Tackling Your Thesis Defence Remotely
Your thesis defence is arguably the most important moment in your graduate degree. It’s the day that you’ve spent years thinking about and preparing for. But the day has come, and the global pandemic means that you will have to defend your work remotely – say what? That’s not what you’ve been planning for!
You’ve imagined the day of your defence, filled with the smiles of your friends and family watching as you present your hard work. It culminates with that hug and/or handshake from your beaming supervisor who has the honour of telling you “Congratulations!” But things have likely changed and you’re now adapting that dream experience to happen virtually from your own home, which may be new and stressful for you. Your defence is already a time of nerves and excitement, so we’ve gathered some tips to help take the load off your shoulders, and hopefully help you enjoy your magical day!
Prepping for your Online Defence
Troubleshoot any software you’re using and manage any computer updates. Make sure you try this a few days before the big day, so that if you encounter any issues you can address them ahead of time, rather than 5 minutes before your defence starts.
During this time of social isolation, people are itching to connect and talk. Take this opportunity to do practice defence calls with friends and family. Try answering questions that you think might be asked and get an idea of what having a conversation remotely will feel like, as well as how to use the conferencing platform.
Technology can fizzle and flop - so talk to your supervisor about a backup plan. This might involve sending your slides to everyone in advance so that if you need to move to a phone meeting you can easily transition on the fly.
If you’re using videoconferencing software that requires you to upload your slides, make sure to test it out the day before because sometimes formatting changes can occur. This has been a problem for me when I teach, so I like to proactively see how my slides might change, make sure all the information is easily visible and ensure it looks the way I intended it to.
If you're doing a telephone defence, consider writing a script and including prompts for yourself about when you need to signal slide changes to your committee. (This tip comes from Robyn Moore who successfully defended her Master's thesis in March!)
Reach out to friends, family, colleagues, and other individuals who have been with you during this journey and ask them to share positive and supportive comments with you. A friend of mine recently held their defence and used sticky notes to write all the words of support they received and posted them around their computer. This allowed them to feel as though their support network was there cheering them on during their defence.
Create a space that is comfortable. Take time to adjust and try different lighting, make sure the room temperature is comfortable, determine if you will sit or stand, and organize the space you’ll need for your notes. Consider trying different spots and testing how things look if you’re using a camera. Most importantly – check your background! You don’t want any surprises during your defence!
During your Online Defence
Turn off notifications on your phone, and close other programs, like your email, that prompt you with audible notifications. Interruptions like these are easy distractions for you and the audience members.
You may remember the viral BBC interview where Dr. Robert Kelly’s daughter dances in during a live segment. Find a quiet place where you can be alone. If you live with others (and pets), they may be tempted to be there to support you, but focus on having a place with few distractions and interruptions.
Make sure to have a hardcopy of notes on hand. This is a good idea whether you’re using videoconferencing or doing your defence over the phone.
Dress as if you were attending your defence in person. Wear something that makes you feel confident and ready to wow your audience. You might be tempted to dress down since you’re at home, but this is an occasion to break out your power outfit and command the virtual room!
Make sure you take a stance that conveys confidence and professionalism, regardless of whether you’re on camera or conducting your defence over the phone. Your physical posture can help mentally prepare you for tough questions or help calm nerves.
After your Online Defence
Take a photo of your success to have the memory and to share with your social circle. While this might not be how you imagined your defence, it’s still an important day that should be documented and remembered.
Share your success on your social networks! Your community of support (and beyond) will appreciate hearing the great news and can help you celebrate your accomplishment!
Make sure to celebrate! You may not be able to go out for dinner or have a party with all your friends and family, but do something special to reward yourself. Perhaps it’s having a virtual party online, enjoying a treat at home with your family, or taking the night to quietly enjoy your success. Whatever you do, make sure to bask in the glory of all your hard work!
This is just a small list of tips to help with the nerves of completing your defence!
For more information we recommend checking out the Faculty of Graduate Studies FAQs!