Postdoc Pathway Program
About the Program
The CIRTL Postdoc Pathway Program is a new CIRTL program that combines the benefits of the Associate and Practitioner levels into one combined Postdoctoral CIRTL Certificate that can be completed in one year. This fast-track certificate program combines training in theory and pedagogy of evidence-based teaching and an intensive, short-term co-teaching assignment (3-4 weeks) to practice these skills in a classroom setting and receive valuable feedback from a faculty mentor. All postdoctoral scholars at UArizona are eligible to apply.
In the first semester, CIRTL postdoc fellows will learn the basic theory and skills necessary to be an effective teacher by learning about teaching and working with our team to find a suitable teaching mentor and plan a successful partnership. The teaching mentor may, in some cases, be the postdoc's PI, but in many cases, it will be a professor on campus working in a similar or related area of expertise. In the second semester, fellows will participate in a short-term intensive teaching partnership (equivalent to one unit or module) with a faculty member and attend CIRTL check-in meetings with the other postdoc fellows. The expected time commitment for this program is 1-2 hours per week during the fall semester and 7-10 hours per week during the co-teaching portion (with some pre- and post- partnership planning/reflection).
Benefits to Postdocs:
- Learn and apply strategies in active learning and evidence-based teaching
- Develop practical skills in working with a syllabus, planning and delivering lessons, co-teaching with a faculty mentor, and interacting with students
- Receive a formal teaching observation letter to use in job materials
- Network with other postdocs on campus who are interested in teaching
- Improve your communication skills and professional job materials
Benefits to Faculty Teaching Mentors:
- Mentor a future faculty member and offer valuable insights in teaching
- Gain experience in co-teaching methods and collaborative teaching
- Receive a formal letter of appreciation from CIRTL for evidence of continued professional development and university service
- Have your course featured on our CIRTL website and in future CIRTL publications