---
tags: OLS-3, short guide
---
# Preparing for OLS graduation
-----
==**IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT**:
This document has been migrated to this repo. https://github.com/open-life-science/policies-procedures-and-docs/blob/main/cohort-procedures-and-templates/graduation-guide.md
*==
*Please note that we have made a decision to allow OLS attendees affected by COVID-19 related challenges or any big life event to ask for extension in their graduation dates. Please contact the OLS team to let them know by emailing [team@openlifesci.org](mailto:team@openlifesci.org). Please reach out to the OLS team if you would like to schedule a personal graduation call on a later date when you are able to resume your OLS project.*
###### tags: `OLS-3`, `OLS-4`, `OLS-5`
**Jump to:**
[TOC]
## Week-15 Information: OLS-5 Rehearsal calls
**Rehearsal call: Get feedback for your presentations for graduation**
**Hosts** : Bérénice, Emmy, Malvika, Yo
**Syllabus** : [Week-15](https://openlifesci.org/ols-4/schedule#week-15)
**Notes** : [https://bit.ly/ols-5-week-15](https://bit.ly/ols-5-week-15)
**Please attend a call most compatible for your time zone**
- **Group 1 Call time** : 7 Jun, Tuesday - 09:00 - 10:00 AM London time ([see in your timezone](https://arewemeetingyet.com/London/2022-06-07/09:00/week-15-ols-5-gr1))
- **Group 2 Call time** : 8 Jun, Wednesday - 14:00 - 15:00 London time ([see in your timezone](https://arewemeetingyet.com/London/2022-06-08/14:00/week-15-ols-5-gr2))
- **Group 3 Call time** : 9 Jun, Thursday - 17:00 - 18:00 London time ([see in your timezone](https://arewemeetingyet.com/London/2022-06-09/17:00/week-15-ols-5-gr3))
**During this cohort call, we will:**
- Start by introducing how to give and receive constructive feedback
- Have the participants present their project through 5 minutes presentation
- Share feedback on the project and presentation to help prepare for the final graduation call
**Before this meeting**
- Come prepared to share a 3 mins presentation of your project - it doesn't have to be a polished or finished.
- Your presentation can be in the form of a demo, short 1-2 slides presentation or walk through your website
- This should only be a highlight and not the entire presentation (your graduation presentation next week will be 5 minutes long)
## Week 16: Graduation Calls
**Graduation call: You will be officially graduating from OLS-5!**
**Hosts** : Malvika, Yo, Emmy
**Syllabus** : [Week-16](https://openlifesci.org/ols-5/schedule/#week-16)
**All notes** : [https://pad.sfconservancy.org/p/ols-5-graduations](https://pad.sfconservancy.org/p/ols-5-graduations)
**Eventbrite link** : (to be added)
### Graduation Slots: Please attend a call most compatible for your time zone
#### Group 1
- **Call time** : 14 Jan, Tuesday - 09:00 - 10:00 AM London time ([see in your timezone](https://arewemeetingyet.com/London/2022-06-14/09:00/week-16-ols-5-grad1))
- :book: Notes: [https://pad.sfconservancy.org/p/ols-5-graduations-1](https://pad.sfconservancy.org/p/ols-5-graduations-1)
#### Group 2
- **Call time** : 15 Jan, Wednesday - 14:00 - 15:00 London time ([see in your timezone](https://arewemeetingyet.com/London/2022-06-15/14:00/week-16-ols-4-grad2))
- :book: Notes: [https://pad.sfconservancy.org/p/ols-5-graduations-2](https://pad.sfconservancy.org/p/ols-5-graduations-2)
#### Group 3
- **Call time** : 16 Jan, Thursday - 17:00 - 18:00 London time ([see in your timezone](https://arewemeetingyet.com/London/2022-06-16/17:00/week-16-ols-5-grad3))
- :book: Notes: [https://pad.sfconservancy.org/p/ols-5-graduations-3](https://pad.sfconservancy.org/p/ols-5-graduations-3)
## Extension for anyone affected by the COVID situation
- If you would like to schedule a separate graduation call for any reasons (like affected by COVID-19 situation in your family/country/community or a big life event at home/work/personal reasons that impacted your work and slowed down your OLS project), please contact the OLS team by emailing [team@openlifesci.org](mailto:team@openlifesci.org).
## Prompts for your presentation
**Here are a few questions to help you generate ideas and content for your graduation presentation. Your notes to these prompts can be used to write a speed blog or a final report.**
- Below we share some prompts/questions for your to summarize your OLS journey so far and the project you worked on during the entire period of OLS.
