Most graduate students serve as teaching fellows within their department as a requirement for graduation, and it is critical to get the most out of this opportunity to teach and be mentored by faculty members. However, the nature of these TF assignments can vary and for graduate students looking to develop teaching skills and prepare for future faculty positions, finding additional teaching opportunities can also be essential. Finding an opportunity to lecture or to truly teach one’s own class - design a syllabus, write and give lectures - can require going outside the normal teaching fellows program.
Find teaching opportunities in related departments
If your department has limited TF positions available, or the positions are focused more on grading than on teaching, try looking for TF or PTAI positions in other departments. Check the Teaching Fellows Program Information Board, send your CV to registrars or DGSs in related departments, or send your CV to howard.el-yasin@yale.edu in the Teaching Fellows Program office who may be able to suggest an appropriate opening.
http://www.yale.edu/graduateschool/academics/fellows.html
Lecturing within a Yale course
Ask your advisor or other professors for the opportunity to give a lecture, either during the normal academic term or during summer session. When making the request, have ideas prepared for what you might lecture on and why this would be an important experience for your teaching development. Ask for feedback that you can use to improve your teaching as well as for formal evaluations for your teaching portfolio. Additionally, assisting a professor who is developing a new course or updating lectures for an existing course can be a good apprenticeship experience.
Teach a summer course
Graduate students are eligible to teach a summer course if they have passed qualifying exams, finished at least the third year of study, and have taught as a TF at least once. Courses in the summer session are typically introductory level although some advanced classes are offered. The application process goes through individual departments, and graduate students should find a faculty member to sponsor them both for the application process and in teaching.
http://www.yale.edu/summer/faculty/index.htm
Teaching a Yale seminar
The Yale residential college seminar program allows advanced graduate students to apply to lead a seminar. This program gives the graduate student the opportunity to conceptualize, plan, and lead a seminar with a small class size.
http://www.yale.edu/collegeseminar/teach.html
Adjunct Teaching Positions at Local Colleges and Universities
Many local institutions use adjunct faculty. These positions typically require or prefer a master’s degree and relevant experience and are thus accessible to appropriately qualified upper-level graduate students. Many adjunct opportunities are determined well before the beginning of the academic school year, so it’s best to look for opportunities early. It is also helpful to contact the secretary or registrar in the department where you would like to teach because courses sometimes need instructors at the last minute. Some possibilities include:
Central Connecticut State University (New Britain, CT)
http://www.ccsu.edu/jobs/
Eastern Connecticut State University (Willimantic, CT)
http://www.ecsu.ctstateu.edu/depts/personnel/parttime.html
Southern Connecticut State University (New Haven, CT)
http://www.southernct.edu/employment/Job_Openings/
Western Connecticut State University (Danbury, CT)
http://www.wcsu.edu/hr/employment/current.asp
University of New Haven
http://www.newhaven.edu/employment/
Albertus Magnus College (New Haven, CT)
http://www.albertus.edu/about/employment.shtml
Briarwood College (Southington, CT)
http://www.briarwood.edu/about_briarwood/employment.html
Wesleyan University (Middletown, CT)
http://www.wesleyan.edu/acaf/Faculty_Openings.html
Gateway Community College
http://www.gwctc.commnet.edu/contact.aspx?id=803
Other Connecticut community colleges can be found at
http://www.commnet.edu/
Teaching in community outreach programs
Also look for teaching opportunities in the New Haven public schools or in Yale outreach programs. There are numerous programs designed to reach New Haven students with the volunteer teaching and mentoring efforts of Yale students. For example, the Science Education Outreach Program sends graduate students into middle school classrooms to lead projects in genetics. That program has TF positions as well as opportunities for one-time volunteers. Look for programs that fit your subject area on Yale’s webpage for New Haven Youth Programs.
http://www.yale.edu/onhsa/youth_programs.htm
Mentor or tutor a student
There are a number of ways to gain teaching-related experience even when it is not possible to be working as a teaching fellow or leading a class. Ask your advisor for opportunities to mentor an undergraduate, summer student, or beginning graduate student. Such mentoring is hands-on teaching, and while there might not be a chalkboard involved, mentoring will help develop communication skills and your ability to explain complex information and will help you practice setting goals and expectations for students.
Work on your teaching through Graduate Teaching Center programs
The GTC offers mini courses for beginning teachers on the fundamentals of teaching that are designed specifically for a variety of different disciplines. Advanced workshops and seminar offerings vary by year and include such topics as preparing a lecture, working with student writing, and teaching to diverse learning styles. A group has also formed to practice lecture development and delivery skills; contact Jennifer.frederick@yale.edu for more information. Individual consultation services are also offered by GTC staff members, who work with TFs to identify goals, perform a classroom observation, and discuss ways to improve teaching effectiveness. Finally, consider working for the GTC as a way to surround yourself with others interested in teaching and actively improve your teaching.
http://www.yale.edu/graduateschool/teaching/
Leave a comment