Teaching Institute: Theory, Practice & Navigating STEM Higher Ed

HMS/HSDM Office for Postdoctoral Fellows and The Center for Faculty Excellence at Simmons University are offering a 4-day intensive Teaching Institute for HMS postdoctoral fellows and junior faculty at Simmons University.

(Download Event Flyer)

When: Monday, Auguest 5 - Thursday, August 8 | 9:00am - 5:00pm Daily*
Where: Harvard Medical School, Countway Library, Minot Room, 5th Floor, 10 Shattuck Street, Boston, MA 02115 | MAP
*subject to final schedule

APPLY
Application will open on Monday, June 24, 2024  -  and will close on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, 12:00pm (EDT) Application may close when/if the number of qualified applicants is received.
Application Materials Include: Name, Email, Position, Department, as well as a brief statement of interest.
Statement of interest should not exceed 250 words.

Cost to attend: No fee. Please note: If you accept your spot in the course, but fail to attend or notify us in advance of your absence, we reserve the right to invoice you the $300 course fee.

Eligibility: This program will be limited to 20 HMS participants. Application may close when/if the number of qualified applicants is received.
You must be an HMS/HSDM affiliated postdoc, graduate student, or faculty to apply. Preference will be given to Quad-based postdocs, and to individuals who have previously applied to the Teaching Institute but were not accepted. Please contact the Postdoc Office if you are uncertain of your eligibility.

Women and minorities underrepresented in STEM professions are STRONGLY encouraged to apply.

Please note: Application completion does not guarantee your participation in the course. You will receive a notification email of your status by 12:00pm on Friday, July 19, 2024

Read below for a detailed overview of the Institute and what you can expect to learn:
Course Instructor: Sarah Cavanaugh, PhD, Senior Associate Director for Teaching and Learning, Simmons University Center for Faculty Excellence (Bio)
(Keynote speakers and facilitators to be added as they are confirmed)

Workshop Description: This four-day Institute on college teaching is designed to equip postdoctoral fellows in the STEM professions with the knowledge and skills needed to prepare them to teach and design undergraduate courses in a PUI or teaching-focused institution. The curriculum integrates a discussion of theory and current research related to teaching in higher education with actual practice. Participants will be actively engaged in designing and delivering multiple lessons using best pedagogical practices, including theory and application in their particular discipline. Participants will work collaboratively throughout the Institute to discuss readings, provide peer feedback, reflect on their experiences and course content, and build a teaching toolkit through hands-on experiences.
The participants will hear from leaders in the field and build a tool kit that will help trainees successfully navigate an academic appointment in STEM Higher Education. This institute will provide the knowledge and skill set needed to succeed and advance in a tenure-track position. Individual participants will gain confidence and leadership that will allow them to transform the culture as they advance through academia.
All course activities and materials are incorporated into a resource book that participants can use throughout their teaching careers.
A course completion certificate will be given to all who attend the course and complete the final day's group presentation.

Participant Learning Outcomes: After completing this course, participants will be able to:
- Analyze, share, and reflect on theories of student learning;
- Discuss and reflect on a variety of college teaching methodologies;
- Apply the backward course design model to lesson development;
- Apply a variety of teaching techniques to enhance student learning;
- Reflect and discuss the influence of the STEM professions on teaching theory and practice;
- Design and deliver a lesson in their discipline based on best pedagogical practices;
- Incorporate reflective practice into their work;
- Explain common challenges in navigating STEM academia;
- Develop peer and professional networks in STEM academia.

Additional Details: Reflective Practice Notebooks: Each participant will receive a Reflective Practice notebook once they have been accepted to the course and have submitted the required payment. This notebook will be used for pre-homework, reflections on assigned readings, documentation of in-class activities, and applications to individual disciplines. This is meant to be a resource book that participants can then use later in practice. The notebooks will also contain course readings, PowerPoint slides, and other handouts.
Pre-Homework: These include readings and tasks that are to be completed prior to each day. Specific readings and tasks are listed on the course syllabus, which will be included in your reflective proactive notebook. All readings are available in the Reflective Practice notebooks as well, and many of the resources are also available online.

Daily Learning Outcomes Summary
Day 1
- Welcome and Course Overview
- Orientation to Student Learning Theory
- Models Grounded in Cognitive Science and Neuroscience
- Models Grounded in Active Learning
- Models Grounded in Humanizing, Engaging, Democratizing, and Inclusive Teaching
- Teaching and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Justice

Day 2
- Teaching Techniques
- Teaching Demonstrations: Engaged and Learner-Centered Teaching
- Universal Design presentation
- Careers in Teaching Panel

Day 3
- Introduction to Backward Design
- Creating and Sharing Student Learning Objectives
- Classroom Assessment Techniques
- Rubric Design

Day 4
- Presentations
- Final highlights and reflections
- Formal evaluation

APPLY
Application will open on June 24, 2024 -  and will close on Wednesday, July 17, 12:00pm (EDT)
Application Materials Include: Name, Email, Position, Department, as well as a brief statement of interest.
Statement of interest should not exceed 250 words.