Hi, I'm Marlit! As a communication coach for scientists, I encounter jargon every day. It takes time to go look up a new term and put it into context so I don't misuse it or misunderstand it. As scientists and scholars, we need these words. But I have learned from experience that sometimes these words can be a barrier to helping our audiences understand the work we are doing. After years of teaching science communication, I have created this one-of-a-kind course. My goal is to make it easy for you to know when you are using terminology that might be unfamiliar to your audiences. More importantly, this course helps you modify it. Eureka, right?

Communicating with plain language benefits you and your audiences because it...

  • Saves time by using words and ideas that are familiar to your audience

  • Reduces confusion and avoids misunderstanding caused by obscure terminology

  • Encourages connection and engagement when audiences feel considered and included

How to Transform Scientific Jargon into Plain Language

    1. Lesson 1: What can you expect when you complete this mini-course? (free preview)

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    2. Lesson 2: This course is for you if.... (free preview)

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    3. Lesson 3: Three mistakes people make with jargon

    4. Lesson 4: How transforming jargon helps you and your audiences (free preview)

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    5. Meet your instructor, Marlit Hayslett (free preview)

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    6. About the SciComm Academy (free preview)

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    1. Lesson 1: What is jargon?

    2. Lesson 2: Why is jargon a problem? Impacts to your audience

    3. Lesson 3: Why is jargon a problem? Impacts to you as a scientist

    4. BONUS Lesson: Audience Discovery 101

    5. Quiz

    1. Lesson 1: The De-Jargonizer

    2. Lesson 1a: De-Jargonizer Pros and Cons

    3. Lesson 2: JIMI -- the Jargon Identification and Modification Instrument

    4. Lesson 2a: JIMI Pros and Cons

    5. Lesson 3: Using JIMI

    6. Lesson 4: Comparing the De-Jargonizer and JIMI (optional)

    7. Lesson 5: The Magic Question

    8. Quiz

    1. Introduction to Chapter

    2. Lesson 1: Try AI tools

    3. Lesson 2: Explore Image Repositories

    4. Lesson 3: Offer examples

    5. Lesson 4: Create an analogy

    6. Lesson 5: Explain it to a friend

    7. Lesson 6: What about using 2 or more modification techniques?

    8. BONUS: What to do if you know you have jargon, but you have to use it?

    9. Quiz

    10. BONUS: Jargon Transformation Example -- Machine Learning

    11. BONUS: Jargon Transformation Example -- Model

    12. BONUS: Jargon Transformation Example -- DNA | Deoxyribonucleic acid

    1. Lesson 1: 5 Practices to share your science in plain language

    2. Lesson 2: Reflecting on how life is better after this mini-course

    3. Mini-Course Evaluation (anonymous; optional)

    4. Share your Jargon Transformation Experience (optional)

    5. Coming Soon from the SciComm Academy (optional)
  • $29.00
  • 2 hours of video content

Do you ever wish you could explain your research without using your discplinary vocabulary?

(Your audiences do.)

Start learning today!