Background:

The Center for Teaching grew out of a desire amongst faculty and administrators to provide support for teaching at the University of Massachusetts Amherst . Recognizing that Teaching Assistants play an important role at the University, we have developed a full complement of resources to serve their needs.

Programs:

TA Orientation

At the beginning of the school year, the CFT offers a day-long orientation for new and returning TA's from all departments. Participants may choose from a number of concurrent sessions, ranging from "Strategies for Effective Grading," "Responding to Writing," "Leading Laboratory Sections in the Sciences," to "Improving Lectures by Actively Involving Students."

Teaching Documentation Program

The Teaching Documentation Program (TDP) offers TA's a self-paced program to organize, reflect upon, and document their teaching development efforts. The TDP is structured around three key requirements: demonstration of a basic understanding of teaching theory, experience with at least one form of classroom-based teaching assessment (e.g., student feedback, peer visits), and the compilation of materials that reflect evidence of the development of discipline-related teaching strategies.

Consultations:

Teaching Portfolio Development

The CFT assists faculty and TA's with the development of teaching portfolios, which are often used as a resource to reflect on and improve one's teaching, or as an evaluative tool for hiring, promotion, and tenure. The CFT's staff provides individualized guidance on portfolio compilation, such as assisting with the development of a teaching philosophy statement. In addition, the CFT offers a popular step-by-step guide entitled, "Preparing a Teaching Portfolio."

Departmental Teaching Consultations

By invitation, the CFT works with UMass departments, schools, and colleges on projects tailored to their specific needs. Projects can address issues of classroom teaching, TA training, student diversity, and other topics related to teaching and learning.

Seminars and Courses:

Faculty Development Seminar for Graduate Students of Color

This is a semester- to year-long learning community offering mentoring and networking opportunities, career preparation, and teaching skills development to graduate students of color who expect to pursue careers in higher education. Objectives include bringing together graduate students of color from across disciplines, learning about general teaching strategies, and discussing strategies for addressing the concerns and challenges specific to faculty of color within the classroom, department, and university. Participants are introduced to senior faculty and campus administrators with a broad range of experiences as persons of color in academia.

Introduction to College Teaching

This is a variable (1-3) credit, graduate level course that provides an introduction to college teaching through an examination of current literature on teaching and learning in higher education and its application to instructional development and pedagogy. Students with any amount of teaching experience are welcome.

For more information, please visit:
www.umass.edu/cft