What's The Speak Square?
A way for middle schoolers looking to pursue a future in STEM to gain
public speaking and communication skills which are vital to be
successful in this day and age. That means being confident - talking
loudly and clearly - and introducing kids to relevant topics of
conversation.
The program, as can be seen
here, teaches kids the basics of public speaking - such as how not to
stutter - and then segues into them researching and developing speeches
on STEM topics of interest to them. The last part of the program has
students work together in order to give a formal presentation to a panel
of judges. Throughout the class, students will get to hear from students
and professionals in the STEM world, and learn about the importance of
public speaking in the future workspace.
We use Google Meet and Google Docs for online collaboration.
If you have any other questions, feel free to reach out to me at
vij.diya at gmail.com
Why is this important?
A survey
of public works departments who hire engineers placed both “good
listener” and “good communicator” in the top 10 needed skills for
employment, ahead of both “technically proficient” and “organized”.
Additionally, another
survey
found that 72 percent of practicing engineers indicated speaking skills
(i.e., audience analysis, interpersonal communication, persuasion,
teamwork) were important to their work. Students working towards a
career in STEM often find themselves highly proficient when it comes to
technical work, and yet communication skills are still integral to
success in those fields. These skills,
“soft skills”, are essential to have to proceed and be promoted in a career. The act
of persuasion is THE most important skill to have in the modern
workplace, and developing those characteristics while young will benefit
students in high school, college, and beyond.
Diya Vij (with Jill Biden)
Diya Vij and other LD Debaters
Some Trophies