Professional Development in Teaching Program
Professional Development Program for Ryerson Graduate Students with 3 certifications
This voluntary program is designed to
- Provide professional development in teaching for Ryerson Graduate Students and GAs
- Provide opportunities for Ryerson Graduate Students and GAs to become more effective in their work at Ryerson and to mentor others
- Provide a certificate in learning and teaching upon completion of each of three levels of this program
The program is comprised of three distinct, yet complementary levels.
Level 1
Level 1 is open to all Ryerson Graduate Students. It is comprised of two components.
The first component consists of either:
a) Eight hours of workshops which can be facilitated at the Departmental or Faculty level, or by the Learning and Teaching Office. The mandatory, paid TA/GA training offered by each Department may be included as part of this eight hours.
b) Eight hours of Faculty or peer mentorship.
The second component involves completion of an 18-hour learning and teaching theory seminar series. This seminar series is offered 2-3 times each year and is open to all registrants in the Professional Development Program. Read a detailed description of the seminar series [pdf].
The outcomes of Level 1 are:
- An exposure to teaching ideas
- Some application of these teaching ideas
- Peer mentorship of GA development
- Development of a Teaching Philosophy
- Level 1 Certificate of Completion
Level 2
Level 2 is open to Ryerson Graduate Students interested in a teaching career, who have completed Level 1. It is also comprised of two components.
The first component consists of either:
a) 15-24 hours of Course Instructor Apprenticeship where, under the supervision of a mentor, the participant gains practical experience in course instruction, exclusive of duties normally carried out by a GA. Participants cannot hold a GAship under their mentor. Read a detailed description of the Course Instructor Apprenticeship [pdf].
b) Completion of an Instruction Skills Workshop (ISW). The ISW is a 24-30 hour intensive, peer-based workshop that runs over three days. Participants in the Ryerson Graduate Student Professional Development in Teaching Program, who are working towards their Level 2 certificate of completion, are eligible to take part in a Graduate Student/Graduate Assistant-specific ISW free of charge.
The second component consists of completion of an 18-hour advanced learning and teaching theory seminar series. This seminar series is offered 2-3 times each year and is open to those who have completed Level 1 of the Professional Development Program. Read a detailed description of the advanced learning and teaching theory seminar series [pdf].
The outcomes of Level 2 are:
- Practical experience in teaching
- Peer mentorship of Level 1
- Development of a Teaching Dossier
- Level 2 Certificate of Completion
Level 3
Level 3 is open to Ryerson Graduate Students interested in a teaching career, who have completed Levels 1 and 2. It is built upon a peer mentorship model and comprises of a number of additional offerings including learning and teaching workshop design and delivery, assessment development, teaching methods and more.
Level 3 participants will be asked to design and facilitate two teaching and learning workshops tailored towards Level 1 participants. In addition, Level 3 participants will be asked to submit their completed Teaching Dossier.
The outcomes of Level 3 are:
- Peer mentorship of Levels 1 and 2
- Learning and teaching workshop design
- Completion of a Teaching Dossier
- Completion of the Ryerson Graduate Student Professional Development in Teaching Program
- Formal recognition of completion of the Ryerson Graduate Student Professional Development in Teaching Program
Interested Participants can register for this program.
Questions/Primary Contact
John Paul Foxe MSc PhD
Educational Developer
Learning and Teaching Office (LTO)
Kerr Hall West 373 (416) 979-5000 x. 6570
johnpaul.foxe@ryerson.ca