Workshops and Certificate Program
Overview
Looking to boost your knowledge and improve your teaching skills? Each semester, TIIP offers workshops covering a wide range of topics to support the teaching of Rutgers-New Brunswick instructors of all levels. TIIP’s Graduate Student Coordinator team offers a series of free, interactive sessions specifically designed to assist both graduate TAs and postdocs with their continued teaching development.
When you attend multiple workshops, you will be on the path to earning a series of teaching-focused certificates which you can include in your CV or resume.
The Improving Your Teaching Skills certificate program is designed with a framework that integrates evidence-based pedagogy with intentional, reflective practice. Participants will learn about the foundational knowledge and skills in course design, practical tips and strategies for navigating the college classroom, and purposeful decision-making about instructional technologies.
See TIIP’s events calendar for upcoming workshops and register. Workshops that fulfill the certificate requirements will have “[Grad/Postdoc Workshop]” noted at the end of the title. Other eligible workshops will also have descriptions with a note that they satisfy the requirements for the “Improving Your Teaching Skills” certificate program. Topics vary each semester.
The certificate program consists of 3 levels. With the completion of each level, you will earn a certificate of completion. To access detailed information about the certificate requirements, learning objectives, and completion instructions, enroll in the Canvas site below.
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Level 1: Emerging Educator Objectives - Engage in professional development on the essentials of evidence-based teaching practices.
Requirements - Attend 4 workshops offered by TIIP and other partner offices. At least 2 of 4 workshops must be facilitated by TIIP. See TIIP’s events calendar for upcoming workshops and register. Workshops that fulfill the certificate requirements will have “[Grad/Postdoc Workshop]” noted at the end of the workshop title.
- Complete feedback and attendance forms after each workshop.
Deliverables - Feedback and attendance forms for 4 workshops
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Level 2: Practitioner Objectives - Connect knowledge to practice.
- Reflect on teaching practices.
Prerequisite Completion of Level 1 Requirements - Attend TIIP’s teaching philosophy statement workshop (If already attended for Level 1, attend a different workshop facilitated by TIIP). Complete feedback and attendance forms after the workshop.
- Write your own teaching philosophy statement after attending TIIP’s teaching statement workshop.
- Complete one of the following:
- Observe an experienced instructor’s teaching, debrief with the instructor, and write a reflection.
- Be observed by TIIP in your own teaching and write a reflection.
- Develop/design an assignment or activity that can be used in your future teaching, using the knowledge and content learned from the workshop you attended.
Deliverables - Feedback and attendance forms for the teaching statement workshop or another workshop
- Teaching philosophy statement
- Written reflection on observation OR sample assignment/activity
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Level 3: Scholar Objectives - Engage in scholarly conversations on teaching
Prerequisite Completion of Levels 1 and 2 Requirements - Participate in the Teaching & Learning Community for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars for at least 4 monthly gatherings. You can attend in subsequent semesters if you are not able to attend all 4 in one semester. Please see this information page for more details and register for the community.
- Complete one of the following:
- Lead or co-lead a discussion at one of the monthly gatherings. Connect with TIIP’s Assistant Director of Teaching Development to get support in your planning process.
- Serve as a steering committee member of the community for one academic year.
Deliverables - Attendance of at least 4 monthly gatherings
- Leading 1 discussion at a monthly gathering OR serving as a steering committee member
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What if I started working toward the previous version of the certificate program?
If you attended workshops as part of the previous certificate program (e.g., Improving Your Classroom Skills or Teaching with Technology), those workshops will still count toward the newly revised certificate program. For example, if you attended 3 workshops under Improving Your Classroom Skills and 2 workshops under Teaching with Technology, totaling 5 workshops, any 4 of those 5 workshops can count toward Level 1: Emerging Educator certificate, while the remaining 1 workshop can count toward Level 2: Practitioner.
In general, workshops you have already completed under the previous certificate program will be carried over and applied to the new certificate levels based on the revised program requirements.
2. In the newly revised “Improving Your Teaching Skills” certificate program, do I need to complete the certificate levels in order, starting with Level 1?
Yes. The certificate program is designed as a sequential professional development pathway. All participants begin with Level 1 (Emerging Educator), followed by Level 2 (Practitioner), and then Level 3 (Scholar). Each level builds on the knowledge and skills developed in the previous level.
3. Within a level, do I need to complete the deliverables in the order they are listed?
No. While the certificate program itself must be completed sequentially from Level 1 to Level 3, you may complete the individual deliverables within each level in any order.
For example, in Level 2: Practitioner, you may submit your written observation reflection before submitting your teaching philosophy statement, or vice versa. As long as you complete all required deliverables for that level, the order in which you complete them is entirely up to you.
4. Is there a deadline for completing a certificate level?
There is no fixed deadline for completing the requirements for a certificate level. You may complete the required deliverables within a single semester or across multiple semesters, whichever best fits your schedule. However, to earn a certificate for each level, all requirements must be completed before you graduate.
*If you have additional questions that are not addressed here, please contact us at GradTeaching@rutgers.edu.