Orientation

An orientation session will be held on:

Monday, June 29
8:00 AM
Norm Asbjornson Hall (NAH) 165

Please continue checking your email and the MSSE 575 course in Canvas for updates and announcements.

Capstone Presentations

Presentations will be held as scheduled during the Capstone Symposium. Please note that immediately following your public presentation time, you are scheduled for a private comprehensive session with your graduate committee.

Please refer to the MSSE 575 course in Canvas for the final Capstone Presentation Schedule.

Presentation Attire

Professional or business casual attire is expected for presenters.

Capstone Facilitation

Each student will be assigned to facilitate a peer’s presentation. Please contact the presenter you are facilitating through Canvas email to discuss how you can best support them.

Facilitator Responsibilities

As attendees arrive:

  • Assist with the attendee prize drawing:
    • Distribute sign-up slips, Collect entries, Select a winner

At the scheduled presentation start time:

  • Introduce yourself
  • Introduce the presenter, including:
    • Name, Location, School or teaching assignment
  • Introduce graduate committee members (in person and/or virtual)
  • Read the presentation title
  • Assist with any additional tasks requested by the presenter

Capstone Observations

Attendance is required throughout the entire Capstone Symposium.

Students must complete 12 presentation observations, with a minimum of four presentations attended each day. Your own presentation and the presentation you facilitate will count toward the required twelve sessions.

You are strongly encouraged to attend additional presentations whenever possible. The symposium showcases a wide range of innovative and meaningful projects, and there is always something valuable to learn from your peers. Your attendance also helps ensure supportive audiences for all presenters.

Audience Attire

Audience dress is casual. Please keep in mind that it will be summertime in Montana.

Online Participation

Students attending remotely are also required to observe 12 presentations, including their own.

Additional Presentation and Comprehensive Session Information

Presentation Guidelines

You will prepare and deliver an oral presentation of your MSSE Capstone Project during the Capstone Symposium.

Presentation Format

  • Total presentation session: 30 minutes
  • Formal presentation: 20 minutes
  • Audience discussion and Q&A: 10 minutes

Audience members may include:

  • MSSE students, MSSE Steering Committee members, Graduate committee members, Faculty, and Guests

Technology & Setup

Presentation rooms are equipped with smart podiums, computers, and screens. 

Please bring your presentation in a readily accessible format, such as:

  • PowerPoint, Google Slides, Prezi, etc.

You may connect to the podium using your own computer, an external drive, or access your presentation online. Having materials prepared in advance will help ensure smooth transitions between presenters. To avoid technical difficulties, we strongly recommend saving a backup copy of your presentation in a cloud-based storage service and testing access to your files in advance.

Staff will be available before each session to assist with technology, answer questions, and help with presentation setup. Having your materials organized and ready prior to your session will help facilitate smooth transitions between presenters.

Oral Comprehensive Meeting

All comprehensive sessions are designed to meet the Graduate School requirements and deadlines for summer semester graduation. They are held immediately after your presentation has ended.

The comprehensive meeting will begin with discussion of and questions about your particular capstone project. The session is open only to the student, the graduate committee members, and other MSSE staff as appropriate. The comprehensive session can then extend into other areas that seem appropriate based upon the course of study of a particular student. Your project advisor will guide you to the session room immediately following your presentation/public question session.

The emphasis of comprehensive sessions will not be facts, but rather using information, grasp of concepts, and integration of concepts and information. The best preparation for this exam is comfort with your data, reflection about what you studied in your graduate courses, and a good night’s sleep. Your project advisor facilitates the oral session. He/she is the best person to speak with about any specific content, policy or process concerns.

After your comprehensive session, you will be asked to sign off that your project is original and authentic and that you have properly cited and referenced any other person’s work or ideas used in your paper. You will be asked to complete the paperwork necessary for electronic archival of your professional paper with the MSU Library. You will also be asked to give permission for MSSE to use your paper for program instructional purposes. 

Please let us know what questions you have. We are looking forward to seeing you all this summer!

Capstone Symposium Celebration

On the final day of Capstone Symposium there will be an hour-and-a-half long CELEBRATION. The agenda is a surprise, but you don't want to miss it. Family & friends are welcome. There will be light refreshments to hold you over as you prepare to continue the celebration with your family and friends with dinner on your own.