We’ve all been there… That moment when graduate school is too much stress. I had been feeling this way on-and-off for a few semesters when I joined a learning community (LC) of graduate students. During this LC, we gathered to share our thoughts and advice on teaching. For example, sharing our teaching evaluations and telling stories about how the comments affect our confidence and sense of self. Through sharing and listening to stories, we formed a community in which it became easier to deal with grad school difficulties.
We can learn from the stories of others. To explore this concept, CITL designed the Storytelling Series for Graduate Students. Each month, people will express 5-10 minute stories or skills about different pedagogy-related topics. We hope participation in the series will create a place in which we can best prepare one another for pedagogical issues and form outlets for sharing the successes, anxieties, and emotions that are intertwined with teaching.
Any graduate student can participate. You can either come to watch the event or, if you’re feeling brave, you can share a story or skill. Whether you choose to tell a tale or prefer to listen, this series provides a space for the creation of community through storytelling.
Have an idea for a future event’s topic? Email citlgrad@indiana.edu to share what you’d be interested in discussing and/or learning about. Our first three events are Summer School: Connecting your Research and Teaching, MicroTeaching: An Event in Teaching Practice, and Mock-Interview: Earning a Teaching Position. Check our CITL Events page for other future happenings.
