WRITING A SUCCESSFUL TEACHING STATEMENT

October 18, 2012

Peter NewburyCenter for Teaching Developmentpnewbury@ucsd.edu

@polarisdotca

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Adapted from presi by Cynthia Lee (CSE, UCSD). Also, University of Michigan, Vanderbilt University, and others…

Overview

Purpose and structure of teaching statements Format and components Practical considerations

A few examplesSketch out your own teaching

statementsShare and peer critique

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End of grad school = stress3

defense

thesis

Research Statement

Teaching Statement

job search

funding/grants

CV

references

publish thesis in journal

moving

visa/immigration

Job announcements4

Most job announcements require applicants to submit a “Teaching Statement”

“Teaching what?”5

Teaching Portfolio

Teaching

Statement

Teaching Philosophy

• Teaching Statement• Statement of Teaching• Statement of Teaching

Philosophy• and more…

Collect in one place all your evidence of teaching teaching philosophy teaching statement evaluations (like CAPE) examples of your work: slide deck,

assignments, exams Feedback from students, colleagues,

bossesSTART ASAP

Purpose of a Teaching Portfolio

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Thesis statement for a broader teaching portfolio Helps tie together and synthesize evidences

Demonstrate that you are reflective about your teaching

Communicate your goals and actionsAs you revise, it may shape how you teachHelp you set goals for professional growth

Purpose of a Teaching Philosophy

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Purpose of a Teaching Statement

Be hired in your desired positionDemonstrate that you are reflective

about your teaching

Communicate your goals and actionsThesis statement for a broader

teaching portfolio, if one will be included in your application

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On your index card…9

The teaching I’ve experienced was like a ___________ because

On your index card…10

The teaching I’ve experienced was like a

_toaster_ because

fresh students went in and a little while later, (delicious) prepared students popped out.

On the other side…11

My teaching is / will be like a _________________because

A Teaching Statement gives…

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o Your conception of how learning occurso A description of how your teaching

facilitates student learningo A reflection of why you teach the way you

doo The goals you have for yourself and for your

studentso How your teaching enacts your beliefs and

goalso What, for you, constitutes evidence of

student learningo The ways in which you create an inclusive

learning environmento Your interests in new techniques, activities,

and types of learning

cft.vanderbilt.edu/teaching-guides/reflecting/teaching-statements/

Vanderbilt CfT Teaching Statement in wordle, with keywords only

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http://www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/5884593/Teacing_Statement_content_from_Vanderbilt_CfT_-_keywords_only

Vanderbilt CfT Teaching Statement in wordle, all words

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http://www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/5884639/Teaching_Statement_content_from_Vanderbilt_CfT_-_all_words

Example

I subscribe to the cognitive theory of constructivism. That is, I’ve found that students don’t understand things deeply until they have time for “reflective abstraction” - a period where students pause, think back on what they have been told, and build in their own minds a picture of the concept. I thus believe that a good question, one which forces students to reflect on what they’ve absorbed, is worth at least five or ten minutes of lecture, so I employ Socratic discourse to help students work through the material for themselves.

General Guidelines16

o Make your Teaching Statement brief and well written. While Teaching Statements are probably longer at the tenure level (i.e. 3-5 pages or more), for hiring purposes they are typically 1-2 pages in length.

o Use narrative, first-person approach. This allows the Teaching Statement to be both personal and reflective.

o Be sincere and unique. Avoid clichés, especially ones about how much passion you have for teaching.

cft.vanderbilt.edu/teaching-guides/reflecting/teaching-statements/

General Guidelines17

o Make it specific rather than abstract. Ground your ideas in 1-2 concrete examples, whether experienced or anticipated. This will help the reader to better visualize you in the classroom.

o Be discipline specific. Do not ignore your research. Explain how you advance your field through teaching.

o Avoid jargon and technical terms, as they can be off-putting to some readers.cft.vanderbilt.edu/teaching-guides/reflecting/teaching-

statements/

General Guidelines18

o Try not to simply repeat what is in your CV. Teaching Statements are not exhaustive documents and should be used to complement other materials for the hiring or tenure processes.

o Be humble. Mention students in an enthusiastic, not condescending way, and illustrate your willingness to learn from your students and colleagues.

o Revise. Teaching is an evolving, reflective process, and Teaching Statements can be adapted and changed as necessary.

cft.vanderbilt.edu/teaching-guides/reflecting/teaching-statements/

How do I get all this…into that?

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LEGO image: wrenfieldrambling.blogspot.com

Shuttle image: itsfullofstars.tumblr.com

Five major components (Chism, 1998)

1. Conceptualization of learningHow do people learn?

2. Conceptualization of teachingHow do I facilitate that learning?

3. Goals for studentsContent and skills

4. Implementation of philosophyWhat do I do in the classroom? Does it work?

5. Professional growth planHow have I grown, and how will I grow in the future?

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On your index card…21

Why do I teach?or

What do I believe or value about teaching and learning?

Rubric, revise, rubric, revise…

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Goals for student learning

Enactment of goals (teaching method)

Assessment of goals (measuring student learning)

Creating an inclusive learning environment

Structure, rhetoric and language

ExcellentNeedsWork Weak

www.crlt.umich.edu/tstrategies/tstpts

Resources23

Center for Research on Learning and Teaching, University of Michiganhttp://www.crlt.umich.edu/tstrategies/tstpts

Center for TeachingVanderbilt Universitycft.vanderbilt.edu/teaching-guides/reflecting/teaching-statements/

McGraw Center for Teaching and LearningPrinceton Universitywww.princeton.edu/mcgraw/library/for-grad-students/teaching-statement

Center for the Advancement of TeachingOhio State Universityucat.osu.edu/teaching_portfolio/philosophy/philosophy2.html

Center for Teaching DevelopmentUniversity of California, San Diegoctd.ucsd.edu/pfp