GTA Teaching Preparation Certificate Program

The GTA Teaching Preparation Certificate program is designed to provide Graduate Teaching Assistants with a structured experience that prepares them for classroom and laboratory teaching.  The program allows you to develop and document your classroom teaching and teacher development activities and it provides you with several self-reflection and consultative feedback opportunities.  It also provides several documents that can be included in your professional and teaching portfolios.  The program is designed primarily for those who are new to teaching or for experienced treachers who would like consultation and feedback.

You should understand that there is a significant time commitment involved with attaining the GTA Teaching Preparation Certificate.  During the 10-week program (offered in fall, spring, and summer), candidates must complete all of the following criteria:

  • Participate in the initial program orientation meeting (tentatively scheduled for Friday, September 22nd at 3:00pm in the LT&ITC [LIB 348]).
  • Participate in at least four LT&ITC workshops (either live or archived) related to teaching and pedagogy.  The LT&ITC has an extensive video archive of past workshops that you may view in lieu of attending a live workshop.
  • Write 1- or 2-page reflection papers on each of the four workshops you select.  These papers should indicate what you learned from the workshop and how you envision utilizing some of those lessons learned into your own current or future teaching practice.
  • Participate in two microteaching activities (i.e., brief, 5-7-minute mini-lessons, based on utilizing a lesson plan, video-recorded and assuming you are teaching in front of a small audience).
  • Write a 1- to 2-page reflection paper describing your microTeaching experience that incorporates feedback received during your post-activity follow-ups.
  • Observe two different professors while they are teaching and write a 1- or 2-page reflection paper on what you have learned from those observations.  You have a couple of options here.  First, you may arrange a time to sit in an on-ground class to observe the professor as they teach the course.  Second, if you have access to an online course, you may “observe” the professor as they teach that course.  Third, there are many recorded lectures online from other institutions.  You may select 1-2 of these and use them for your observations.  If you go this route, please be sure that it is an actual class with actual students (i.e., not a TED talk or something similar).  Only one reflection paper is needed for this part, in which you compare and contrast the teaching styles and approaches of the two professors you observed.
  • Construct a Teaching Philosophy Statement and have it reviewed by an LT&ITC staff member.
  • Create a final Teaching ePortfolio that contains all the major artifacts from your program participation.  LT&ITC staff will review your final portfolio.

The application form for the program can be found on the LT&ITC’s website.  GTAs who are interested in applying for the Fall 2023 cohort should submit all requisite materials for consideration by 4:00pm on Wednesday, September 13th.

NOTE: Do not use any non-MTSU-issued email addresses (e.g., @gmail.com, @icloud.com) as a main point of contact when applying for the program. Using your @mtmail.mtsu.edu (or @mtsu.edu) email address will ensure that you receive any auto-generated application follow-up emails. Non-MTSU email addresses can be provided in the preferred email address section (if applicable).

 

You will be notified of your program admission status via email.  Students who complete all program requirements will receive a certificate of program completion from the LT&ITC as well as a stipend of $200, which is generously provided by the College of Graduate Studies and the University Provost’s Office.  GTAs may complete the Teaching Preparation Certificate Program only once.

NOTE: GAANN recipients and MTSU employees are ineligible to receive a stipend payment.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this Teaching Certificate Program a requirement for all GTAs?

No, it is not. It is an optional program for those graduate students who are interested in improving their teaching skills, will be responsible for labs or classes during their time as a GTA, and/or who intend to teach in a college or university setting.

Is the Teaching Certificate Program free?

Yes, there is no cost to the participants. It is a service provided by MTSU and the College of Graduate Studies.

Where will this Teaching Certificate be recognized?

There's no formal "recognition" associated with this program certificate. This means that it should be good for wherever you go or work. It is an MTSU program that has no formal connection with any other accrediting body. It is designed to be a certificate that GTAs can include in their teaching or professional portfolios.

Can I select what semester I participate in the Teaching Certificate program?

The College of Graduate Studies will issue an invitation to participate in the program during the fall, spring, and summer academic terms. GTAs who would like to participate should submit their application materials during the term in which they would like to complete the program.

Can I complete the workshop requirement online?

Yes, the LT&ITC has a large number of archived workshops on its website that are devoted to a variety of teaching topics. You may use these workshops to meet this requirement. Please pick the topics that best meet your individual interests and needs.

Can I select what semester I participate in the Teaching Certificate program?

The College of Graduate Studies will issue an invitation to participate in the program during the fall, spring, and summer academic terms. GTAs who would like to participate should submit their application materials during the term in which they would like to complete the program.

Can I complete the workshop requirement online?

Yes, the LT&ITC has a large number of archived workshops on its website that are devoted to a variety of teaching topics. You may use these workshops to meet this requirement. Please pick the topics that best meet your individual interests and needs.

Are there any program events set up for a particular date and time?

The only program components that is set for a specific date/time is the initial Orientation Meeting. The microTeaching sessions will also have specific dates and times, however, we typically offer 2 different days/times that participants can choose from to attend these sessions.

Are any credit hours associated with the Teaching Certificate program?

There are no credits associated with completing this program.

What if I already have a teaching or professional portfolio?

If you already have a portfolio, you can use that for this program and use your experiences in this program to supplement that portfolio. A major goal of the program is to help GTAs improve their overall portfolio.

