Objectives:
- To reflect on the experience of their first year of the Ph.D.
- Encourage students to think of their role in shaping the culture in their cohort and department
Pre-class work:
Revise the slides you made for the first class to include a sentence about:
- Something you learned about yourself over the past year, and
- A direction you’re excited to grow in for the next year.
In class:
- [10min] Socialize
- [45min] Every student re-introduces themselves and shares their answer to the pre-class work
- [30min] In small groups as students to reflect on:
- What was helpful for them in their first-year, and what would have made their first year better?
- How can they support the next generation of incoming students in their lab?
- [5min] Give students tips for the upcoming year: e.g.,
- TF-ing: Ask yourself, what are you hoping to get out of the experience? TF for someone who is organized and cares about your growth.
- Qualifying exam: Every lab is different, so ask your advisor(s) what they expect, as well as more senior folks in your lab. Be sure to give a practice qual talk!
- Courses: You have an elective + external minor: you can be creative with what counts for this!
- Summer: Don’t take all the time you spent on research and pour it into research – take some time for other things!
- [30min] Ask students to fill an evaluation survey