TEP’s Graduate Teaching Initiative (GTI) offers UO graduate students structured and rigorous, yet flexible, pathways to develop as college teachers. Those who complete a series of core requirements earn an (untranscripted) certificate of completion: GTI students participate in individual- and small-group teaching consultations, draft a teaching portfolio, observe classes taught by faculty and peers, and attend various workshops and conversations on teaching. In addition, students who develop a special project that makes a substantive, original contribution to the UO’s community of teaching and learning can earn an (untranscripted) advanced certificate of completion.
The program offers teaching development activities aligned with UO's standards of quality teaching: teaching that is professional, inclusive, engaged, and research-informed. Participating in the initiative is the choice of individual GEs; this programming is not a substitute for departmentally based teacher training.
What are the benefits of participate in the Graduate Teaching Initiative?
The GTI helps give you a structured but flexible means of developing and enhancing your teaching. The initiative challenges you to:
- Learn and practice research-driven best practices for engaging and inspiring students.
- Increase your marketability when you apply for faculty or administrative positions.
- Develop and articulate a professional identity as a teacher-scholar.
- Connect to and help shape the teaching community at the UO.
What does it take to earn a certificate of completion?
Below are the requirements for both the "Core Certificate" and for the "Advanced Certificate," but deciding which you'd like to earn is not required before beginning.
Each level of the initiative incorporates various opportunities for growth and reflection as a teacher. Participants can complete and document the required components in whatever order and in whatever timeframe they choose, so long as all the components are completed by the end of the degree program. The advanced certificate builds additional components onto the core program. In other words, someone who has completed the initiative’s core components will have made progress towards obtaining an advanced certificate of completion.
- Core Certificate of Completion Requirements
Basic Teaching Skills Training
Attend a TEP Basic Teaching Skills: Leading Labs or Leading Discussion Sections training session. TEP offers several Basic Skills sessions before the start of each academic year, and typically offers additional sessions later in the year. Basic Teaching Skills helps new teachers get started on the right path by providing them with a framework for teaching at the University of Oregon.
If you've taught as a GTF at UO for two or more terms prior to September 2015, you are not required to complete the “Basic Skills” requirement of the Graduate Teaching Initiative. If you still wish to attend a Basic Skills training session you may count the hours towards the Workshops requirement of the GTI program.
Workshops
Participate in at least three different TEP workshops, and five additional hours on topics related to teaching and learning hosted by TEP or other UO departments and programs, such as CoDaC and the Science Literacy Program. Up to three hours of workshops taken outside the UO can count towards the workshop requirement.
("Basic Skills" sessions do not count towards the workshop requirement, as attending "Basic Skills" is its own GTI requirement.)
Teaching Experience
Students must work at least one term as a GE with teaching responsibilities. These typically include leading a section or lab or teaching a course as a sole instructor.
Class Observations
Participate in a class observation exchange with another GTI program participant. Also, observe a second class. At least one observation should be of a course in your field of study. Complete a TEP Class Observation Reflection Form for each session. (TEP's staff is also available to observe classes in place of an exchange.)
Mentorship Experience
Reflect on the mentorship you have received from faculty through your work with them as a GE, or discussions about teaching you’ve sought out with faculty over the course of one term.
Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
Read one research-based article discussing scholarly inquiry into how students learn or about the efficacy of one's own teaching practices.
Teaching Portfolio
Draft and curate a brief, selective teaching portfolio you can use and take with you after graduating from UO. The teaching portfolio will include a statement of teaching philosophy linked to sample lesson and assignment materials, course syllabuses, and other items.
- Advanced Certificate of Completion Requirements
Basic Teaching Skills Training
Attend a TEP Basic Teaching Skills: Leading Labs or Leading Discussion Sections training session. TEP offers several Basic Skills sessions before the start of each academic year, and typically offers additional sessions later in the year. Basic Teaching Skills helps new teachers get started on the right path by providing them with a framework for teaching at the University of Oregon.
If you've taught as a GTF at UO for two or more terms prior to September 2015, you are not required to complete the “Basic Skills” requirement of the Graduate Teaching Initiative. If you still wish to attend a Basic Skills training session you may count the hours towards the Workshops requirement of the GTI program
Workshops
Participate in at least five different TEP workshops, and eight additional hours on topics related to teaching and learning hosted by TEP or other UO departments and programs, such as CoDaC and the Science Literacy Program. Up to three hours of workshops taken outside the UO can count towards the workshop requirement.
("Basic Skills" sessions do not count towards the workshop requirement, as attending "Basic Skills" is its own GTI requirement.)
Teaching Experience
Students must work at least four terms as a GE with significant teaching responsibilities.
Class Observations
Participate in a class observation exchange with another GTI program participant. Also, observe a second class. At least one observation should be of a course in your field of study. Complete a TEP Class Observation Reflection Form for each session. (TEP's staff is also available to observe classes in place of an exchange.)
Mentorship Experience
Reflect on the mentorship you have received from faculty through your work with them as a GE, or discussions about teaching you’ve sought out with faculty over the course of one term.
Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
Read one research-based article discussing scholarly inquiry into how students learn or about the efficacy of one's own teaching practices.
Teaching Portfolio
Draft and curate a brief, selective teaching portfolio you can use and take with you after graduating from UO. The teaching portfolio will include a statement of teaching philosophy linked to sample lesson and assignment materials, course syllabuses, and other items.
Teaching and Learning Project
The capstone achievement of the Advanced Certificate, the Teaching and Learning Project is an opportunity to undertake substantive, original contributions to the UO’s community of teaching and learning through one’s scholarship, teaching, or service. There is no set format for the project, and TEP staff are available to help consult with students about their ideas and implementation of the project. Examples of the kinds of projects graduate students at the UO already pursue include publishing peer-reviewed original scholarship on teaching and learning, designing and teaching experimental courses, implementing new service-learning projects, and many other exciting endeavors.
What is the format of the GTI, and can I begin anytime?
The Graduate Teaching Initiative has a Canvas course that offers all guidance around requirements, how to complete them, and where to indicate completion.
GEs are welcome to begin working towards a certificate any time--"admission" is open and is rolling! GEs who join later in their teaching career at UO usually find that they've completed a number of the requirements already, so if you are close to graduation but still interested in learning more, we encourage you to contact us so we can talk through the particulars of your situation.
How do I enroll (or talk with someone to decide if I want to enroll)?
Send us an email at tep@uoregon.edu! We will gladly add you to the Canvas course, and if you'd like to meet to discuss the GTI, we can schedule a time to connect.