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Tag: viva discussion

Nathan

Who Knows?

Daily Post

If you and your examiners all know about something then you can talk with the same reference points.

If you know something and your examiners don’t then you might have to explain something to them so that you can have a fruitful discussion.

If your examiners know something and you don’t then you will benefit from being ready to ask questions so that you know more and can respond to their questions.

Neither you nor your examiners can know everything! There might be topics or questions where no-one knows the truth and none of you have given much thought to it previously. That doesn’t mean you can’t take the opportunity of the viva to use what you do know to consider and discuss.

Whatever you or your examiners know or don’t know, because the viva is a conversation you have space to think, ask questions, offer ideas and make the most of the opportunity.

 

Inspired by thinking about the Johari Window model!

Nathan

No Tricks, No Traps

Daily Post

That’s what you can expect most of all from your examiners. They’re not there to ask awkward or difficult questions to catch you out. Their questions are always asked with real purpose. They want to hear what you think, what you know, what you understand and what you can do.

They don’t want to catch you out. They don’t want to haze you or break you. They don’t want to find the edges of your capability and test you that way. Every question they ask is an opportunity for you to demonstrate what you can do. Every question is one more chance for you to keep going and keep showing what your research is all about.

No tricks, no traps – just opportunities to shine.

Nathan

The Vines

Daily Post

Imagine all of the preparations and planning for a big presentation to be like a jungle canopy full of vines. As you present your talk you are Tarzan or a video game character racing through: swinging from tree to tree and whenever you leap or reach out there is another vine to grab and swing you forwards.

With sufficient prep and planning you can’t get lost or go wrong. You can find key messages and ideas that stand out to you. There is always something to reach for. There are alternate routes and shortcuts you can take if you need to.

I’ve shared over 500 viva sessions now, both in seminar rooms and over Zoom; I’m not perfect but I’m pretty certain when I come to present. If someone asks a question then I have a vine to reach for. If there’s a technical issue then I can find a way to get back on track by reaching out for something else.

I have a plan. I have notes. I have slides. I have practice and rehearsal and more. These are my vines. I can reach out when I need to and be back in motion.

 

The jungle vines are a nice metaphor for a presentation or workshop, but they work well for being ready for the viva too. The years of work creates vines for you to reach for when you meet your examiners, but so does all of your viva prep:

  • Writing summaries creates vines.
  • Reading your thesis creates vines.
  • Annotating your thesis creates vines.
  • Talking about your work creates vines.
  • Having a mock viva creates vines!

Prepare and rehearse well for your viva. Remember the years of work you’ve invested. Then whatever direction the discussion takes you in your viva you will always have vines to reach for to help you respond to your examiners.

Nathan

Substance, Not Surface

Daily Post

At the viva you are invited into a discussion.

Of course you’ll respond to little questions for clarification and confirmation, but the overall drive of the viva is towards conversation.

It’s not a quiz or game show where the fastest answer wins. Your examiners want your considered thoughts and ideas. They want substance, not surface.

Do the work. Prepare well. Listen to the question. Take your time and think. Be as clear as you can be.

Which is all to say: do your best. That’s all your examiners are looking for and all anyone could expect.

Deep questions require more than surface-level responses.

Nathan

Take Time To Speak

Daily Post

The viva is not a quiz, an interview, a game show or a Q&A.

It’s a discussion: your examiners have prepared and you’ve prepared. They will facilitate a conversation about your research, your thesis, your contribution, your capability and anything that they think is relevant.

They have questions but aren’t limited to them. They have key points but might want to talk about a lot more. It depends on what you say, what strikes them in the moment and what needs to be talked about.

Take your time in the viva. There’s no rush. There’s no time limit for each question. There’s no perfect answer required for every question. No scripts to read from.

Take your time to think and take your time to speak. If your examiners have heard enough they’ll let you know. If they need more they’ll ask for more.

Take your time to do your best and make the most of your viva opportunity.