TEACH ME TO TEACH: Pedagogical Preparation Seminar

It is increasingly common for graduate students in PhD programs to assume the role of independent instructor rather than teaching assistant. Surprisingly, however, they do so with very little formal training (Gaia et al. 2003; Nyquist et al. 1999). This day-long workshop will provide graduate student instructors with the opportunity to participate in hands-on activities which will help to answer questions like: “How can I structure my syllabus so that students get excited about this course?”, “What do I want my students to learn?”, “How can I appropriately assess student progress?” and “What challenges do I face as an instructor?". More importantly, the goal of the seminar is to provide current graduate teaching instructors, and soon be to be instructors, with the skills and critical understanding necessary to promote undergraduate learning both here at UC and in their ongoing careers.

Developing Your Teaching Philosophy

Whether you are interested in finding a teaching assistantship, considering how to teach your courses next year, or applying for teaching positions after graduation, having a teaching philosophy is vitally important. It is essentially a statement about your beliefs, values and practices around teaching. Not sure that you have a “teaching philosophy”? Don’t know where to begin? Do you have some ideas but not sure how to put them together? Then this workshop is for you! This half-day, interactive workshop for graduate students will cover the basics about teaching philosophies—the who, what, how and why’s—and give you the chance to draft and peer review your teaching philosophy statement. Workshop attendees do not need to come with a statement ready, but should be prepared to leave with a draft in hand!

A Look Behind the Curtain: Teaching An Active Learning Science Class

This workshop is aimed at graduate students who would like to learn more about the nuts and bolts of setting up and running an active learning-based class, specifically a large (250-400 student) introductory science class. During the two hour workshop we will demonstrate the specific things that we do in this class (e.g. Just-in-Time Teaching, Clicker Questions, Group work, and Group Problems) and discuss why we do them, what results we’ve had, what problems we’re encountering, and plans for improvement.

 There is a homework assignment that you will need to complete before attending this workshop. You will need to visit at least one of Dr.  Kinkle’s freshman biology classes before the May 31 workshop. His classes are MWF from 9-9:50 and 1-1:50 in Zimmer Auditorium and any MWF class is available except for May 9 (he’s giving an exam). When you come to class you are encouraged to walk around, observing what different groups of students are doing, and interacting with them if you wish. Sitting in the back of the room is not encouraged. This is a large class, with frequent visitors, and you will not be disturbing their learning.