Classes - physics 95

Physics 95 Fall 2015

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Thanks for signing up for a Physics 95 presentation. You're our speakers on Sept 16. As you may recall we have the students prepare a bit by reading a paper or two ahead of time. Can you please send me, by end of this week at the latest, one or two PDF files of papers that pertain to the topic you'll be discussing? Ideally, these would be Physics Today level overviews accessible to undergraduates. Also if you send me a title we'll post it for the grad students as well. 

Physics 95 attracts an audience of undergrads and beginning graduate students. One goal of the course is to map out the research frontier in physics so some introductory comments putting your work in broader context would be much appreciated. Also, I hope you'll take 5-10 minutes in the beginning to describe your personal story, and how you ended up doing what you do. 

We'll have 45 minutes total available for each of you. 

Here's the drill for Wednesday:

We'll gather at mailboxes in Lyman at 6 pm then have dinner with students in Lyman 425, dinner runs 6-7 pm

Presentations runs 7-8:30 in J356, so 45 minutes for each of you

at 8:30 pm we'll do ice cream and informal discussions, ending no later than 9 pm.

Many thanks!

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• goals and structure
• grad vs. undergrad students- fac want to talk to G1's. Fac need that as an incentive. Fewer G1's as the year progresses. 
• honing presentations
• grading
• attendence
• resources
• what if someone only comes for one of the two terms?
• written communication as well as oral?

We are only offering it one term this coming year! 

Matt had 8 students- Three full presentations each, roughly. 15-20 min talks. One with PPT. Then two at blackboard. Made himself avail. beforehand, and consultation afterwards to go over video in person. TA set up taping. Grading- nearly impossible. Assessed on strength of presentations. Mostly B+, A-. took derivative into account. Effort and participation in class and discussions. They did have students evaluate each other. Matt anonimized the student feedback, met with one on one after each presentation. 

Hardest part is to get faculty to give talk title and contact person who mediates online discussion and attend Monday presentation. Critical thing is whether a good review article was available. Vital to get that early in order for students to have time to prepare. Only one faculty talk per evening, unless there is a clear connection. Since there is only one term I need to control this more than Doodle poll.

Masa had a TA- he set up web site, reading, etc, online discussions. Came to all presentations and feedback sessions. 

Action items:

get name of TA from Masa.

Get evaluation ruberic form.

Advertise the course, and pitch to G1's. 

talk to Melissa and Eric Mazur about it.

Schedule it in Lyman 330. needs projector. 

Think about lab tours. 

catered dinners or in Lyman? 

Schedule talk for J356, ice cream in library.

What happens to left-over food? 

TF deals with ice cream ahead of time. 

2:45 is nominal time.

Add poster presentations. Yes

Institute a deliverable per student per week: poster, abstract, press release, capitol hill, etc

base presentations vs. content on number of students.

questions: 

Typical week

Monday:

Prepping:

• contact faculty member 2 weeks ahead of time, beg for papers by Monday to give students an entire week, or else cancel talk
• get papers. 
• Get title, abstract optional. 
• Get point person who will attend class and answer detailed subject questions. That person can also participate in on-line discussion.
• staff person for food is Wilhelm. Monika knows details. Get order in for Wed. Once Talk is set make posters and send emails to G1 and undergrads
• Use Wilhelm and not Dale. 

Class meeting:

1-2 student 15-20 minutes presentations per meeting, then discussion. Include point person from research group. 

Wednesday:

Papers should be ready on web site for subsequent Wed. Send ahead of them to students who are doing their talks on that topic.

Send out message saying papers available. 

Give them guidance on what papers to read

Meet Thurs or Fri with students who are presenting the following Monday. Define scope of presentation.

Lab tours would happen here if we do it. 

Dinner: establish rapport. G1's can come but should attend the talk. I should go. Help the faculty member engage students in conversation, and talk about career trajectory. 

Dept pays for dinners, it's catered now. Law school seems easier. 

dinner 6:30

seminar 7:30 

ice cream 8:30

adjourn 9:00

Weekend:

students should read papers in preparation for Monday, and have email discussion about them. That has been a struggle to get engagement. Ask Melissa how she made that work. 

contact students who are going to be presenting on Monday.

To Do 

consider Fluid Dynamics meeting example, Nov 22-24, http://apsdfd2015.mit.edu/home, Brenner is on org committee

writing resources

Structure and Meeting times

Mondays 2:45-4:15 (90 minutes)

• discussion topic, 30 minutes
• intro presentation 30 minutes
• critique/dialogue 30 minutes

Wednesdays 7-9 pm (180 minutes)

Make Doodle Poll for faculty sign-up

Links and resources

for faculty and presenters

Signup Doodle poll

Verbal presentations

Stanford presentation on effective talks

English communication for scientists - Nature 2014

NYT afghanistan powerpoint

Presentation tips for non-native English speakers, Science 2011

Some relevant books regarding presentations

NYT Powerpoint makes you dumb

The Cognitive Style of Powerpoint - Tufte

http://www.nature.com/scitable/ebooks/english-communication-for-scientists-14053993/giving-oral-presentations-14239332