ORGANIZATION
The Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) at University of Virginia is dedicated to building a collegial community, enhancing teaching and learning, and fostering teaching innovation for instructors at all levels and in all academic disciplines. The CTE believes that striving for excellence in teaching is an iterative, dynamic, and scholarly process that spans an instructor’s entire academic career. We promote teaching that is evidence-based, learner-centered, and rooted in equitable and inclusive practices. The CTE serves all UVA instructors through intensive institutes, learning communities, workshops, and individual consultations.
MENTOR(s)
Adriana Streifer, PhD- Assistant Director & Assistant Professor, General Faculty
Lynn Mandeltort- Assistant Director of Engineering Education Initiatives & Assistant Professor, General Faculty
Dorothe Bach, PhD- Associate Director & Professor, General Faculty
CAREER DEVELOPMENT
This internship will prepare interns for careers in any of the following:
- Academic Research and Administration
- Faculty Careers
- Teaching (Non-Faculty)
SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
This internship will provide experiences to develop and polish the following skills:
- Communication (written and/or verbal)
- Teamwork and Collaboration
- Problem-solving and Analytical Thinking
- Project Management
- Self-and Career Management
- Teaching, Mentoring, and Training
MENTORING PLAN
The intern will receive ongoing mentorship and support from the CTE faculty member(s) who oversee the programs and projects to which the intern contributes. Interns will strengthen skills in teaching, peer mentoring, workshop development, public speaking, and communication, particularly as these relate to educational settings. Mentors will meet with interns on a regular basis to set goals, develop plans for their projects, and provide both written and verbal feedback on works in progress. The internship also affords the intern the opportunity to explore educational development as a potential career path, reflect on the array of non-traditional career paths available to them within the academy, and develop strength in collaboration skills. With the support of CTE faculty mentors, the intern will develop a deeper understanding of pedagogical practices in higher education. CTE faculty mentors can also connect the intern to a professional network of educational developers, and potentially provide opportunities to attend conferences and webinars in the discipline.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
The intern will contribute to the CTE’s mission of supporting excellence in teaching and learning at UVA. In particular, the intern will further the CTE’s goal of developing graduate students’ teaching skills, thereby empowering them to be more effective TAs and instructors and preparing them for successful faculty careers. By contributing to graduate-focused programs and research projects, the intern will be instrumental to the CTE’s approach to teaching as a scholarly, evidence-based, and learner-centered practice. The intern will gain content knowledge and develop skills in the following areas: evidence-based, inclusive, and equitable teaching practices the science of learning learner-centered course and workshop design approaches to peer coaching and consultation
RESPONSIBILITIES
The intern will help to design and implement programs that provide professional development opportunities to graduate students across UVA, such as Tomorrow’s Professors Today, and Teaching as a Graduate Student summer orientation (TAGS). Acting as a mentor or leader for these programs, the intern will develop and facilitate workshops, and produce online resources to support the development of their fellow graduate students as teachers. The intern will also have the opportunity to facilitate course design programming for other graduate students through the CTE's online course design program, c3Design. The intern may also fill the role of “training the trainer” – that is, overseeing the development and facilitation of other peer-led graduate student teaching workshops. Finally, the intern will attend weekly staff and faculty meetings in the CTE.
DESIRED QUALITIES
The CTE welcomes applicants from all academic backgrounds and disciplines. We seek mid or late-stage graduate students who have a record of good teaching and familiarity with course design (to be augmented with participation in the CTE’s Course Design Institute). Ideal applicants will not only be innovative and effective teachers, but they will also demonstrate a desire to support the pedagogical development of their peers. Applicants should possess strong interpersonal, communication, and public speaking skills. Prior experience with mentoring or otherwise supporting the development of graduate students’ teaching skills (formally or informally) is desired, but not required.
MODE OF INTERNSHIP
Hybrid (combination of in-person and virtual work)
DURATION
Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 Semesters
In addition to working during the 2023-2024academic year, the intern must also be available to attend the CTE's Course Design Institute (CDI)CDI is scheduled for May 22-22-26 and June 26-30. The selected intern will attend one of these sessions.