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STEP Verbal Module
Engineers and IT professionals need to be more than just technical specialists. Typically, engineers spend more than half of their time needing communication skills (≈60%). Industry reports that the two areas lacking in recent graduates are practical experience and professional skills such as communication. The Step Verbal Module aims to assist student in upskilling that aspect. To complete a STEP verbal module, students need to submit the following on Canvas: V1 – Practice presentation video V2 – Verbal Improvement Plan V3 – Audience Feedback Form V4 – Final Presentation Slides V5 – Final Presentation Video V6 – Request for assessment STEP Verbal Module
2 Online Learning 2.1 Workshops These workshops are optional sessions that will help you practice the skills required for your assessments in STEP Verbal. You can register for these workshops on the Careers Online Page. 2.1.1 STEP Verbal 1 & 2 Presented by: STEP Refine your oral presentation skills. Learn which aspects of your presentation make the biggest impact and give/receive feedback on each other’s presentations in an interactive, hands-on session. This session will help you understand presentation feedback in general but is not designed to help with specific feedback comments. The tutor will be able to assist you with any queries on the STEP Verbal Submissions. 2.2 Consultations There are general consultations that you can drop in if you have any questions with regards to Verbal submissions. Details on how to access these consultations can be found on the STEP Canvas page (modules -> consultations -> STEP Drop In Sessions) STEP Verbal Module
3 Recorded Presentation (for Semester 2 – 2020) As part of the STEP Verbal Submission, you are required to record 2 presentation (one practice and one final) to submit to the STEP Canvas page. 3.1 Length, submission and marks • Your recorded presentation is to be greater than 5 minutes. • The recorded presentation is to be submitted through the LMS. • You may choose to record the presentation using a Camera / Zoom depending on your circumstances. 3.2 Audience You should record your presentation using Zoom with 3 audience for your practice. They would then provide feedback to you through filling the audience feedback form, which you can then use to synthesize your verbal improvement plan. 3.3 Details 3.3.1 Presentation Video The requirements of the video are: 1. The video should be in MP4 format. 2. Audio quality is important, although mono (phonic sound) is fine as long as it is clear. 3. Videos do not need to be high definition. A lower resolution video is likely to be easier to manage. 4. You should aim to have files that are no more than 100 MB. The key elements are: • That your upper body (including arms and facial features) are clearly visible. • That your slides are easily read. • That your voice is clear. You can do this in one of two ways (Refer Figure 1 below) 1. Present in front of a screen (at home, at university, at your internship) and record it with a camera/phone – preferred method. 2. Use software that allows you to present slides and includes an inset video of yourself. a. Zoom allows you to record a conversation, which in this case could be you by yourself sharing slides – please expand the presenter window size to maximum if you are using this method 3.3.2 Professional expectations • While there is no expectation that you wear business attire for the video, you should still present yourself well. This means being dressed tidily and not wearing sports-wear, pyjamas etc. • The environment that is visible in your video should be tidy and without distractions. STEP Verbal Module
• You should make sure that you have tested your setup before beginning and watch your video afterwards for problems. 3.3.3 Tips 1. Make sure you test your setup before recording your presentation. This means how clearly you and your slides can be seen, the quality of audio etc. If there are any factors that may impact on the viewer’s understanding of your message, correct them. 2. Watch your video before submitting it. If there are any issues that will affect the viewer, correct them and re-record your presentation. 3. Some high-level technical information is likely to be needed to explain your role. Technical detail though should not be included and is likely to result in a marking penalty. 4. Make your presentation interesting and engaging 5. Practice; using notes is fine, but you should not be reading your presentation. 6. These presentations are very short, so it is important that you focus on the key elements Figure 1 – How to record a presentation from home STEP Verbal Module
4 Attending workshop or consultations 4.1 Etiquette for Online Meetings Please keep the following etiquette rules in mind when you attend a workshop online. These rules are also generally applicable to all professional online interactions: 1. Wear appropriate clothes Just like you wouldn't show up to an office meeting with pj's on, you should dress appropriately for a virtual meeting. Dress as you would for a meeting in class. It'll help you stay focused and in "work" mode, even if you're miles away at home. It's still a meeting and you should treat it that way. You can put the pj's back on when the camera stops rolling. 2. Use a professional setting You don't need to be at your work desk to look professional, but your tutor does not need to see your messy bedroom or house. Whether you're in a comfortable chair in the lounge, or sitting at a kitchen worktop, pick a location with plenty of light and a neutral background. 3. Limit meeting distractions Just like there wouldn't be dogs barking or housemates cooking in a regular meeting room, you should do your best to keep background noise to a minimum during an online meeting. You don't want your tutor – struggling to follow what you're saying because they can't hear you over background noise. Make sure others around you know that you're in a meeting so they respect your space. 4. Give a virtual meeting your full attention Although it's tempting to check your emails or flick through papers when you're not speaking, there's a good chance you'll miss key information, not to mention it's disrespectful. Use attentive body language and communication and be present for the meeting. You'll get so much more out of the meeting if you distance yourself from distractions that can wait until later. 5. Keep to the allocated time for consultations Make sure that items are discussed within the allocated time frames and that the meeting doesn’t exceed the allotted 30 minutes (for written consultations) 6. Take notes The meeting is primarily for your benefit, so make sure take notes of what is discussed. There is space in the provided agenda template or you can take notes in whatever way you are most comfortable. 7. Speak clearly and be respectful There's nothing worse than someone talking over you during a regular meeting, and it's the same in the virtual world. When it's your turn to talk, speak clearly and slowly enough for your tutor to follow what you're saying. Remember that sound quality is very important in this medium. Although there may be unavoidable lags due to slower connections, try to ensure no one speaks over anyone else. 8. Be prepared for technical difficulties It's impossible to prepare for every eventuality, but you should log on to the meeting in good time to make sure everything's working properly. Make sure the connection is stable and that you have a backup plan if necessary. STEP Verbal Module Just like in a regular meeting, ensure you have access to all the resources you will need, such as your agenda, the subject student guide and other relevant documents. If you're accessing documents on a Cloud platform, ensure everything is working beforehand. Recap: ▪ Wear appropriate clothing ▪ Ensure you are in a professional setting ▪ Don’t interrupt your tutor when they’re speaking (or attempt to speak over them) ▪ Test all technology (including camera/video, Wi-Fi, and screen sharing) before the meeting ▪ Set an agenda, and come prepared ▪ Don’t work on other tasks (like checking email) during the virtual meeting ▪ Turn off all notifications and make sure your phone is on silent ▪ Make sure you are in a quiet area free from unnecessary distractions