Graduate Teaching Support

Micro-Credential in Teaching

The Center for Teaching Excellence provides an online Graduate Teaching Training course, the Micro-Credential in Teaching.

The goal of the program is to provide diverse advice and tools that will be useful for your role as an instructor. There are seven components required to complete the Micro-Credential:

Class Design: In this module, experienced professors offer advice in planning a class: how to write a syllabus; pros and cons of each teaching style; things to be considered when bringing your personal research into the classroom

Communication: This module focuses on the interaction between a teacher and students: how to effectively communicate with each other, and how to increase students’ engagement in class.

Self-management: Here we focus on instructors’ own issues. In teaching a class, graduate students usually confront common problems such as lack of time, mistakes, anxiety and so on. Experienced professors and our fellow students talk about how to deal with these inevitable issues.

Language Barriers: This module provides practical advice and tips that international GTAs use in their classroom to alleviate problems in communicating in their second language.

Diversity & Inclusion: In this module, we focus on the strategies to make all students feel supported intellectually and academically, and to create a sense of belonging in the classroom.

Teaching Philosophy Statement: Many academic and educational jobs require applicants to submit a statement of teaching philosophy. This module provides general guidelines and samples to write a proper statement that describes your beliefs about teaching and how you put those values and goals into practice.

D2L in Depth: As a teaching assistant and a teacher, it is crucial to understand the online learning management system. This module provides comprehensive training on the Brightspace Community.

You may register for the certificate at any time. If you are interested in registering, please send an email to Hyo-Jeong Lee at hyojeong.lee@siu.edu or teach@siu.edu

HELPFUL INFORMATION FOR GRADUATE STUDENT INSTRUCTORS in the micro-credential

This video of SIU Faculty, Dr. Ken Anderson, provides advice about how we bring our experiences as a student into the role of an instructor. Click Here to View Video

In this video, SIU Graduate student, Lauretta Sam, explains how she has dealt with multiple tasks of GTA in the discussion with Dr. Audrey Hickert. Click Here to View Video

This video of SIU Graduate student, Menglu Lu, talks about the ways in which she overcame language barriers to successfully present her lecture. Click Here to View Video

This online program provides a sample to help write a teaching philosophy statement. Click Here to View Statement

This video tutorial shows you an overview of the Grades Tool in D2L Brightspace Click Here to View Video

What is Graduate Teaching Support?

Does Graduate Teaching Support provide materials?

Graduate Teaching Support provides materials relevant to workshops and trainings. Materials for individual teaching assistants may be provided but are limited in scope. For example, we cannot print class handouts. We can help you find resources and print copies for you, the TA, from which you can print and provide your students as necessary. Look through the other tabs on the CTE website, there are many resources offered within the pages.

Are there any required trainings or workshops?

Where do I get a key for the podium in my classroom?

Where do I go for technical help in my classroom?

Technical help is provided by the Center for Teaching Excellence for general-use classrooms. If your equipment is maintained by your department, your department should be your primary point of contact. Refer to the Technology Enhanced Classrooms page to search open access classrooms and view the technology available in those rooms.

To contact us for technical help, or individual instruction on using your podium, please call 618-453-1032.

How do I get a projector?

If you need a projector, there are two options. If you will need one every class session, you may schedule one to be sent to your class by calling 618-453-1032, the equipment will be picked up and dropped off each class session.

If you only need one occasion, you may check one out from the Center for Teaching Excellence in Morris Library room 110. The equipment can only be checked out for 24 hours and the number of devices is limited. Be sure to assess what your specific needs will be before your class begins.

Where do I get help for MyCourses (D2L)?

What kinds of workshops does CTE offer?

Where can I find information about student insurance?

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