This Week for Graduate Students: Inclusive Teaching Seminar: Last call to apply!

by | Feb 1, 2021

Inclusive Teaching Seminar

Conversations about inclusive teaching are increasingly more common on college campuses. Instructors are tasked with understanding and responding to issues of diversity in their classrooms and with articulating their own approach to teaching with an inclusive framework. How can we create classroom environments that set up all students for success? How can we help our students learn through the diversity of experiences and perspectives they bring to the classroom?

Join us for an in-depth series of workshops coordinated with Inclusive Teaching: Supporting All Students in the College Classroom, a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) produced by the CTL that explores the principles and frameworks that define an inclusive teaching practice. The discussion series consists of 6 sessions, each one debriefing a module of the MOOC. You may participate in the full series or attend individual workshops. Applications will be accepted through February 3.

Dates: Wednesdays: February 10, 17, 24; March 10, 17, and 24
Time: 4:00 PM–5:30 PM ET

Get Feedback on Your Teaching!

If you’re a current instructor or TA, the CTL offers free services that can give you valuable insight on your teaching strengths and paths for improvement. Trained graduate student Teaching Consultants visit your class, debrief with you, and provide you with a confidential report.

Mid-Course Review
In an MCR, a Teaching Consultant gathers feedback from your students about what they find to be helpful and challenging when learning in your course. The Consultant then meets with you to unpack what your students have said. Doing an MCR now can help you make adjustments and improve your students’ experience for the rest of the semester.

To arrange for an MCR, submit a request at least two weeks prior to the date when you would like a Teaching Consultant to visit your class. All MCRs must be completed by March 12th, 2021. Requests for MCRs will close on Friday, February 19th, 2021.

Teaching Observation
In a Teaching Observation, a Teaching Consultant meets with you ahead of time to understand your goals for a class session, attends the session to observe your instruction and student activities, and debriefs with you afterwards. You will receive a confidential report containing observations about how the goals you have set for the class have been met, suggesting future adjustments, and highlighting pertinent resources available to you.

To arrange for a teaching observation, submit a request at least two weeks prior to the date when you would like a Teaching Consultant to visit your class.

Mid-course reviews and teaching observations count towards completion of CTL’s Teaching Development Program for graduate students.

Fellowships and Opportunities

Technology and Design Fellow: Apply by February 1

CTL Technology & Design Fellows are Columbia University doctoral students who work closely with the CTL to improve the use of technology in learning. In 2020-21, these fellows are focusing on Mediathread, a web-based community platform that supports multimedia analysis in many courses at Columbia and beyond.

In Spring 2021, the TDF will be working closely with CTL’s development team on expanding the capacity of Mediathread to support targeted selection, tagging, and recontextualization of PDF documents (in addition to the video, image, and audio formats currently supported on the platform). This paid opportunity is ideal for a current Columbia doctoral students who is interested in user experience and information design, media analysis, and/or educational technology. The deadline for submission is February 1, 2021.

Teaching Conference Support 

Current Columbia doctoral students are invited to apply for funds to help defray expenses associated with attending a conference or training focused on teaching practices in higher education. Approved applicants will receive up to $750. 

This support is is being sponsored by the GSAS Office of the Dean, funded by the Office of the Provost, and administered by CTL.

What is it like to teach and learn at Columbia in 2020-2021? Nominate your fellow graduate student instructors to share their story, and share your own*Voices submissions will be showcased at the 2021 Celebration of Teaching and Learning Symposium*