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Pathways: Getting Started

Getting Started with Pathways

What is Pathways?

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference. 

Robert Frost, "The Road Not Taken"

The Pathways learning experience is a flexible, interactive program designed to help members develop leadership and public speaking skills. To date, there are eleven different paths to choose from, including:

Choosing a Path

Upon joining Spirited Speech Masters, you will receive an email with information to set up an account with Toastmasters International. Once you have created an account and logged in:

  1. Click on Pathways in the menu under the "Where Leaders are Made" slogan. This will expand the Pathways menu.
  2. Click on Choose a Path to open the page entitled Take Assessment and Choose Your Path.
  3. Click on the Take Your Assessment button. At this point, you can opt to go through Toastmasters' assessment to determine what path they recommend (you are not obligated to accept their recommendation) or simply view all available paths and make your selection.
  4. To make a selection…

Without taking the assessment:

  • Click on Skip Assessment to open the page entitled Recommended Paths.
  • Read through the description of each Path. For more information about the various paths and the projects within each, download Pathways - Pathways and Projects (PDF) (credit to District 57).

By first taking the assessment:

  • Select your language and click Start.
  • Answer the questions in the Pathway Assessment (the questions asked are based upon the primary areas of interest you indicate at the start of the quiz).
  • Once complete, Toastmasters will suggest three different Paths for you to consider. If you don't like any of the suggested Paths, click on the Additional Paths link at the bottom of the page.
  1. Once you have decided upon a Path, click the button labeled Choose this Path. You will be taken to Base Camp, the launch point for progressing through your chosen curriculum.
  2. The first time you visit, you will be offered a brief tour. Once you have completed the tour (or opted to forego it), click on Open Curriculum for your chosen Path to open the Level list.
  3. Under Level 1, click View Details. Each level of a given curriculum contains a number of projects that must be completed before you can progress to the next level -- and eventually to the overall completion of the Path.
  4. Every Path begins with an Icebreaker project. Click on Activate to begin this project then Launch to open the project walkthrough in a popup (it may be helpful to maximize the popup, as it has a tendency to open in a size that is unreadable).

Choosing a Different Path

While your first Path is free, each additional Path costs $20. If you find that you dislike your chosen Path, you have 30 days to contact Toastmasters International to request a change:

Toastmasters International
Phone: +1 720-439-5050
6 a.m.–7 p.m. Mountain Time
Monday–Friday, excluding U.S. holidays
Email: supplyorders@toastmasters.org

Signing Up for Your First Speech

Once you have begun your first project in Pathways -- generally the Icebreaker speech -- you will want to use the Spirited Speech Masters web site to schedule the delivery of your speech. To do so:

  1. Click on Calendar to visit the events calendar.
  2. If necessary, log in with the username and password you have been assigned or you have created.
  3. Use the calendar controls to navigate to the meeting date when you would like to deliver your speech. Click on the meeting link.
  4. Scroll down to the section labeled Prepared and Impromptu Speeches.
    • Click on the first drop down box to select the Path you have chosen.
    • Click on the second drop down box to choose the appropriate project within the Path (usually Icebreaker).
    • Enter the time range for this speech (4-6 minutes for an Icebreaker speech, 5-7 minutes for most other speeches).
    • Enter the title for your speech ("Icebreaker" is fine if you get stuck).
    • Optionally, enter a brief introduction to your speech.
    • Click on the button labeled Take Role.

It's a good idea to reach out to someone you want to have evaluate your first speech, both so that you can ensure they will be available on the date you have chosen and so that you can provide him or her with whatever information is necessary for him or her to introduce you. Consider asking your assigned mentor to provide your first evaluation.

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