A communicator masters communication skills through using multiple mediums to listen, learn, and clearly explain complex ideas and translate knowledge to diverse audiences in various contexts.
As a graduate student, building communication skills is an important part of your experience and can include writing and presenting course assignments, journalling, responding to email requests, building grant applications, and research proposals.
A communicator will:
Explore
Explore ways to communicate ideas through written, spoken, and visual means
Practice
Practice giving and receiving effective feedback
Maximize
Maximize the impact of verbal and non-verbal communication
Mobilize
Effectively mobilize knowledge across a variety of contexts
Communicator Development Areas
Written
As a graduate student, you will develop the skill of articulating your ideas, knowledge, and research effectively through written form. Writing in multiple mediums for a variety of readers, including academic, professional, and general audiences, to communicate complex ideas and concepts.
- Connect with our Academic Writing specialist for a critical read or consult
- Participate in a Learning Services workshop
- Complete GRAD 101 – Graduate Academic Prep program
- Attend a Career Education workshop – resume/CV, cover letters, or document reviews
- Attend a publishing-focused workshop through the Library
Oral
As a graduate student you will develop the skills and confidence to articulate research and ideas persuasively to diverse audiences. As a graduate student, you will build presentation skills in seminars, workshops, and internal and external conferences.
- Attend or present at the Mapping the New Knowledges Conference
- Seek out external conferences to attend
- Participate in the Instructional Skills Workshop through CPI
- Complete the GRST 5P01 Graduate Course – Theory and Practice of University Teaching
- Attend a Learning Services workshop
- Participate in a Research Communication Competition (3MT, GRADflix)
Visual
As a graduate student you will use visual representation to share your knowledge and research through creative means. As a graduate student, you will increase your ability to convey information and ideas effectively through visual elements such as images, graphics, charts, diagrams, and videos.
- Participate in Research communication events (MNK/3MT/GRADflix)
- Apply to one of the NSERC competitions (About Science, Action and Science Exposed)
- Create a video for SSHRC The Storytellers competition
- Explore the Makerspace and learn about the equipment they have to use
- Consult with your Faculty Librarian or attend a data visualization workshop