Supervised Experience in College Teaching
A teaching and communication professional development course for graduate students, researchers, postdocs, and faculty.
From the syllabus:
Course Description
ASTRO 602 aims to provide graduate students and other early-career or otherwise open-minded teachers (or those thinking about teaching) with the background knowledge, skills, and resources to be an effective teacher. This course is distinct from — but complementary to — the weekly TA meeting for all TAs (including returning TAs), which provides you with guidance and support to be a TA, and includes practical preparation for each upcoming week’s teaching duties. The 602 class will focus instead on discussion of general teaching principles, tools, and strategies. Astro 602 is also more broadly applicable to giving presentations to a variety of audiences, including research and outreach talks.
Course Objectives
To provide graduate students with the necessary preparation, tools, guidance, and support to successfully complete their teaching duties in the PSU Astronomy Department.
To pass on some pedagogical, as well as practical, wisdom regarding teaching — in particular teaching astronomy, and especially to an audience of non-scientists.
To allow participants to reflect on their own past and current experiences and beliefs about teaching and learning.
To all share and discuss ideas and strategies for successful teaching.
To provide a broad survey of principles of good teaching, course design, planning, assessment, and tools for improvement.
To provide direction for TAs who may wish to pursue teaching more in their future careers.
Sample past syllabus: Syllabus Astro602 Fall2017