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Scientists Teaching Science Online Course

Course Director: Nik Barkauskas, PhD (Education Theory and Policy), LinkedIn bio
When: 2023 Summer Course opens unofficially Tuesday, June 9 | Course formally begins on June 20 | Classes run June 20 - August 29, 2023
Where: Online, asynchronous course | Course Director will email link upon enrollment
Course fee: $50 for HMS-Quad*, All others: $250 course fee. (Instructor will invoice postdocs directly.)

- REGISTER - Application is now closed.

      *If the fee is a barrier preventing you from taking this course, please contact our office to discuss. We do not want the fee to deter anyone from applying to the course.

Description: A career in science – whether as a faculty member, researcher, or medical professional - means that someday you’ll have to present complex information, data, or findings to someone who knows little or nothing about your field. 

Scientists Teaching Science (STS), a nine-week online short course on how to be a more effective teacher, helps prepare you for any presentation, training, mentoring, or classroom teaching activity – online or otherwise.  The course is specifically designed to assist those pursuing a career in teaching science subjects at the university level with first or second-year students.  However, the skills covered in this course apply to all career paths. STS blends asynchronous learning with opportunities for live lectures and discussions to help you learn new approaches to teaching and assessing learning for your future students.  

The STS course is also an opportunity to create and get personalized feedback on documents required for applying to university faculty positions.  Documents like a Teaching Philosophy Statement are necessary for any application packet, but students rarely get to practice writing one in medical or graduate school.  The instructor, Nik Barkauskas, PhD. (Education Theory and Policy), can provide targeted feedback based on his time as a university instructor and years of experience reviewing faculty application documents.
Whether you are curious about teaching, looking to hone your instructional skills, or simply know you’d like assistance with job application documents, consider registering for Scientists Teaching Science

Information on Scientists Teaching Science Class

This class is held online using the Canvas course management system. • We will not meet regularly at any specific time, but course instructor will offer a few OPTIONAL LIVE SESSIONS that will be designed to augment the asynchronous modules.  These sessions will take place at various times throughout the session.  Be on the lookout for a way to indicate your availability to find the best times to have these sessions
- You have one week to complete each lesson with an assignment due on Tuesday evenings at 11:59 PM Eastern time.
- The due dates are mainly to keep you on track to finishing this course in Nine Weeks.  I am happy to accept work past the due dates, but please recognize that this pushes your workload back a bit each time.
- The course website is available 24/7 on any device that connects to the Internet.
- The best browsers to use are Google Chrome or Firefox.  

The course will be taught using Canvas by Instructure (details will be shared by course instructor after acceptance)

Application is required. Please note that completed application does not guarantee admission to the course. 

- REGISTER - Application is now closed.

Certificate of Completion and Reference Letter Requirements:
Each Scientists Teaching Science assignment builds from the previous one, culminating in two documents you can use as templates for job applications and in teaching.
Participants must satisfactorily complete six written assignments and all the required elements of nine lessons in order to be eligible for a certificate of completion and a personalized letter of recommendation from the instructor.

COURSE EXPECTATIONS & AGENDA

Active Learning and Expert Learners: discussion of active learning and learning styles; assigned reading

  • This class is held completely online using the Canvas course management system.
  • It does not meet at any specific time; you have one week to complete each lesson with assignment due date on Tuesday evenings at 11:59 PM Eastern time.
  • The course website is available 24/7 on any device that connects to the Internet.
  • The best browsers to use are Google Chrome or Firefox.

Course Objectives: 

  1. Identify at least three active learning strategies.
  2. Know the four major learning styles and three types of learning environments.
  3. Evaluate personal biases and cultural differences and how these affect student outcomes.
  4. Interpret interpersonal relationships in light of cultural and gender differences.
  5. Compare inquiry-based activities to directed instructional activities.
  6. Create course objectives based on Bloom’s Taxonomy.
  7. Assess the level of Bloom’s Taxonomy of course objectives.
  8. Develop valid multiple choice and essay questions based on objectives.
  9. Recognize several steps in effective curriculum design.
  10. Compose a Teaching Philosophy Statement.
  11. Recommend one or more ways to notify potential students about consequences of cheating or plagiarism.
  12. Construct a detailed course syllabus.
  13. Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of teaching and learning in an online environment.
  14. Improve your communication skills.

Course Calendar: 

Course opens unofficially 9 June 2023 - You should receive an email from CANVAS by JUNE 9, 2023, if not please check SPAM/Junk folders, then contact course instructor.

Class One:

  • Teaching and Active Learning: Teaching and Active Learning: discussion of teaching & learning myths; assigned readings on current research findings about teaching and learning. Discussion: Using Active Learning in STEM Courses
    Assignment, Essay: Why I Want  to Learn More About  Teaching; Due date: June 28

*** HOLIDAY BREAK JUNE 27 - JULY 5 ***     

Class Two:

  • Holistic Education and Student-Centered Teaching:  discussion on rigor and improving academic outcomes in higher education; assigned readings on improving student outcomes.
    Assignment: First draft of teaching philosophy statement; Due date: July 11

Class Three:

  • Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility: the importance of actively developing inclusive practices in STEM.
    Assignment: Answer Blue Questions OR Draft a Diversity Statement; Due date: July 18

Class Four:

  • Using Data to Drive Instruction: how to create cycles of formative data review that informs instructors of their practice AND how students are doing.
    Assignment: None; Due date: None

Class Five:

  • Teaching Online: teaching and learning  online; challenges and advantages; engaging students; resources and examples.
    Assignment: Create an assignment or activity for an online class; Due date: August 1

    Class Six:
     
  • Writing Course Objectives: Bloom’s  Taxonomy and student learning objectives;  assigned readings about writing learning objectives.
    Assignment: 10 unique learning objectives; Due date: August 8

Class Seven:

  • Creating Valid Assessments & Alternative  Assessments: using rubrics and test blueprints; practical multiple choice and essay questions; designing and evaluating students without using tests for small and large classes; assigned readings on how to write aligned assessment items.
    Assignment: 5 test questions based on previously submitted learning objectives; Due date: August 15

Class Eight:

  • Designing Your Courses: instruction on the steps involved in designing an entire course, a training session, or a single lesson.
    Assignment: Final copy of Teaching Philosophy Statement to include educational theories/strategies from the course; Due date: August 22

Class Nine:

  • Writing a Syllabus & Reflections on Teaching: the purpose of a syllabus; legal requirements of teaching; student/academic honor codes; student study habits; assigned reading on plagiarism and the definition of a  syllabus.
    Assignment: Syllabus based on topics in the lecture; Due date: August 29

Instructor: Nik Barkauskas, PhD (Education Theory and Policy)

      *If the fee is a barrier preventing you from taking this course, please contact our office to discuss. We do not want the fee to deter anyone from applying to the course.