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.

 

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

There are no credits associated with completing this program.

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.