PhD Seminar - teaching, writing and oral presentation skills

Every month, here are Georgia Tech we are getting together to cover some of the things that PhD students should know / learn during their studies.  This month we gathered to cover various communication skills.  I have copied the points from today's seminar:

Teaching Advice

• Strive for engagement
• Trust your expertise
• Conference Talk != Teaching
• Get Students to Talk

Writing Advice

• Write for a general audience occasionally
• Read to find models of writing
• Book Recs: Oxford Guide to Plain English / Bugs in Writing
• It is a process
• Find out what motivates you to write
• Inside-Out style
• Pay attention to copyediting and learn

Presentation Advice

• Motivate them to want to read the paper
• The audience doesn't know what you don't tell them
• Toastmasters (or Techmasters at GT)
• Slides as a reminder
• Eye contact
• Repeat the question (everyone has heard it and you know what is being asked)