Practice Teaching (Microteaching) for Graduate Students

Practice Teaching sessions (formerly known as “Microteaching”) can help you rehearse teaching approaches and get direct feedback and support, whether or not you are currently teaching. We invite current Columbia graduate students or postdocs to register individually, or with a small group of peers wishing to do a session together.

These sessions count towards completion of CTL’s Teaching Development Program for graduate students.

Register for a Scheduled Session

Visit the CTL Events Calendar to register for upcoming Practice Teaching (Microteaching) sessions.

Who

This service is open to Columbia graduate students or postdocs. Departments and groups seeking to request a customized session should email write to CTLgrads@columbia.edu.

 

What is Practice Teaching?

Practice Teaching sessions are gatherings of 3-4 participants and a facilitator. Participants take turns delivering short samples of instruction to each other, and offering each other structured feedback. This feedback focuses on organization, clarity, engagement of learners, and any other specific aspect of teaching that the instructor would like feedback on. These sessions are a good way to rehearse teaching practices and get direct feedback and support, whether or not you are currently teaching.

Practice Teaching sessions may also entail video recording, upon request, for the purposes of future private reference and consultation. We invite current Columbia graduate students or postdocs to register individually, or with a small group of peers wishing to do a session together. The CTL will respond to requests and work with facilitators to schedule sessions.

Find more opportunities for graduate students and postdoctoral students here.

 

The process

Download a handout (pdf) version of the following guidelines for giving and receiving feedback. 

Each participant has prepared a short sample of instruction (no longer than five minutes), and each participant will be providing feedback to peers. Readiness to both give and receive constructive feedback is essential for a Practice Teaching session to be successful.

 

Delivering instruction

Preparing your sample instruction

  • Though the lesson or activity you’ll deliver is shorter and less detailed than what you would teach to students familiar with your subject, it is nonetheless actual teaching. Your job is to engage other participants and help them really understand the point(s) you’re making.
  • If you are incorporating visuals or handouts, bring five copies with you to the session. If you must use slides, email them to CTLgrads@columbia.edu more than 24 hours before the session.
  • A form will help participants note observations about your sample instruction’s organization and student engagement. Ahead of the session, please decide on a more specific aspect of your teaching that you would like feedback on. The form includes an open category for this aspect of your teaching.

Receiving feedback

  • It is impossible to fail during a Practice Teaching session! While it is natural to be a little nervous when being observed teaching, you peers in this session are all in the same boat and are committed to helping each other improve teaching. No matter how you end up feeling about your performance, you will receive a lot of valuable insight and hear about strengths you may be unaware of.
  • You’ll receive a lot of feedback, and some of it may be contradictory. Don’t worry about responding to every point. Instead, get as much of a sense as you can of people’s experiences learning from you. Feel free to ask for clarification about these experiences. Notes from the session facilitator will give you another record of the feedback you receive.

 

Delivering feedback

Learning and observing during sample instruction

  • Before an instructional sample, write down into the observation form the specific aspect of teaching the instructor would like feedback on. If you have any questions about this, ask before the instructor begins.
  • As you participate in an instructional sample as a student, don’t role-play the part of an undergraduate; just be yourself, learning.
  • Jot brief notes on the form during the sample to help you provide specific feedback afterwards. Stay engaged in learning as much as possible, even as you note observations about instructional technique. • Remember to note what helps you learn, as well as what hinders you from learning. Instructors can be very self-critical and blind to aspects of their teaching that should actually be celebrated and further developed.

Providing feedback after sample instruction

  • When delivering your feedback, focus on your subjective experience as a learner.
    • Begin observations with “I” rather than “You”.
      • Ex: I had a hard time reading the text on your slides while you were talking, rather than You don’t provide enough time to read through text on your slides or You shouldn’t use so much text on your slides.
    • Similarly, avoid sweeping characterizations, and keep focused on your experience.
      • Ex: I was encouraged to respond to your question when you smiled at me, rather than You seem like a really approachable teacher.
    • Resist the temptation to problem-solve. Practice Teaching sessions raise issues that take reflection and practice to really address. Don’t jump into offering solutions or advice for improvement unless the instructor specifically asks you to.

 

After the session

The session facilitator will provide you and CTL a summary of aspects of teaching that are discussed during the session. This summary will not contain identifying information. Some Practice Teaching sessions will also offer to participants the option to have their delivery recorded, with a follow-up confidential consultation with a Teaching Consultant to review footage and further discuss related teaching approaches.

If the session has raised particular questions or concerns, we encourage you to contact us directly for consultation, at CTLgrads@columbia.edu. Practice followed up by immediate and structured feedback is a proven driver of skill development. After you experience this exercise, consider setting up similar opportunities for your actual students.

Sources:

Allan, D. and Ryan, K. (1969). Microteaching. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley

Becker, E., et. al. (2017 ). The effects of practice-based training on graduate teaching assistants’ classroom practices. CBE—Life Sciences Education (16:4), article 58.

Persellin, D., and Goodrick, T. (2010). Faculty development in higher education: Long-term impact of a summer teaching and learning workshop. Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (10:1), 1–13.

Remesh, A. (2013). Microteaching, an efficient technique for learning effective teaching. Journal of Research in Medical Sciences : The Official Journal of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, 18(2), 158–163.

 

Contact

Any questions? Email CTLgrads@columbia.edu.

The CTL is here for graduate students.

The Columbia Center for Teaching and Learning provides an array of support for graduate students in both their current and future teaching responsibilities.