Led by: Rebecca Miller Brown, Assistant Director, Graduate Student Programming
In many disciplines, students are meant to learn from “doing the reading,” discussing it in class, and then writing a paper or doing a project about it. How can we make the discussion component of this process (which largely happens in section) effective and engaging, and how can we build these skills as teachers? In this session we will consider what makes for a productive discussion in your discipline, how students know what “counts” as contributing to a discussion, and how...
Led by: Anza Mitchell, Assistant Director, Science Pedagogy
Do you want to design problems that will help your students develop their critical thinking skills and understand your course content better? How do you help students learn how to do the problems in section without giving them the answers? In this session, we will explore principles of problem design and best practices for running problem-based sections. We will practice evaluating problem sets and different types of feedback. You will leave this session with strategies to design and teach...
Led by: Lee Cannon-Brown, Bok Pedagogy Fellow, and other experienced TFs
During the busy semester, it can be difficult to find the energy to stay motivated and to keep your students engaged too! Connecting with your peers and seeking out teaching mentors can be important both for your own development as a teacher and for keeping yourself and your students engaged throughout the term. In this interactive panel discussion, we will explore our approaches to 1) defining teaching goals and priorities, 2) aligning teacher and student expectations, 3) building...
Led by: Chloe Chapin, Assistant Director, Course Design
How do I plan a section? What’s a good in-class activity? How do I grade this assignment? How should I start planning a sample syllabus for the job market? As an instructor, your challenge is to create a learning environment where students have the tools, opportunity, and desire to learn. How do you create the conditions where this is possible? In this session, we will use backwards design to practice planning engaging and goal-oriented courses, assignments, lessons, and activities. Backwards course...
The emergence of generative A.I. has the potential to change how we learn, how we teach, and how we work. How can we design our courses to help students learn about and be prepared to engage with a future that includes A.I., without compromising our core mission of helping them to develop an independent mind and original voice, the ability to reason, and intellectual humility? In this session we’ll share information, examples, and best practices derived from our work with faculty who are at the forefront of...
Led by: Jonah Johnson, Assistant Director for Writing Pedagogy; Head Preceptor in the Writing Program
Is giving feedback on papers totally new to you? Or have you graded a thousand papers but have questions about keeping your feedback as accurate, consistent, and useful as possible for your students? Are you worried about how much time you spend on comments and grading? In this session we’ll discuss best practices for responding to student writing, which will help you give feedback and grade more efficiently and effectively. We’ll discuss general...
Led by: Anza Mitchell, Assistant Director, Science Pedagogy
Growth mindset—the belief that your skills and intelligence are malleable and can be improved with hard work and practice—has been shown to be a vital aspect of learning. In this session, we will focus on developing a growth mindset for ourselves and for our students, and why both are important. You will leave with concrete strategies for helping students focus on how to thrive—rather than just survive—in their college classes by considering themselves on a journey towards developing new skills...
Have lunch, learn more about our programming and resources, and explore ways to engage with us as a PhD student! We will share an overview of our programming for PhD students, including Bok Seminars and Teaching Certificates, the Professional Communication Program for International Teachers and Scholars, and our Fellows Programs. Learn more about our resources to support your teaching and communication goals, no matter your discipline or stage of your graduate career.
This workshop is being offered as part of Winter Teaching Week...
Led by: Pamela Pollock, Director of Professional Development
As scholars, we are always developing our research, but how do we think about learning and growing as a teacher? In this session, we will look at a variety of frameworks, sources, and strategies for gathering feedback and using it to improve our teaching and our students’ learning. We will explore four lenses through which we can consider our teaching - self, students, colleagues, and the literature - and discuss how to build our own toolkit for becoming more reflective and effective...
Repeats every week every Wednesday until Wed May 08 2024 .
11:00am to 12:00pm
Location:
Online, see the zoom link in the description
Drop in to have the Bok Center for Teaching and Learning and Academic Technology for FAS answer any of your questions about Canvas, Zoom, or technology in teaching.
The Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning welcomes individuals with disabilities to participate in our programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have questions about a program/event, please contact bokcenter@fas.harvard.edu or 617.495.4869 in advance of your participation or visit.
