During the course of your graduate career, some of you will have the opportunity to serve as a Teaching Assistant (TA). Though the responsibilities of TAs differ depending upon the department and class, Teaching Assistants often lead their own discussion or lab sections. For many of us, this is a new experience and we may want additional training and practice. Especially those interested in pursuing academic careers may want to improve our teaching pedigree while here at UCI. Thankfully, the Center for Engaged Instruction provides the resources to do just that!
The Center for Engaged Instruction (CEI) offers many opportunities for graduate students to improve their teaching skills. The chart below (also available here) summarizes the resources and trainings available through CEI.
The first resource offered by CEI is the TA Professional Development Program (TAPDP). This program, or a comparable training from your home department, is required for all new TAs. This training is held during Welcome Week in the fall and covers topics including TA duties, classroom techniques, and instructional technology. You also get hands-on experience planning a mini-lesson to prepare you to get in front of the classroom.
Those who want to further develop their teaching skills, can access their online resources or attend one of their workshops or colloquia. Past workshop topics have included: Creating an Inclusive Classroom, Collaborative Learning Techniques, Engaging Quiet Students, and Designing Effective Test Questions. Be sure to join the CEI mailing list to get notification about upcoming events!
CEI also offers one-on-one consultations for those who want personalized feedback. Through this resource, you can request that CEI observe your teaching, review your teaching evaluations, provide teaching ideas and techniques, or offer advice on how to apply for teaching jobs.
Finally, those who want more formal training in teaching can complete one of CEI’s certifications or apply for a fellowship. The Certificate in Course Design is a regular workshop offering that takes place over four sessions and teaches you how to develop your own course. The Certificate in Teaching Excellence can be earned either by completing a quarter-long course (University Studies 390X) or by completing the requirements online at your own pace. This certificate program covers topics including active learning, collaborative learning, instructional technology, assessment, and course design.
CEI’s most advanced offering for graduate students is the Pedagogical Fellowship Program. The Pedagogical Fellowship (PF) Program is a year-long commitment for experienced TAs and requires selection through a competitive application process. If selected, PFs will receive advanced pedagogical and professional development training, personalized job market preparation, and a monetary award. PFs are also responsible for planning and implementing TAPDP training for incoming TAs.
I highly recommend that TAs and/or those interested in careers in teaching take advantage of the many resources available through the Center for Engaged Instruction. Having completed both the Certificate in Course Design and the Certificate in Teaching Excellence, I greatly enjoyed working with CEI and learned a lot! The CEI staff are incredibly friendly and welcoming, and they are genuinely committed to helping build a strong community of educators. Check them out!