- You will be able to use these notes to prepare for a 5 minutes presentation for the OLS graduation, taking place in week 15, or whenever you are ready to graduate if you have asked for extension.
**What is a speed blog?**
- You can draft your notes as speedblog in your 'mentor-mentee hackMD notes' and share with the OLS team. We will post your speedblog on OLS website: openlifesci.org/posts
- See this post for guidance on speed blogging: https://software.ac.uk/speed-blogging-and-tips-writing-speed-blog-post
- See some examples of speedblogs from previous cohorts:
- https://openlifesci.org/posts/2020/12/18/ols-2-participant-emma-karoune-speedblog/
- https://openlifesci.org/posts/2021/04/30/ols-2-participant-fez-speedblog/
- https://openlifesci.org/posts/2019/10/21/culture-track
==--Prompts starts here--==
### Project background
- _Tell us what motivated you to work on your OLS project._
### Goals and expectations in OLS
- _What did you expect or hope to learn from participating in OLS?_
- _Missions and goals set in the beginning of your project in OLS_
### Goals achieved, key understanding, accomplishments
- _List 2-3 things you've learned or accomplished whilst participating._
- _Was this the same as goals above, that you originally set?_
#### OLS journey
- Initial steps: _Starting out - what did you do to explore the problems / project?_
- What elements helped you get there: _Discussions, connections made, activities carried out, mentors consulted, other?_
- Did you apply anything you learned to other projects or areas in your life?
### Next steps
- My immediate next step is to: _Whether you're launching something, bringing someone new in, adding governance, or writing up a project plan or case study - what's happening next?_
- Longer term tasks: _What will be the long term goals and sustainability plans - this can also be about starting your project if you did not do that already_
#### Staying connected
- _What is your call for action? how can people collaborate in your project? Where can someone help or learn about your project? Include links to your work!_
- _Do you plan to stay in touch with the OLS community or other members? If yes, how do you think you can do that?_
### Special mentions and acknowledgements
- _Please mention ideas, lessons and people who helped you achieve whatever you could in this project so far._
==--Prompts end here--==
### Optional Reflection
**More questions on helping you envision your next steps in the project**
**Visit your project vision to reflect on it**
- What I plan to create as a leader in the next 10 months.
- The vision of what will be so, if I am successful in my work.
**Think about**
- What will be so in 5/10/20 years time? What is your overall BIG vision?
- Why is this important to you? What is in it for you? For others?
- What are 2-3 key activities or critical points we should know about your vision?
- What is the difference your vision will make for you, your community, (the world)?
## Archived information from OLS-4
### Week-15 Information: OLS-4 Rehearsal calls
**Rehearsal call: Get feedback for your presentations for graduation**
**Hosts** : Bérénice, Emmy, Malvika, Yo
**Syllabus** : [Week-15](https://openlifesci.org/ols-4/schedule#week-15)
**Notes** : [https://bit.ly/ols-4-week-15](https://bit.ly/ols-4-week-15)
**Please attend a call most compatible for your time zone**
- **Group 1 Call time** : 11 Jan, Tuesday - 09:00 - 10:00 AM London time ([see in your timezone](https://arewemeetingyet.com/London/2021-01-11/09:00/week-15-ols-4-gr1))
- **Group 2 Call time** : 12 Jan, Wednesday - 14:00 - 15:00 London time ([see in your timezone](https://arewemeetingyet.com/London/2022-01-12/14:00/week-15-ols-4-gr2))
- **Group 3 Call time** : 13 Jan, Thursday - 17:00 - 18:00 London time ([see in your timezone](https://arewemeetingyet.com/London/2022-01-13/17:00/week-15-ols-4-gr3))
**During this cohort call, we will:**
- Start by introducing how to give and receive constructive feedback
- Have the participants present their project through 5 minutes presentation
- Share feedback on the project and presentation to help prepare for the final graduation call
**Before this meeting**
- Come prepared to share a 3 mins presentation of your project - it doesn't have to be a polished or finished.
