Training and Development

Jumpstart your Grad Slam journey by attending our first workshop. Learn the ropes of the Grad Slam process and refine your ability to craft an impactful Research Impact Statement (RIS). Your RIS will be due in mid March after workshop 2.

In this 1.5 hour workshop, you'll

• Gain clarity on the Grad Slam schedule and key milestones

• Develop essential skills for crafting an impactful Research Impact Statement

• Begin drafting your Research Impact Statement

You can have the best ideas in the world, but if you cannot successfully communicate them, then your ideas lose their power. As a professional, you’ll often need to communicate your expert knowledge to non-specialists, including teammates, supervisors, interviewers, and the general public.

In this 1.5 hour workshop, you'll

• Examine videos, slides, and scripts of winning presentations

• Learn to communicate your ideas effectively to a diverse audience

• Understand organizational strategies that prioritize audience engagement

• Craft a captivating Grad Slam presentation using your abstract and research impact statement

Your credibility as a speaker is intrinsically linked to how the audience perceives you. Do you look comfortable and knowledgeable? Do your gestures and body language enhance rather than distract?

In this interactive 1.5 hour workshop, you'll gain

• Effective camera setup techniques

• Strategies to overcome speaking anxiety and project confidence 

• Practical advice on adding gestures and strong body language

• Essential presentation practice habits

All presentations have three communication channels: the words you say, your body language, and your vocal variety. You greatly increase your audience’s interest and information retention when you utilize a dynamic delivery style using all three channels. 

In this interactive 1.5 hour workshop, you'll gain

• Strategies for pacing, adding energy, and enhancing clarity

• In-depth tools of vocal variety: pitch, power, pause and length

• Practical techniques for incorporating body language and vocal variety

The Grad Slam team will provide you, as a semifinalist, with a one-on-one rehearsal session prior to filming your submission video.

Dates and Times:

March 25 through March 27.  Various time slots will be available, and sign ups will be required.

Semi-Finalists are invited to attend a 30-minute one-on-one dress rehearsal feedback appointment via Zoom.  You should come ready to give your presentation as if it were the filming day. During this appointment, you will deliver your presentation and show your slide. You can ask questions and receive live, individualized feedback on your speech, delivery, slide, and camera setup as needed to help you refine your work before the semi-final video submission date.

The Grad Slam team will provide you, as a finalist, with a rehearsal session prior to stage performance at the Grad Slam.

Dates: March 28 - April 3 

April 11 and April 12

Time:  TBD.  Sign-ups will be required.

Finalists are invited to a 30-minute one-on-one feedback appointment in person on the SJSU Campus. During this appointment, you will deliver your presentation from the front of a large room to practice using the physical space.  You can ask questions and receive live, individualized feedback on your speech, delivery, slide, and stage use as needed to help you refine your work before speaking on stage. You should come prepared as this is your last practice before the presentation day.

Participation in the Grad Slam experience will provide you with these key skills below that employers seek.  Formerly known as "soft skills," these skills are now referred to as "foundational skills" - those skills that employers expect in their incoming employees.  

• Tailor presentations to diverse teams and audiences

• Produce effective visualization of ideas

• Connect and build relationships with mentors and colleagues 

• Receive and provide constructive feedback

• Use persuasive skills appropriately

• Utilize time management skills under pressure

• Condense complex ideas into understandable units

• Understand and combat the effects of imposter syndrome