When you think about teaching, what is it about teaching that you find so attractive? Is it the immersion in topics you love and the ability to share that love with your students? Might it be the knowledge that you are training the next generation of scholars to work in your field? Is it the look on a student’s face when they “get it?”

Teachers teach for many reasons. Here at UCR, graduate students do a lot of teaching. Some of us entered into a graduate program with the intention of eventually getting a teaching post at a university or community college right from the start, while others fell in love with the idea of teaching along the way.

 

[Image Description: John Keating, from Dead Poets Society, stands at the front of a full classroom as he says, “No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world.”]

Pictured: You, inspiring your class 

 

No matter what brought you to the teaching profession, the University Teaching Certificate (UTC) Program is here to harness that commitment to teaching excellence and take it to the next level. This competitive, for-credit program is designed for folks who are interested in teaching careers. The program will hone teaching skills, as well as help to develop best-practices in curriculum and assessment design, classroom management, diversity and rapport, learning technologies, and much more. The next UTC cohort starts in Winter 2020, and the online application deadline is Tuesday, November 12th at 9:00 am.

What is it like to be in the UTC program, you ask? Well, the program takes place over two quarters. The first quarter of the program is shaped as a graduate-style seminar on advanced pedagogy. Weekly readings allow participants to become familiar with the literature on university-level teaching. The second quarter is devoted to creating a teaching portfolio consisting of a polished statement of teaching philosophy, course syllabus, reflection of teaching strengths and weaknesses, and one of the following: a presentation at the annual Teaching Development Day in the Spring quarter, a sample Student Engagement Technique of your choice, or a blog post on teaching for the GradSuccess website (much like this one).

 

[Image Description: Lizzie Bennet, from The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, frantically shakes a stack of research papers, complete with charts as she says passionately, “I have done the research!”]

Pictured: You, explaining your pedagogical approach to teaching during your Teaching Development Day presentation

 

When all is said and down, successful UTC students will get a signed certificate of completion from the Dean of Graduate Division (which will look good on any wall or in any filing cabinet). Oh, and did I mention that you can also get a personalized and detailed letter of recommendation on your teaching from the Director of GradSuccess, Dr. Hillary Jenks? That alone should entice you to apply. This letter will be essential for any job application for a teaching post.

One previous participant has testified that “the program helped me identify my current teaching strengths, and clarified ways in which I can grow as an instructor. It touches on all aspects of good teaching, and is an excellent opportunity for professional development.” The UTC program strives to create an inclusive group of like-minded individuals driven to excellence in teaching. If you have ever found yourself looking around for other pedagogy-nerds, look no further [than UTC]."

 

 

[Image Description: Troy and Annie, from Community, excitedly high-fiving each other in a compilation if different moments from the show.]

Pictured: How you feel when you find your pedagogy-nerd peers

 

Even if you don’t end up in a classroom career, the skills you learn in the UTC program will be valuable for employers in industry, government, or non-profits. At the end of the day, teaching is about making information accessible to an audience of interested (and, sometimes, uninterested) people. Being able to convey ideas and concepts to advanced or novice folks is ubiquitous in the professional world. And for the love of all that is good, it is never a bad idea to make presentations more interesting and learner-focused. UTC can help you strengthen these communication skills.

 

[Image Description: An enthusiastic teacher stands in front of a chalkboard trying to excite her unresponsive class as she says, “How exciting is that?!”]

Pictured: You, excited about applying to UTC no matter what

 

Apply for the next UTC program at our website (https://tadp.ucr.edu/utc-application) by 9am on Tuesday, November 12th.