- Your presentation can be in the form of a demo, short 1-2 slides presentation or walk through your website
- This should only be a highlight and not the entire presentation (your graduation presentation next week will be 5 minutes long)
### Week 16: Graduation Calls
**Graduation call: You will be officially graduating from OLS-4!**
**Hosts** : Malvika, Yo, Emmy
**Syllabus** : [Week-16](https://openlifesci.org/ols-4/schedule/#week-16)
**All notes** : [https://pad.sfconservancy.org/p/ols-4-graduations](https://pad.sfconservancy.org/p/ols-4-graduations)
**Eventbrite link** : https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/ols-4-graduations-44929
### Graduation Slots: Please attend a call most compatible for your time zone
#### Group 1
- **Call time** : 18 Jan, Tuesday - 09:00 - 10:00 AM London time ([see in your timezone](https://arewemeetingyet.com/London/2022-01-18/09:00/week-16-ols-4-grad1))
- :book: Notes: [https://pad.sfconservancy.org/p/ols-4-graduations-1](https://pad.sfconservancy.org/p/ols-4-graduations-1)
#### Group 2
- **Call time** : 19 Jan, Wednesday - 14:00 - 15:00 London time ([see in your timezone](https://arewemeetingyet.com/London/2022-01-19/14:00/week-16-ols-4-grad2))
- :book: Notes: [https://pad.sfconservancy.org/p/ols-4-graduations-2](https://pad.sfconservancy.org/p/ols-4-graduations-2)
#### Group 3
- **Call time** : 20 Jan, Thursday - 17:00 - 18:00 London time ([see in your timezone](https://arewemeetingyet.com/London/2022-01-20/17:00/week-16-ols-4-grad3))
- :book: Notes: [https://pad.sfconservancy.org/p/ols-4-graduations-3](https://pad.sfconservancy.org/p/ols-4-graduations-3)
## Archived information from OLS-3
### Week-15 Information: OLS-3 Rehearsal calls
**Rehearsal call: Get feedback for your presentations for graduation**
**Hosts** : Bérénice, Emmy, Malvika, Yo
**Syllabus** : [Week-15](https://openlifesci.org/ols-3/schedule/#week-15)
**Notes** : [https://bit.ly/ols-3-week-15](https://bit.ly/ols-3-week-15)
**Please attend a call most compatible for your time zone**
- **Group 1 Call time** : 18 May, Tuesday - 09:00 - 10:00 AM London time ([see in your timezone](https://arewemeetingyet.com/London/2021-05-18/09:00/week-15-ols-3-gr1))
- **Group 2 Call time** : 19 May, Wednesday - 14:00 - 15:00 London time ([see in your timezone](https://arewemeetingyet.com/London/2021-05-19/14:00/week-15-ols-3-gr2))
- **Group 3 Call time** : 20 May, Thursday - 17:00 - 18:00 London time ([see in your timezone](https://arewemeetingyet.com/London/2021-05-20/17:00/week-15-ols-3-gr3))
**During this cohort call, we will:**
- Start by introducing how to give and receive constructive feedback
- Have the group-1 participants present their project through 5 minutes presentation
- Share feedback on the project and presentation to help prepare for the final graduation call
**Before this meeting**
- Come prepared to share a 3 mins presentation of your project - it doesn't have to be a polished or finished.
- Your presentation can be in the form of a demo, short 1-2 slides presentation or walk through your website
- This should only be a highlight and not the entire presentation (your graduation presentation next week will be 5 minutes long)
### Week 16: Graduation Calls
**Graduation call: You will be officially graduating from OLS-3!**
**Hosts** : Malvika, Yo, Emmy
**Syllabus** : [Week-16](https://openlifesci.org/ols-3/schedule/#week-16)
**All notes** : [https://pad.sfconservancy.org/p/ols-graduations](https://pad.sfconservancy.org/p/ols-graduations)
**Eventbrite link** : TBA <-- ==This will be open to public==
#### Graduation Slots: Please attend a call most compatible for your time zone
##### Group 1
- **Call time** : 25 May, Tuesday - 09:00 - 10:00 AM London time ([see in your timezone](https://arewemeetingyet.com/London/2021-05-25/09:00/week-16-ols-3-grad1))
- :book: Notes: [https://pad.sfconservancy.org/p/ols-graduations-1](https://pad.sfconservancy.org/p/ols-graduations-1)
##### Group 2
- **Call time** : 26 May, Wednesday - 14:00 - 15:00 London time ([see in your timezone](https://arewemeetingyet.com/London/2021-05-26/14:00/week-16-ols-3-grad2))
- :book: Notes: [https://pad.sfconservancy.org/p/ols-graduations-2](https://pad.sfconservancy.org/p/ols-graduations-2)
##### Group 3
- **Call time** : 27 May, Thursday - 17:00 - 18:00 London time ([see in your timezone](https://arewemeetingyet.com/London/2021-05-27/17:00/week-16-ols-3-grad3))
- :book: Notes: [https://pad.sfconservancy.org/p/ols-graduations-3](https://pad.sfconservancy.org/p/ols-graduations-3)