find support when your motivation ebbs.
Getting the Word Out – writing your research for the public sphere
Thursday, 22 October 2015 – 9:00am
In this climate of knowledge exchange and community engagement, communicating to a mainstream audience outside the Academy is becoming increasingly important for research professionals. These days the onus is on members of the academic community to have a high public profile and to take part in public debate.
And, not only do universities want their academics to develop a highly visible profile and be seen in the public arena, but there also is an educated and interested community out there keen to hear what goes on within Academia.
SCARL I: Planning a Statistically Sound Research Project
Wednesday, 28 October 2015 – 10:00am
This is a general introduction to the important role statistics play in the planning stage of a research project. We will discuss both observational studies and controlled experiments, including the study population, the scientific question, sampling and randomization. We will focus on the experimental design, the effects of confounding, computing sample size and power.
From Stress to Strengths! Living a More Congruent Life
Thursday, 29 October 2015 – 9:30am
Stress is the top health and wellness reason for academic difficulties among UBC graduate students (National College Health Assessment, 2008). During this engaging and comfortably paced workshop, participants will have the opportunity to consider the notion of stress from a completely new lens. No longer will stress be seen as a behaviour to be “managed” or “balanced”. Rather, the focus will be on gaining familiarity with concepts related to individual wellness as it relates to each participant’s particular needs and values, in order to build resiliency.
Panic to Power: improving career confidence
Wednesday, 4 November 2015 – 4:00pm
Do you find yourself worrying about achieving your goals? Do you feel avoidant, unsure, nervous and slightly nauseous instead of excited, motivated, confident, and focused? Are you stressed about your thesis, research, or teaching duties? Are you unsure how to navigate the relationship with your supervisor or committee? Do you dread reaching out to other professionals, academics, or employers? Are conferences, networking events, and “meet and greets” a source of worry rather than inspiration?
Networking
Thursday, 5 November 2015 – 9:30am
For many graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, the idea of networking is a scary thought, bringing with it connotations of schmoozing, kissing babies, and handing out business cards with a wink and a smile. In fact, networking is an easy-to-master and valuable skill that, if put into play early in one’s training, can reap huge rewards when it comes time to finding employment.
SCARL II: Exploring and Visualizing Data
Wednesday, 18 November 2015 – 10:00am
Before analysis begins the data should be visually inspected and explored. We will discuss various graphics for univariate and multivariate data and provide tips on how to create meaningful and transparent graphics. We will explain how to compute simple data summaries and descriptive statistics to help guide any future analysis.
Getting the Interview – How to Make Your Application Stand Out
Monday, 23 November 2015 – 1:00pm
Do you want to significantly increase the chances of getting the interview as opposed to just applying and hoping? Don’t get lost in piles of resumes ever again! The application process can be tricky and one small mistake can lose any chance of an interview. Learn how to maximize each step and get the interviews you want.
Time Management
Tuesday, 2 February 2016 – 9:00am
Identify procrastination triggers and over scheduling tendencies as well as to learn innovative time management techniques that enhance productivity and reduce stress within and outside the workplace. You will learn to: Identify and correct behaviors that lead to procrastination; Prioritize deadlines in the face of competing priorities, taking into account values, resources and skills; Employ available technologies and use them appropriately; Drive results.
SCARL III: Two Group Comparisons and Beyond
Wednesday, 3 February 2016 – 10:00am
In this session, there will be a detailed discussion and demonstration of how to compare data from two groups or conditions. From this common type of analysis, we generalize to comparisons of more than two groups. Covers t-tests, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and more.
How to own the 1st and Final Interviews to Secure your Dream Job!
Monday, 22 February 2016 – 1:00pm
Building upon his popular “Getting the Interview- How to Make Your Application Stand Out” workshop, Matthew will provide you with his top tips for excelling in your next interview. Matthew will be joined by an expert panel, who will add their advice on what to do, and what not to do, to secure you dream job!
SCARL IV: Quantitative Covariates and Linear Models
Wednesday, 2 March 2016 – 10:00am
In this session you will learn how to model the relationship between 2 quantitative variables by regression or correlation analysis. We then expand the regression model to include additional variables, including other quantitative variables (multiple regression) and categorical variables (ANCOVA).
SCARL V: Modelling Proportions and Count Data
Wednesday, 4 May 2016 – 10:00am
In this session you will learn how to conduct a 2 group comparison with binary or count data. Expanding the analysis to include more than 2 groups and more than 1 predictor including both numeric and categorical covariates. This introduces logistic and Poisson regression analysis followed by an introduction to generalized linear models.
SCARL VI: Mixed Effects Models
Wednesday, 18 May 2016 – 10:00am
Methods like Regression and ANOVA model the mean structure of the observed data while making specific assumptions about the variance. Mixed effects models allow us to model the variance structure of the data as well as the mean. Data that contain repeated measurements on the same statistical unit or clusters of related statistical units are examples when mixed effects models should be used.
