This document outlines an online module aimed at improving the speaking and writing skills of computer engineers for academic purposes. The module contains three sections that cover writing an abstract, using social media for academic networking, and delivering oral presentations. Learners will write an abstract, develop a social media strategy, and complete a presentation task by either conducting a video call with a tutor or submitting a recording. The goal is to enhance the skills needed to create and deliver academic presentations through self-paced online content and exercises with feedback from a professional tutor.

1. Co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union
Upgrading soft skills: writing and
speaking skills for computer
engineers
Dr. Tatiana Codreanu Web2Learn, Greece
GraDAna winter school, February 2017

2. Module fully available on OpenLearning
customized for GraDAna winter school
https://www.openlearning.com/courses/gradana
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3. Display on OpenLearning
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4. Outline
 Objective: improve the skills and knowledge needed
to create and deliver presentations in area of
academic writing and speaking.
 Approach: modular to recognise the fact that not all
candidates are required to develop all the skills to
the same level
 Delivery mode: online. Content available on
OpenLearning and writing and speaking exercise
with a professional tutor online
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5. Example of assignment
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6. Content (1)
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1. Writing an abstract for academic purposes
Intro Main contents of an abstract
1.1 Define your research topic / question
1.2 Where to find bibliographic references
1.3 Why do you need to cite authors?
1.4 Research methodology
1.5 Revise your abstract for grammatical and spelling errors
1.6 Sample abstracts
1.7 Task: Write an abstract of around 300 words.

7. Content (2)
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2 Social media strategy
2.1 Build your social media presence
2.1.1 Personalised responses and reactions
2.1.2 Create purposeful conversations
2.1.3 Segment your followers, create lists
2.1.4 Use natural user segmentations to your advantage
2.1.5 Tweet regularly – use scheduling tools to assist
2.1.6 Manage your followers and analytics
2.2 Build your social media academic network
2.2.1 Academia.edu
2.2.2 ReseachGate
2.2.3 Mendeley
2.2.4 Google Scholar

8. Content (3)
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3. Oral presentations
3.1 Before the presentation
3.2 During the presentation
3.3 Task
You will have to deliver a a 5 minutes presentation. You can
deliver your presentation:
On Skype, during a 10 minutes conversation with an academic
OR
Online, by submitting a recording (audio or video) of your
presentation on the forum of section 3 of the module

9. Oral task- conversation with a
professional tutor
Organisation: 10 minutes slots will be made available between
February 26 and March 23, with an online tutor
(free of charge, naturally)
 What is expected
 - Prepared in advance by the candidate for presentation to a
specialist native speaker of English
 - Candidates may use their own notes but must not deliver a
fully scripted speech
 What is tested
 - Ability to deliver an academic presentation in English on a
topic of the candidate's choice using the appropriate register
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10. Task
 Go through section 1 (writing an academic
abstract) and/or 2 (social media
communication) and consult the resources
available.
 Group discussion in 45 minutes
 In coming days: fill in the slot that fits best to
your schedule for a 10-minutes conversation.
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11. Thank
you!
http://web2learn.eu/
info@web2learn.eu
@web2Learn_eu
Web2Learn
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Speaking & writing skills