Teaching Academy

Doctoral students and postdoctoral fellows selected for this six-session, applied program will have the opportunity to build teaching competencies, apply skills in a teaching session, and prepare components of a teaching portfolio. Sessions run from August through November or December 2021 and will be delivered in a distance learning format (by Zoom).

Five two-hour, interactive sessions will be held on select Fridays from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. via Zoom. During a subsequent 6^th session in November or December 2021, participants will apply what they have learned by leading a class session under the guidance and supervision of the course instructor/teaching mentor.

Between sessions, participants will complete readings and assignments, as well as obtain feedback from instructors and department teaching mentors. There will be phone check-ins by arrangement. Deliverables will include components of a teaching portfolio, including teaching philosophy, teaching CV, and teaching evaluations.

The work and effort required of Teaching Academy participants is equivalent to that of a one-credit course, but please note that no credit is granted for participating in the Teaching Academy.

• Introduce doctoral students and postdoctoral fellows interested in academic teaching careers to best practices, tools, and resources that promote teaching excellence
• Provide opportunities to build teaching skills through in-class exercises, between-session experiences and assignments, and instructor and mentor feedback
• Help teaching fellows prepare deliverables for a teaching portfolio so they are competitive for teaching positions in academia

At the time of application, individuals must:

• Be an active University of Miami doctoral student or postdoctoral associate/scholar 
• For doctoral students, have at least a year remaining in their program; for postdoctoral associates/scholars, expect to remain a postdoc at the University of Miami until May 2022 
• Demonstrate a commitment to a teaching career, and show an ability to benefit from the Teaching Academy
• Commit to attending all group sessions, individual check-in meetings, and complete between-session readings and assignments
• Have approval to participate from their academic advisor/supervisor
• Obtain a commitment of support from a teaching mentor in their department. The teaching mentor may be the same person as the academic advisor. The teaching mentor’s role involves:
  • Giving the participant the opportunity to teach one class session (in November or December 2021) under supervision in a Fall 2021 semester course, following the Teaching Academy group sessions.
  • Providing feedback to the teaching fellow between Teaching Academy sessions on their teaching portfolio and certain assignments, as well as conducting an evaluation of fellow’s teaching session. 

Led by experienced teacher trainers from across the University of Miami, the 2021 University of Miami Graduate School’s Teaching Academy topics and group session dates are:

• Group Session #1: Friday, August 27, 2021 | 10:00am-12:00pm

  Preparing for a Career in Teaching: Educator Portfolios, Teaching Philosophy, CVs

• Group Session #2: Friday, September 10, 2021 | 10:00am-12:00pm

  Course Design for Significant Learning: Developing a Course Blueprint, Learning Objectives, Syllabus

• Group Session #3: Friday, September 24, 2021 | 10:00am-12:00pm

  Assessment for Learning & Providing Feedback

• Group Session #4: Friday, October 8, 2021 | 10:00am-12:00pm

  Demonstrating Teaching Skills that Engage Students: Active Learning and Facilitating Discussions

• Group Session #5: Friday, October 29, 2021 | 10:00am-12:00pm

  Teaching with Technology: Technology Enriched Lessons

• Session #6: November or December 2021

  Participants will apply what they have learned by leading a class session under the guidance and supervision of the course instructor and teaching mentor (by arrangement with teaching mentor)

The deadline to apply is July 9, 2021. Individuals will be informed by July 12, 2021, as to whether or not they have been selected to participate in the Teaching Academy. A total of 12 participants will be selected: 6 doctoral students and 6 postdoctoral fellows. Eligible applicants will be entered into a random drawing to select teaching fellows that represent diverse University of Miami colleges and schools.

For questions or additional information, please contact Dr. Tatiana Perrino (tperrino@miami.edu).

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