College, Continuing Studies to offer 'Art of Teaching'

"This program is designed to provide graduate students with practical experience that will help them become excellent teachers," President Sonnenschein said. "It will improve the professional skills of our graduate students while enhancing the quality of teaching in the College."

In September, 200 course assistants and graduate students with independent teaching responsibilities will begin the Orientation Training Program, a weeklong workshop for senior graduate students that constitutes the first phase of the apprenticeship. The program will offer plenary sessions, workshops and guest speakers to help students develop teaching skills, understand student psychology and learn course planning and logistics. Subsequent programming will include quarterly training sessions and specialized mentoring and review for participants.

"We've been trying to increase opportunities for graduate students to gain meaningful teaching experience in the College," said John Boyer, Dean of the College. "This initiative builds on the Chicago Teaching Program for graduate students and the Institutes on Teaching and Learning for faculty members that our Center for Continuing Studies has offered for more than 10 years. The apprenticeship program will coordinate, integrate and strengthen existing teaching opportunities here."

Boyer said the University hopes to expand the apprenticeship program in the future to include graduate students from all of the divisions.

Graduate students who are eligible for the apprenticeship program will be contacted by the Dean of the College. l