Semester:
Offered:
Course description
This nanocourse provides an introduction to the skills and frameworks necessary for success as a graduate student teaching fellow (TF). After completing this 6 hour introduction, students will be able to:
- Describe core pedagogy concepts including backwards design, formative assessment, active learning, alignment, and inclusive teaching
- Identify ways these core concepts may influence their work as graduate student TFs
- Demonstrate the ability to apply these concepts to their expected teaching and course-related responsibilities
- Identify classroom management and interpersonal approaches that minimize conflict and maximize student belonging and performance
Course Director: John Peters, PhD
Additional Instructors: Xiuqi “Jade” Li, PhD; Chris Magnano, PhD; and PJ Van Camp, MD, PhD.
If you have any questions, please contact PJ Van Camp at pieter-jan_vancamp@hms.harvard.edu
Session Information
This course consists of three 2-hour class sessions. All sessions will be held in person in the Countway Library on the HMS Longwood campus. Students must agree to attend all sessions in order to enroll.
SESSION 1 | Monday, August 22nd, 10 am - 12 pm (Countway Library)
This session will help you set goals for your work as a TF and introduce you to simple strategies that will maximize your chances for success. We will also discuss the importance of creating an equitable classroom and consider ways to do this in your own teaching.
SESSION 2 | Wednesday, August 24th, 10 am - 12 pm (Countway Library)
This session provides a brief introduction to well-established best practices in teaching. Concepts and techniques like active learning, backward design, learning objectives, and alignment will all be discussed and students will apply them to their own teaching.
SESSION 3 | Friday, August 26th, 10 am - 12 pm (Countway Library)
Session 3 will begin with a microteaching exercise to provide students practice and an opportunity to apply the concepts from sessions 1 and 2. Additional time will be spent on best practices for asking and answering student questions: a critical skill for most TFs.
Click here to register for this course