PREPARING A TEACHING DOSSIER HOW TO MARKET YOURSELF

PREPARING A TEACHING DOSSIER: HOW TO MARKET YOURSELF AS AN EFFECTIVE TEACHER Julia Morris, Ph. D Candidate, Munoz Lab Centre for Neuroscience Studies Queen’s University

OUTLINE • What is a teaching dossier? • How is it relevant? • What does a teaching dossier include? • Helpful Resources

WHAT IS A TEACHING DOSSIER? • A detailed document going through your teaching values, how you execute them in your classroom, and evidence of your teaching • “Window into your classroom” • 6 -12 pages in length + appendices

HOW IS THIS RELEVANT? • “I’m a Master’s/Ph. D student - is this relevant to me? ” • “This also sounds like a CV, resume, cover letter… Do I still need it? ” • “But what if I don’t have any teaching experience? “

WHEN AND WHERE DO YOU NEED A TEACHING DOSSIER • Applying for academic positions • Applying for promotion (tenure/permanency) • Applying for lecturing positions

WHAT DOES A TEACHING DOSSIER INCLUDE? • • • Table of Contents Brief biographical overview (teaching centered) – ½ page Teaching philosophy – 1 -2 pages Teaching Responsibilities/Activities - 3 -4 pages Evidence of Teaching – 1 - 2 pages (have more? Put it in the appendix!) • Professional Development – ¼ page • Teaching Scholarship - ¼ page • Appendix

BRIEF BIOGRAPHICAL OVERVIEW • Who you are, a brief history, and what you’re doing now • Do not make this researchfocused!

BIOGRAPHICAL OVERVIEW EXAMPLE

TEACHING PHILOSOPHY • Generally begins with a quote or a thesis statement • List three or four values that you think are necessary for teaching • Values that inform your teaching and how they manifest in your teaching • Perceptions of your own teaching strengths, limitations, plans for ongoing professional development • Frame limitations positively (future directions)

HOW TO CREATE TEACHING VALUES • “How do I know what my teaching values are? ” • Ask yourself: “What do I think works in my teaching? ” • How those values manifest in your teaching • Concrete examples of efficacy • “What if I don’t have teaching experience? ” • Think about what worked for you as a student

TEACHING VALUE EXAMPLES • “Great teachers help create great students. ” • “Provide students with critical thinking skills and confidence to challenge. ” • “Be accessible, approachable, and transparent. ” • “Cultivate collaboration between students. ”

Evidence of it’s importance (can also be TEACHING PHILOSOPHY EXAMPLE Teaching evidence of it Value working in your classroom) • Great teachers help create great students. In fact, research shows that an inspiring and informed teacher is the most important school-related factor influencing student achievement (Darling-Hammond, 2003; Rockoff, 2004; Gershenson, 2016). I am of the mindset that instructors need to keep learning the best methods for teaching students (pedagogical methods) and keep up to date in the advancements in their field. It would be my duty and responsibility to my students to keep my courses relevant and up-to-date. I believe that this creates a reinforcing feedback loop, that is not only beneficial to the students but to myself as well. This why I am enrolled in a “Teaching and Learning in Higher Education” course in Winter semester 2019 by the Centre for Teaching and Learning, a sector that is entirely dedicated to molding the best professors, lecturers, and teaching assistants Queen’s University has to offer. This course is intended for graduate students and post-doctoral fellows who want to develop as skilled, thoughtful, confident post-secondary instructors. The goal of this course is to challenge and broaden conceptions of learning and approaches to teaching. It is integral for instructors to remain Concrete flexible in their teaching philosophy, as it can and should be constantly updated. example of me doing this

TEACHING RESPONSIBILITIES/ACTIVITIES • Course Development/Teaching innovations • Guest Lectures • Teaching Assistantships • Graduate student supervision/mentorship • What your role was • Can be “Informal Mentorship Experience” • Administrative/Committee work (curriculum committees etc. ) This part is very much like a resume or CV

TEACHING RESPONSIBILITIES/ACTIVITIES EXAMPLE

EVIDENCE OF TEACHING EFFECTIVENESS • Products of teaching/evidence of student learning (papers, tests) • TA evaluation form • YOU CAN CREATE AND PASS THIS FORM OUT!!!) • Information/feedback from colleagues or students • Can include unsolicited feedback! • Information from other sources (alumni, parents, employers) • Comment on how your teaching has changed as the result of feedback you’ve gotten • Teaching Awards • Letters of support whether it be from students/faculty/people observing you teach (attached in the appendices)

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT • Teaching Development • Centre for Teaching & Learning Workshops, Teaching Development Day • List at least one learning/ skill development that resulted from the activity CHECK OUT YOUR UNIVERSITY’S WORKSHOPS AND

TEACHING SCHOLARSHIP • List any presentations, research, or publications on teaching within your discipline • For example: I can use this talk!

HELPFUL RESOURCES • Centre for Teaching and Learning • Most universities have departments similar to this • Blohm Lab Wiki • Uploaded selected examples and this presentation • Tons of examples online

Thank You!!! Questions?