Mentored Teaching Experience

You will participate in a mentored teaching experience. For this two-credit-hour course, you will work with a university faculty member who serves as your mentor.

On average, you will work nine hours per week for this course. This work may occur in several different contexts, for example, in conjunction with an existing GTA assignment or through aiding your mentor in the teaching of one of their courses. This may not be a volunteer teaching assistantship; the expectation is that your mentor will provide guidance, supervision and instruction on your teaching.

Only a few departments have formal courses designated for the mentored teaching experiences. If your department does not have such a course, you will seek out a faculty mentor and develop your mentored teaching experience course in collaboration with the steering committee. It is recommended that a mentoring plan or contract be developed in advance to spell out the expectations of both parties, the minimum number and frequency of meetings, and a plan to document the work done during the mentoring experience.

Some possible elements of a mentored teaching experience include:

  • Observe and discuss the graduate student’s teaching, either by visiting one or more class meetings or watching a videotape of the student’s teaching.
  • Discuss teaching styles and techniques.
  • Discuss student assessment options and issues.
  • Help the graduate student develop or revise a syllabus.
  • Help the graduate student develop course materials and/or discuss enhancements to these based on teaching and learning theory.
  • Review and discuss the graduate student’s teaching evaluations.
  • Read, discuss, and offer feedback on the graduate student’s teaching statement or portfolio (and help add new items).
  • Help the graduate student resolve problems encountered in the classroom.

See sample syllabi for guidance on how to create this type of course.

To get an established course or an independent study approved for this certificate, submit a syllabus and Course Approval Form to Dr. Rachel Tuttle.