Can you remember the feeling of being an Associate Instructor (AI) for the first time at IUB? Most of us feel nervous before teaching a new class – stomach jitters, sweaty palms, trying to remind ourselves why we wanted to go to grad school. Being a bit nervous before teaching is normal and the Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning (CITL) works to prepare new AIs for this experience and others with our annual fall AI Orientation.
We’re looking for knowledgeable and thoughtful AIs to help facilitate our AI Orientation workshop during the week of August 17-21, 2020. As a facilitator, you will design and lead a workshop on a teaching-related topic. We think having current IUB students help plan and facilitate workshops is the best method, as we believe peer-to-peer learning is most helpful for our new AIs. As someone with experience teaching on the campus, you have the knowledge to answer questions for our new AIs. To help prepare you for leading the workshop, the CITL will provide ongoing mentoring and resources through a graduate student learning community (GSLC) that is focused on planning your workshops. All the facilitators will meet as a group a few times during the spring semester to plan for orientation. We meet together to build community, as well as gain stronger ideas from one another.
Need a refresher on what orientation is like? (We get you… our memories sometimes fade too and that first week on campus can be packed with activities!) The CITL’s AI Orientation is a one-day event that is filled with workshops on topics like teaching and learning theories, developing your teaching identity while setting healthy boundaries, how to plan a lesson and structure class time, and utilizing instructional technologies in a smart and helpful manner. These workshops usually last about 75 minutes and are broken up by a catered lunch and conversation among new colleagues.
Ready to give back to your teaching community? If you’re interested in being a facilitator, fill out a short application by January 20th, 9:00 a.m. Participants must be available during orientation week (August 17-21, 2020). Serving as an orientation facilitator benefits you as well! Successful completion of this program can count as achievement in the CITL’s Graduate Teaching Apprenticeship Program. Participants will make new interdisciplinary friendships and colleagues as we work together to plan workshops for AI Orientation.
Have someone you think would make a great orientation workshop facilitator? Send them this blog post and tell them why you think they should apply.
What’s been the most helpful tip you’ve received before or during your first time teaching? Let us know in the comments!
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