Weekend activity, rolling schedule.
Membership
This program is for Life Lab members. Every step is logged in the Human Skills record kept with our partner, the PNF Foundation, and in high school points toward a formal Congressional Award application (age 13.5+).
Want to talk to a course advisor now?
Contact a course advisorFrequently Asked Questions
Is this suitable for a quiet or introverted student?
Being introverted is not a barrier, but the program does end with a 6 to 8 minute talk in front of a live audience. A student who is unsure can start with Open Mic, where there is no script, no grading, and no obligation to finish, and move here afterward.
What goes into preparing a talk?
Four parts: research, argument, story, and stage presence. Students research the subject and build the case first, shape it into a story an audience can follow, and finally work on delivery and pacing on stage.
Where in Irvine do students give the talk?
Students deliver a 6 to 8 minute TED-style talk in front of a live audience at an in-person session in Irvine. It is a weekend activity on a rolling schedule and is open to Life Lab members only.
Which grade should an Irvine student join in?
G9 through G12. Students in G4 to G8 can build up through Podcast Creator, which starts from interviewing, scripting, and recording, and move into the speaking program in high school.
Does it help with a University of California application?
A finished talk can serve as source material for the activities section, and the work is logged in the Human Skills record kept with the PNF Foundation, which in high school points toward a Congressional Award application. When the topic sits on a question the student has followed for years, an Irvine applicant has a more consistent thread for the personal insight essays. Presentation is best planned with university planning.
