Information and best practices for preparing scholars for and debriefing Speaker Series events. Reference this on the Wednesdays when Speaker Series occurs to provide context, facilitate engagement, and help scholars process what they learn.
Format
Speaker Series sessions are hosted every Wednesday from 12:15 - 12:45pm ET. For camps in the Eastern time zone, this aligns with lunch. For camps in other time zones, camp teams will need to adjust the Wednesday schedule to allow scholars to attend! The Kode With Klossy team will host the session on Zoom and scholars join from their individual computers to participate in the Zoom chat. You will receive the Zoom link to join and more information about that week’s featured Speaker via Slack!
📍 In-Person Camp Logistics
- For camps in ET, the first 15 minutes of lunch from 12:00 - 12:15pm are reserved for distributing lunch to scholars before we get started.
- The lead instructor should broadcast the Speaker Series on the main screen so the room has a shared viewing experience.
- All scholars should join the Speaker Series Zoom from their individual computers so they can participate in the Zoom chat.
- Everyone except the main broadcast computer should mute their audio to avoid feedback.
- Encourage scholars to engage actively in the Zoom chat, asking questions, reacting to what they're hearing, and showing appreciation.
💻 Virtual Camp Logistics
- Scholars will leave the main camp Zoom and join the Speaker Series Zoom using the link provided.
- Once the Speaker Series ends, scholars will rejoin the main camp Zoom to continue with the rest of the day.
- Make sure scholars know both Zoom links and have clear instructions on when to switch!
Instructional Leader Responsibilities
Before the Session
- Hype it up! Let scholars know about the Speaker Series in advance and encourage them to think of questions they'd like to ask.
- Review the day's agenda to understand what activity comes before and after the session so transitions are smooth.
During the Session
📍 In-Person Camps
- Actively engage with the speaker's content and take note of things you want to highlight during the reflection afterward. Your energy sets the tone for how scholars engage.
- Monitor the room to ensure scholars are attentive and participating.
💻 Virtual Camps
- Attend the Speaker Series and hype up the chat!
- React to what the speaker is sharing, model the kind of engagement you want to see from scholars, and encourage scholars to participate.
After the Session
- Facilitate a brief reflection to tie the session together and transition into the next camp activity. This reflection should help scholars process what they heard and connect it to their own experiences.
- Consider reflection prompts like:
- What's one thing the speaker said that surprised you?
- Did anything the speaker shared change how you think about careers in tech?
- What's one piece of advice you want to hold onto?