See my main Presentation Mastery Pathways page for some context. To start a project, click “Activate” and then click “Launch”. At this point, your status changes to “In Progress.” It took a few minutes to load. Then I got a tutorial on the navigation. After that comes the main content.

The background information is similar to what was in the paper Toastmasters CC (Competent Communicator) manual. Many things are the same like the speech length and goals.

Checklist

The first thing that is different is a project checklist PDF. It has things like scheduling your speech, rehearsing, giving your speech and submitting to get credit. Each checklist item has a box to check off and two lines where you can write comments. This whole checklist is optional.

Skills assessment

Next comes an interactive skills assessment where you rate yourself in certain areas. Not 100% intuitive is that you have to click the down arrow next to the word “directions” to actual take the assessment. The assessment is short and easy. You answers six questions by rating yourself on a scale of 1 (low) to 5 (high). [I like the new 5 point scale. We only had 3 numbers to choose from in the old printed manual world[

Video

There’s a video where a few people talk about their icebreaker and provide tips. It lists a manageable number of points; each described by a different person.

Outline and tips

You can view/download an outline to help you prepare for your Icebreaker. You can even download it as a PDF. After that, you get some tips on timing and how to prepare. You also get information about what to expect at the meeting such as the speech evaluator along with what to review after giving the speech.

Resources

At the end of the project, you can download a few things in PDF form. Of particular note is the PDF sheet to print and hand to your evaluator. You can also download the whole project in PDF form.

After the speech

Next comes where you assess your skills again. I printed the form for evaluation. My speech evaluator evaluated me just like normal.  When signing back to Pathways, I re-took the initial assessment and the system compared my scores. It then told me that I completed the icebreaker. (So there’s some honor system that goes on here; that you’ll wait until after giving the speech to do the post-self assessment.

I closed the tab for my Icebreaker. This refreshed the curriculum page which unlocked the other two projects in the level – evaluation and researching.

Voluntarily upload eval

You don’t have to, but I went back to basecamp and choose e-portfolio. I then uploaded my a scanned copy of my evaluator’s form. That way I don’t have to worry about finding it when I complete level 1. The E-Portfolio has folders for each of the five levels which is nice.

Voluntarily evaluate the project for Toastmasters

You have the option of taking a survey about the project for Toastmasters to gather feedback.

I enrolled in Toastmasters Pathways and got oriented. Let’s take a look at a learning path curriculum. There are five levels each with a bunch of projects. I plan to blog as I go through Pathways. I’ll update this page updating descriptions or linking to the relevant blog posts from this page as I go.

Yes, I typed all this in. My club has a full set of advanced manuals so members can see what they are getting into before they order/commit to a manual. I’m trying to do something equivalent for Pathways. Not share all the content obviously. But to give a feel for the requirements and experience. For a better overview, see my comparison of paths.

I then found out that District 57 has it posted already. They have great PDF resources including a high level list of what is in each path.

I already have a DTM so I’m going through Pathways more rapidly to learn about the program.

Project statuses

Each project has one of the following statuses:

• Not activated – A project you are eligible to start, but haven’t yet. For example, the Icebreaker when you first sign in.
• In Progress – A project you have started or viewed.
• Completed – This project is completed.
• Pending Prior Training – This project will be unlocked after completing a pre-requsite project.

Level 1 – this level has 3 required projects + the submission

I’ve heard that level 1 is the same regardless of your path.

Overall feedback on the level: This is almost half a CC. You give 4 speeches and do one evaluation. I find the “locked until pass pre-req” frustrating as you can’t plan for what is coming.

Level 2 – this level has 3 required projects + the submission

Level 3 – this level has one required project, two elective projects and the submission

See my level 3 post

1. Persuasive Speaking
2. At least two projects from this list: – this is one of the benefits of Pathways – choices! Note that you can take as many as you want.
   1. Deliver Social Speeches (a special occasion speech)
   2. Using Presentation Software
   3. Connect with Storytelling
   4. Creating Effective Visual Aids
   5. Using Descriptive Language
   6. Connect with your Audience
   7. Make Connections through Networking
   8. Focus on the Positive
   9. Inspire your Audience
   10. Prepare for an Interview
   11. Understanding Vocal Variety
   12. Active Listening
3. Level completion – remember that you must serve as Toastmaster, Evaluator and Table Topics Master at least once before you can advance to level 4. You enter this in your profile as you go. This level qualifies you to get a letter to your manager.

Level 4 – this level has one required project, one elective project and the submission

See my level 4 post

1. Managing a Difficult Audience
2. At least one project from this list: – this is another benefit of Pathways; modern skills
   1. Create a Podcast
   2. Building a Social Media Presence
   3. Write a Compelling Blog
   4. Manage Online Meetings
   5. Q&A Session
   6. Public Relations Strategies
   7. Manage Projects Successfully
3. Level Completion. This level qualifies you to get a letter to your manager.

