The Tennessee Teaching and Learning Center has extended the deadline for applications for the Graduate Teaching Certificate Program. Application materials will be accepted until Friday, December 6th. Students will be notified regarding acceptance on Monday, December 9th. For more information regarding the program and application process, please see the message below:
Greetings,
As part of our efforts to support graduate student instructors, the Tennessee Teaching and Learning Center (TennTLC), in collaboration with the Graduate School, has created the Graduate Teaching Certification Program. The program is designed to foster confidence and excellence in teaching and learning. This will be accomplished by broadening pedagogical knowledge and skill in the participants, supporting their development into future faculty members, and encouraging sharing and knowledge creation in an interdisciplinary community of learners committed to becoming high quality instructors. We will accept the inaugural cohort in Spring, 2014.
The 15-18 month program is open to any graduate student who is eligible to co-teach or act as the instructor of record at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. The goal of the program is to engage a cohort of participants in individual and collaborative activities and reflection on topics such as: course design and delivery, classroom management, the influence of instructor’s beliefs on teaching and learning, and how students learn, among others. Over the course of the program, students will develop their own philosophical approach to engaging in and reflecting on the practice of teaching and learning.
The program is divided into three parts:
In the first of the program’s three parts, the participant will complete a seminar or course in teaching pedagogy. Several departments and programs offer such a course for those students who will become graduate teaching assistants or associates. Additionally, the Graduate School offers, The Best Practices in Teaching Programs for Graduate Assistants and Associates, Postdoctoral Lecturers, and New Faculty. During this time, those admitted to the program will also be involved in orientation workshops, one-on- one meetings, and completion of a classroom observation assignment directed by the TennTLC.
The second part is a readings/problems based seminar. This TennTLC sponsored, noncredit seminar will meet regularly for a semester to engage in deep exploration of current theories and practices related to effective postsecondary instruction. Several topics will be covered including: course design, student motivation, classroom management, and how learning works.
The final section involves a supervised teaching practicum where participants are able to integrate what they have learned into their own classrooms.
The application process for the first cohort will begin November 4th, 2013. To apply, an application form found at the http://tenntlc.utk.edu must be completed and submitted electronically, or sent to 618 Greve Hall, to the attention of Dr.Ferlin McGaskey. Upon receipt of the application, potential participants will be sent a departmental recommendation form. Both the application and the departmental recommendation form must be completed and received by 5:00 pm, Friday, December 6th. Decision notification will be disseminated by December 9, 2013. Please note that we will make every effort to schedule each section of the seminar (there will be two) at times that are convenient for all accepted participants; however, this can be a challenge. Thus acceptance into the program does not guarantee that we will be able to find a time that meets everyone’s needs.
For additional questions, please contact Ferlin McGaskey at fmcgaske@utk.edu.
Best,
Ferlin McGaskey, Ph.D
Director, Graduate Teaching Certification Program
Assistant Director, Tennessee Teaching and Learning Center