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Modes of Science Communication

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Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
4.4

14 reviews

Beginner level

Recommended experience

1 week to complete
at 10 hours a week

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
4.4

14 reviews

Beginner level

Recommended experience

1 week to complete
at 10 hours a week

What you'll learn

  • Explain best practices for oral, written, technological, and artistic forms of science communication.

  • Apply principles of learning engineering to design effective forms of science communication.

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Taught in English
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace

Build your subject-matter expertise

This course is part of the Designing Effective Science Communication Specialization
When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.
  • Learn new concepts from industry experts
  • Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
  • Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
  • Earn a shareable career certificate

There are 4 modules in this course

In this course, you will explore different modalities of science communication, including oral presentations, written forms of communication, technology, and artistic media, including best practices for each.

Welcome to course 3! In the first module, you will learn important considerations for effective oral presentations, including best practices for giving live, recorded, and virtual presentations. In addition, we will also cover best practices for creating visual supports (poster, PowerPoint slides) to help communicate your message during an oral presentation. We will also discuss best practices for media interviews.

What's included

4 videos6 readings2 discussion prompts1 plugin

4 videosβ€’Total 32 minutes
  • Course Introductionβ€’5 minutes
  • Best Practices For Public Speaking: Styleβ€’7 minutes
  • Best Practices For Public Speaking: Contentβ€’8 minutes
  • Interview Best Practices with Julie Poppenβ€’12 minutes
6 readingsβ€’Total 51 minutes
  • Course Updates and Accessibility Supportβ€’1 minute
  • Julian Treasure TED Talk: How to Speak so that People Want to Listenβ€’10 minutes
  • 6 Rules of Great Storytelling (As Told by Pixar)β€’10 minutes
  • 7 Storytelling Techniques Used by the Most Inspiring TED Presentersβ€’10 minutes
  • Optional Podcast Episode: Learning to See Science in the Worldβ€’10 minutes
  • Optional Dr. Melanie Peffer TED Talk: How Rethinking Biology Can Positively Change Your Lifeβ€’10 minutes
2 discussion promptsβ€’Total 20 minutes
  • Warm-upβ€’10 minutes
  • Oral Presentation Critiqueβ€’10 minutes
1 pluginβ€’Total 15 minutes
  • Introduce Yourself Map Padletβ€’15 minutes

In this module, you will learn best practices for writing as a vehicle for science communication. Rather than focusing on grammar and general writing mechanics, this section will focus on how to effectively use the written form as a tool for science outreach, including how formal scientific writing varies from pieces for the general public.

What's included

3 videos3 readings2 peer reviews1 discussion prompt

3 videosβ€’Total 40 minutes
  • Common Pitfalls in Science vs. General Public Writingβ€’8 minutes
  • Types of Public Facing Articlesβ€’11 minutes
  • Interview with Hillary Rosner, Science Journalist and Editorβ€’21 minutes
3 readingsβ€’Total 25 minutes
  • Optional: Talking About Science in a Pandemic: A Golden Opportunity for Science Communicationβ€’10 minutes
  • Optional: My Journey to Writing Biology Everywhere and Tips for Self-Publishingβ€’10 minutes
  • ONLY SUBMIT 1 PEER REVIEW BELOWβ€’5 minutes
2 peer reviewsβ€’Total 120 minutes
  • Message Map Activityβ€’60 minutes
  • Message Map Activityβ€’60 minutes
1 discussion promptβ€’Total 10 minutes
  • Warm-upβ€’10 minutes

In this module, you will learn about technological forms of science communication outside traditional media (e.g. written or oral communication). In this module, we will discuss how science is communicated through various forms of educational technologies, including computer games, simulations, and social media. We will also briefly discuss learning analytics and their utility in understanding learning in technology-based environments.

What's included

4 videos1 reading2 discussion prompts

4 videosβ€’Total 54 minutes
  • Introduction to Educational Technologiesβ€’4 minutes
  • Social Media for Science Communicationβ€’7 minutes
  • Learning Analyticsβ€’8 minutes
  • Interview with Jim Slotta, Professor of Educationβ€’35 minutes
1 readingβ€’Total 3 minutes
  • Learning Analytics in a Nutshellβ€’3 minutes
2 discussion promptsβ€’Total 20 minutes
  • Warm-upβ€’10 minutes
  • Final Project Planningβ€’10 minutes

In this module, you will learn about the importance of artistic forms of science communication. The arts can serve as an important gateway between scientists and the rest of society making difficult or abstract concepts feel more personal and less intimidating. Here, we will talk about use of art, such as photography as well as music to help feel others connected to science topics.

What's included

4 videos8 readings2 peer reviews1 plugin

4 videosβ€’Total 40 minutes
  • The Arts as a Bridge to Science Communicationβ€’6 minutes
  • STEAMing Aheadβ€’6 minutes
  • Adkins Interviewβ€’23 minutes
  • Wrap Upβ€’5 minutes
8 readingsβ€’Total 70 minutes
  • Music Video: Science is Real by They Might Be Giantsβ€’10 minutes
  • Turning Trash into Art for Conservationβ€’10 minutes
  • Photo Ark Interview with Joel Sartoreβ€’10 minutes
  • Comics and Science Educationβ€’10 minutes
  • TED-Ed video: Art and Neuroscienceβ€’10 minutes
  • Course 3 Resourcesβ€’10 minutes
  • DESC Universal Final Project Instructionsβ€’5 minutes
  • ONLY SUBMIT 1 PEER REVIEW BELOWβ€’5 minutes
2 peer reviewsβ€’Total 120 minutes
  • Capstone Project Presentationsβ€’60 minutes
  • Course 3 Final Projectβ€’60 minutes
1 pluginβ€’Total 5 minutes
  • Warm-up Padletβ€’5 minutes

Earn a career certificate

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Instructor

University of Colorado Boulder
8 Coursesβ€’41,884 learners

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Showing 3 of 14

SR
Β·

Reviewed on Apr 11, 2025

Great course! Helped me gain a thorough understanding of the subject.

MM
Β·

Reviewed on Dec 21, 2025

Dr Melanie has done a great job with the material in the course. She is interesting to listen to and I felt I came away with a solid understanding from starting out completely green.

Frequently asked questions

To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.

When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.

Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

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