Level 5 – this level has two required projects, one elective project and the submission

1. Prepare to Speak Effectively
2. At least one project from this list:
   1. Lessons Learned
   2. Moderate a Panel Discussion
   3. Ethical Leadership
   4. High Performance Leadership
   5. Leading in your Volunteer Organization
3. Reflect on your Path
4. Level Completion. This level qualifies you to get a letter to your manager and a certificate of proficiency.

Toastmasters is modernizing their program and starting a new one called Pathways. I’m already a DTM (distinguished toastmaster) using the previous program. Kind of like “graduation.” Except you can keep learning and mentoring. I’m looking forward to exploring Pathways on a more rapid pace to put myself in a position to coach others. I’m going to be blogging about the experience. I’m assuming readers are in Toastmasters for many parts of it.

To being, I submitted my last two “old program” awards today. Which were a CL (Competent Leader) and ACB (Advanced Communicator Bronze.) This gives my NY club points toward the DCP (Distinguished Club Programmer.) These are going to be my last awards in the “old way.” Pathways is using a phased start where different regions are eligible to start at different times. If you are in multiple clubs, you can enroll in Pathways anytime after the first club is in an eligible region. I’m also a member of a club in California making me eligible.

Pre-reqs to start Pathways

1. You do not want to file any more awards “the old way”.
2. You are a member of a club in a region that has passed the launch date in the rollout schedule.

To convert your Toastmasters account to the Pathways program

1. Go to the Start Pathways page
2. Login to the Toastmasters site
3. If you are eligible, you will get prompted with an agreement. Aka the fine print. It is only two paragraphs long. The first is where you agree that Toastmasters and volunteers in your area can call/email you. (I’d rather people not call, but this hasn’t been a problem to date. I don’t expect it to start being one.) The second paragraph is that you won’t bully/harass/etc others. No problem there.
4. When you click accept on that agreement, you are taken to the Pathways welcome page with three choices:
   1. The navigator
   2. Choose your path
   3. Pathways Base Camp

I. The Navigator

The navigator is an interactive training that introduces you to Toastmasters and Pathways. It reminds me of CBT (computer based training at work). Remember not to go to fast. Some extra info like profiles of members show up after a few seconds of reading. I read really fast; especially when familiar with content; so I have to remember to pause.

There doesn’t appear to be a way to skip content quickly. You can use the “next arrow” to go somewhat faster at least. Much of this info is old hat to current members who are switching over to Pathways. There is interesting content mixed in though; like how to deal with nervousness. It also gives an overview of Pathways. I learned that you can both give and receive badges.

After you finish the training, you get a link to The Navigator in PDF form which is a good reference. Toastmasters has good access control and you can’t see this file if you aren’t logged in. However, Toastmasters makes The Navigator PDF available publicly as well.

I clicked on the upper left logo to go to the home page. There, the website walked me through the major components of the page. This is the Base Camp home page.

It has a link to the Pathways home page.

II.Choose your path

I took the base camp assessment to help pick a path. A lot of the questions are whether you agree/disagree or are unsure about a statement. It’s an odd scale. You could be sure that you are neutral and still have to select unsure. The first couple questions were about interests. The rest read like those personality tests you have to take at work.

Ultimately it doesn’t matter what you enter because the point of the assessment is to recommend 3 paths to choose from. But you can click “additional paths” and choose any of the ten paths.

I got Presentation Mastery, Innovative Planning and Leadership Development. The system picked Presentation Mastery as the best match. That’s the one I wanted to do. My primary goal at the beginning of Pathways is to learn about Pathways. And I figure that will be the most common path for our members.

When selecting the path, you get a message “our journey has officially begun! You will receive a confirmation email shortly and be able to start your path in approximately 30 minutes.”. Really? 30 minutes? In case, it was more like 5 minutes. I got an email receipt for $0.00. (The first path is free)

Base Camp

The third option on the Start Pathways page is to “login as a member” to base camp. You are already logged in though so it just takes you there. And yes, I tried going to that page without being logged in; you just get a log in screen. Shrug. Anyway, in Base Camp you now see “Open Curriculum” in the education transcript section when you scroll down. That’s where you learn what is in the learning path.

What wasn’t clear

• I couldn’t find the link to Pathways from the toastmasters.org login page right away. It is there as follows, but the direct link is easier.
  • Click Education pull down
  • Click Pathways learning experience
  • Click start your journey
• I couldn’t figure how to indicate that I completed “The Navigator” and just click the logo in the upper left to go back to the home page.

Next check out an overview of this learning path.