Connect Sessions Tips & Tricks

1. I have a very loud background noise, is there anything I can do to minimize it?

 If your computer uses an Nvidia GTX GPU you can use RTX Voice, if it has an RTX GPU then you can use Nvidia Broadcast, if your GPU is Intel or AMD then you can use an app called Krisp. All three use AI to remove your background noise from the microphone in real-time. Just please note that Krisp is a paid app with a limited time trial.

2. I am not sure about what to prepare for my Connect sessions?

Your first 2 connect sessions are very important in order to engage your students and leave a good impression. We do believe that a very prepared Session Lead can motivate their students to keep attending their connect sessions till graduation. 

In order to prepare for your connect sessions, kindly refer to the onboarding slides sent by your Performance Manager, where you can find a recommended structure of a successful session. Also, check any resources that are shared from your ND Lead or the performance team. Some Nanodegrees have resource banks, where you can check a lot of content that was made by successful session leads. This content can inspire you to have high quality sessions. Don’t hesitate to seek feedback from the Udacity team on what you are preparing or to seek support.

3. I feel a bit lost about what I should do to be ready to kick-off my connect sessions?

That’s totally normal especially if you’re a new session lead, below are important tips & tricks to keep you on track:

• Attend your onboarding session, watch the recording in case you missed it. 
• Read carefully the welcome mail & the mail sent after the onboarding session.
• Go through the onboarding slides by yourself and make sure you have a clear & thorough understanding of the material. 
• Walk through the weekly schedule shared by our team, understand the learning journey for the program assigned and start making a plan for your connect sessions week by week to match the learning deliverables.
• Go through any materials shared by your Performance Manager or ND Lead that can help you while building your sessions.  
•  Set goals that you can measure for yourself such as attendance rate, your slack engagement, your session ratings, your on-track students,..etc .

And in order to make you very comfortable, we have prepared a Mentor To-Do list that you can use for your whole time with us. This checklist will make sure that you won’t be missing any important step in order to be an inspiring session lead with Udacity.

4. Is it mandatory to finish the Nanodegree before conducting my session?

We do believe that a good session lead is the one who is totally aware about every little detail of the assigned ND, therefore it is mandatory for every SL after being accepted to enroll in his/her ND and try to complete it ASAP before they start delivering their connect sessions. We understand that sometimes there will be a time constraint, so you can enroll in this ND as soon as you know you’re accepted and complete at least half of it before you start your first connect session. We also believe that agreeing to be a SL means you are interested in strengthening your skills, and the ND will be a way to master the technical knowledge.

5.Do I need to check on progress with every student in each session?

Yes, you are expected to check each student’s progress regularly.  You have access to Connect Dashboard which allows you track each student's progress. You will need to check-in with students during your weekly sessions and check-in with the off-track students via mail and slack during the week.