GTLP Level 2: Practicum
Level 2: Practicum is offered in fall, winter, and spring and is a free, pass-fail, non-credit course equivalent to 18 hours of classroom instruction.
Qualifying candidates (who have completed Level 1) will be invited by email to apply to Level 2 in mid-September (for fall sessions), mid-January (for winter sessions), and mid-April (for spring sessions). Typically, sessions run during the semesters' Reading Week (fall and winter) and early/mid-May for spring.
Course Description
Level 2: Practicum equips you with fundamental skills and competencies related to classroom instruction that are based in teaching scholarship. It builds upon Level 1: Foundations by translating the knowledge developed there into practical application. Framed by a process of intentional reflection, personal goal setting, and peer engagement, you will create a statement of teaching philosophy that serves as the basis for skill-building in lesson planning, development, and delivery. Using your statement of teaching philosophy as a functional document, you will also develop a preliminary teaching dossier for use in academic job applications.
Prerequisite: Level 1: Foundations
Time Commitment
Level 2: Practicum is offered in the Fall, Winter, and Spring. It is a free, pass-fail, non-credit, hybrid course equivalent to 18 hours of classroom instruction. The course is organized around six modules each of which requires approximately two hours outside of class to complete assessments.
Winter 2024 Level 2: Practicum
Dates: February 20-23 (Live Sessions, virtual through Zoom), Time: 1:00 - 4:00 pm (Tuesday-Friday)
- To account for the additional six (6) hours of instructional time, additional asynchronous lectures will be available on the eClass site. Their completion will be required in the two weeks following the course.
Spring 2024 Level 2: Practicum
Dates: April 29-May 3 (Live Sessions, in-person), 2024; Time: 1:00 - 4:00 pm (Monday-Friday)
- To account for the additional three (3) hours of instructional time, additional asynchronous lectures will be available on the eClass site. Their completion will be required in the two weeks following the course.
Level 2: Practicum is open to current graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. Participants who successfully complete Level 1: Foundations will be invited via email to register for Level 2 through campusBridge. Level 2 is offered in Fall, Winter, and Spring, and is limited to 45 participants each term. Qualifying participants will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Staff and alumni do not qualify for the course.
- Expand knowledge of teaching scholarship in higher education;
- Expand skills classroom management, leadership and student support and inclusion;
- Deepen workplace professionalism and ethical principles in university teaching in a peer-supported environment; and
- Gain practical experience in:
- Developing intended learning objectives and outcomes;
- Lesson planning and delivery;
- Writing a statement of teaching philosophy;
- Setting and evaluating teaching development goals; and
- Evaluating and providing feedback on teaching skills and competencies as a critical colleague.
By the end of this course, you should be able to:
- Apply self-reflection practices in instructional development and delivery;
- Set and monitor personal learning outcomes for Level 2: Practicum;
- Demonstrate interpersonal and communication strategies to offer and receive effective peer feedback and participate in classroom discussion;
- Write a statement of teaching philosophy and create a preliminary eDossier;
- Construct an effective lesson plan, including learning outcomes;
- Demonstrate knowledge acquisition and integration in two micro-teaching presentations; and
- Exhibit professional behaviours and ethical practices in teaching and professional conduct through personal behaviours and design of Level 2 learning artifacts.
Developed in the early and mid-1960s by Dwight Allen and his colleagues at the Stanford Teacher Education Program (Politzer, 1969), microteaching provides an opportunity for instructors (both developing and experienced) to improve their teaching practices through a "teach, critique, re-teach" model where the instructor teaches a short (micro) lesson, receives feedback, corrects and re-teaches the lesson.
Successful completion includes the development of a course portfolio including: (1) teaching development goal; (2) statement of teaching philosophy; (3) lesson plan and microteaching; (4) written peer feedback; (5) preliminary dossier; and (6) course completion survey. Attendance and peer engagement is mandatory and a significant component in the completion requirements.
Graduate students who complete Level 2 will receive the following notation on their transcripts: Graduate Teaching and Learning Program: Practicum. All participants will receive completion letters for their teaching dossiers.
This course may be counted towards the Professional Development Requirement. All professional development activities must be approved by your department.
Questions regarding the Graduate Teaching and Learning Program (GTLP), including the recent changes to the program can be directed to: gradpd@ualberta.ca