Program Completers

Semester Student First Student Last
2023: Summer Kingsley Adamoah
2023: Summer Makayla Barrett
2023: Summer Savannah Black
2023: Summer Valeri Buck
2023: Summer Casey Fowler
2023: Summer John Hagan
2023: Summer Elise Iglinsky
2023: Summer James Pegler
2022: Fall Tosin Aletogbe
2022: Fall Ellen Butler
2022: Fall Md Nahid Hasan
2022: Fall Caleb Jordan
2022: Fall Christina Oats
2022: Fall JoShanda Odems
2022: Fall Sarah Queener
2022: Fall Dilafruz Shamsieva
2022: Fall Jared Stuart
2022: Summer Gbemisola Akinteye
2022: Summer Aniya Bryant
2022: Summer Jenna Leigh Campbell Field
2022: Summer Carolynn Hobbs
2022: Summer Elisha Lawrence
2022: Summer Cameron Oldham
2022: Summer Feyisayo Oyolola
2022: Summer Jessica Roseberry
2021: Fall Aubrey Keller
2021: Fall Adegboyega Olajide
2021: Summer Anna Arata
2021: Summer Laney Smith
2021: Spring Jayme Brunson
2021: Spring Thankful Davis
2021: Spring Danielle Lauber
2021: Spring Andre Madatian
2021: Spring Kelly Seel
2021: Spring John Thomas
2020: Fall Kaitlyn Berry
2020: Fall Derek Morris
2020: Summer Alexander Adams
2020: Summer Brianna Bauman
2020: Summer Brielle Campos
2020: Summer Aubrie Huddleston
2020: Summer Juvenal Kabura
2020: Summer Nawaraj Karki
2020: Summer Mekenzie Meadows
2020: Summer Parisa Nasrzadeh
2020: Summer Ifeanyi Nwobodo
2020: Summer Aujia Wood-Russell
2020: Spring Patricia Campbell
2020: Spring Rachael Everett
2020: Spring Atia Ferdousee
2020: Spring Juan Garcia Mendez
2020: Spring Lucas Hamilton
2020: Spring Brooke Haskins
2020: Spring Christian Lawrence
2020: Spring Deborah Nwadibie
2020: Spring Temitope Obisesan
2020: Spring Reed Priest
2020: Spring Dianna Prince
2020: Spring Meredith Russell
2019: Fall Justice Cundiff
2019: Fall Andrea Davis
2019: Fall Darren Grimes
2019: Fall Amanda Keating
2019: Fall Sherri Marquez
2019: Fall Barbara Naah
2019: Fall Zachariah Thomas
2019: Fall Chuanlong Zhang
2019: Spring Benjamin Burnley
2019: Spring Phattra Marbang
2019: Spring Valerie Michel
2018: Fall Huey Davis
2018: Fall Ashley Eggleston
2018: Fall Jennifer Harris
2018: Fall Revathi Kuruganti
2018: Fall Lizbeth Pagan Morales
2018: Fall Matthew Posey
2018: Fall Steve Reeves
2018: Fall Sara Salisbury
2018: Fall Jonathon Story
2018: Fall Stephen Tansie
2018: Fall Daniela Taylor
2018: Fall Cathy Jane Van Lit
2018: Summer Elizabeth Anderson
2018: Summer Elizabeth Carpenter
2018: Summer Ross Rice
2018: Summer Gehan Saleh
2018: Summer Joshua Smith
2018: Spring Bashayr AlQahtani
2018: Spring Christopher Bearden
2018: Spring Brandy Gagliano
2018: Spring Nirza Giraldo
2018: Spring Zachary Kelley
2018: Spring Heather Listhartke
2018: Spring Christopher Parham
2018: Spring Sydney Reichin
2018: Spring Zhigang Jia
2017: Fall Zachary Grimes
2017: Fall Chelsea Korpak
2017: Summer Saleh AlSaif
2017: Summer Susannah Barry
2017: Summer Corey Cummings
2017: Summer Jessica Steele
2017: Summer Hillary Yeager
2017: Spring Tasneem AlSalem
2017: Spring Leah Bailey
2017: Spring Bilkisu Dahiru
2017: Spring Ruben Gomez
2017: Spring Nikita Shepard
2016: Fall Michael Bleddynn
2016: Fall Tina Carter
2016: Fall Wei Cheng
2016: Fall Stephanie Croft
2016: Fall Donald Evans
2016: Fall Jonathan Honig
2016: Fall Nour Kattih
2016: Fall Wendy Pierce
2016: Fall Joshua Reid
2016: Fall Mohammed Saeed
2016: Summer Noraa Ataher
2016: Summer Patrick Atwater
2016: Summer Soochan Choi
2016: Summer Kimberli Conro
2016: Summer Fatemeh Dalilian
2016: Summer Megan Donelson
2016: Summer Joy Dugan
2016: Summer Dibyendu Dutta
2016: Summer Olga Garcia Alvarez
2016: Summer Menghan Lin
2016: Summer Fady Mansour
2016: Summer Christine Summers
2016: Spring Jingning Ao
2016: Spring Daniel Getu
2016: Spring Erynn Murray
2016: Spring Jasmine Nketiah
2016: Spring Amber Pogacsnik
2016: Spring Pramita Saha
2016: Spring Jie Wang
2016: Spring Muhammad Yadudu
2015: Fall Harish Bhatt
2015: Fall Vanessa Brown
2015: Fall Katherine Crawford-Lackey
2015: Fall Svetlana Gavrilova
2015: Fall Lesley Hanlin
2015: Fall Laura Hudgens
2015: Fall Tierra Huntt
2015: Fall Asli Kars
2015: Fall StarShield Lortie
2015: Fall John Mahlman
2015: Fall Protik Nandy
2015: Fall Benjamin Womer