Graduate Professional Development Program (GTDP) - Level 2
Advanced Teaching Practice in Higher Education
Level 2 of the Graduate Teaching Development Program (GTDP) is open to Toronto Metropolitan Graduate Students who are interested in a teaching career and have fully completed Level 1.
Upon completion of Level 2, participants will be able to:
- Design and develop a unique course outline based on stated learning outcomes
- Develop assessments that are aligned with course learning outcomes
- Design and deliver effective and engaging lessons that are informed by SoTL
- Identify and apply blended and flexible learning strategies
- Engage in a learning community made up of peers from across the university
Participants will earn:
A certificate of completion from the Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching
A digital badge from CanCred Factory (external link) that can be posted on social media
A pass/fail credit on your transcript for the completion of the CILT 105 course
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Required Components
| Level 2 Components: | Description |
| CILT 105: Learning and Teaching in Higher Education II | A 6-week (18-hour) course offered to active Toronto Metropolitan graduate students through the Chang School of Continuing Education at no cost. |
| Peer Observation of Teaching Workshop, Instructional Skills Workshop, or a Course Instructor Apprenticeship, (Only one is needed to complete Level 2) | CILT 105 must be completed before selecting one of the following:
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This short course is specifically designed for advanced graduate students who would like to develop practical teaching skills for current and future teaching roles. This program touches on a number of topics including designing course syllabi, authentically assessing student learning, incorporating learning activities that support student success, technology-enhanced and blended learning strategies, inclusivity in the classroom, and developing a teaching dossier.
As part of this course, you will develop a Course Outline that can be incorporated into a Teaching Dossier. This course fulfills one of the Level 2 GTDP requirements.
Participants must complete Level 1 of the Graduate Teaching Development Program (GTDP) before enrolling in this seminar series.
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Design and develop a university course based on stated learning outcomes that align well with planned assessments and in-class activities.
- Integrate technology-enhanced and/or blended learning strategies into your teaching practice.
- Analyze and engage in discussions about key pedagogical issues in higher education.
- Document and reflect on your own teaching practice and begin building a teaching dossier.
Typically, this course is run as a three hour face-to-face course.
In order to earn a PASS in CILT 105 you must achieve a passing grade on both assessments in this course (i.e., participation and course outline). Note that the official record of success in the class is PASS/FAIL. The grade weighting below is used internally to help you and the instructors track your progress.
Similar to Level 1, registration for Level 2 is done through the GTDP Portal.
If the course is closed when the student begins Level 2, they will see the message “This course is currently not open for registration".
When the course opens for registration, students who currently have not applied will receive a notification email.
Students may register by selecting the “Register Now” button.
Registering will require that the student select a section and agree to the terms and conditions.
Once the registration is submitted, an administrator will review the application and either reject or accept the student for enrollment.
Should the student be rejected, there will be feedback provided and the student may re-register at will.
Should the students be accepted but no space is available, they will be waitlisted for the course until either a spot opens up in the current semester or in the next semester.
Once the student has been moved from the waitlist into the enrollment queue, they will be required to re-confirm their registration form (in the event that the available sections have changed in the interim). Their status will be set to “Pending Registration” and their information will be sent to the Service Hub for enrollment.
Once enrolled, the student should receive an email from the Service Hub and the administrator will mark their CILT 105 status as “In Progress”.
When the student completes CILT 105, they must alert the administrator by selecting the “Request Status Confirmation” button - this will send an email notifying the administrator that their CILT 105 module can now be marked as complete.
The administrator will review the student's status through MyServiceHub and if eligible, will mark their module as completed.
Once CILT105 has been completed, the Workplace Experience Option module will unlock in the GTDP Portal. The student may select one of three options to complete:
- Peer Observation of Teaching Workshop
- Course Instructor Apprenticeship
- Instructional Skills Workshop
Registration
Peer Observation of Teaching Workshop and Instructional Skills Workshop require the student to select a time slot to register.
Course Instructor Apprenticeship requires the student to fill out a registration form.
Once registration has been submitted, the administrator will review the application and either Accept or Reject the application with feedback.
Upon rejection, the student may update the registration and re-submit for approval.
If the student has selected Instruction Skills Workshop and no space is available, they will be waitlisted until a spot opens.
Students may petition to switch their options at any point.
Final Submission
Files can be re-uploaded at will until they are submitted for approval. Once submitted, the administrator will review the files and either Approve or Reject. If the files are rejected, the student may re-upload the files and re-submit for approval. Once approved, the Workplace Experience Module will be marked as completed.
The Peer Observation of Teaching (POT) workshop is an opportunity for graduate students who have completed Level 1 of the Graduate Teaching Development Program (GTDP) to improve their teaching skills. In this workshop, students will observe and conduct teaching sessions under the guidance of experienced educators. Ultimately, students will hone their teaching skills and receive peer feedback to demonstrate commitment to teaching and student learning for their teaching dossier. This workshop requires a commitment of 10-15 hours, including a kick-off meeting, teaching observations, and a feedback round. Upon successful completion, participants will receive credit towards GTDP Level 2.
Program Expectations
In this workshop, you'll work in small groups to observe and conduct mock teaching sessions, gaining hands-on teaching experience. A facilitator from the Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching will be present at each meeting to support your growth. The primary objective is to foster teaching excellence and develop a teaching dossier by compiling peer feedback.
Eligibility
To be eligible for this workshop, you must have successfully completed Level 1 of the GTDP. While completing CILT105 is preferred, some students who have not completed CILT105 may be considered on a case-by-case basis. The workshop is designed for graduate students from any disciplinary background and provides an exceptional opportunity to teach essential concepts to an interdisciplinary audience.
Program Structure
- Program Overview:
- Opening Meeting: Online session introducing the program and lesson planning.
- Small Group Sessions: 2 meetings with short, structured lessons.
- Closing Gathering: Online or in-person (depending on the group preference) reviewing lessons and improving planning skills.
- Feedback and Support:
- Peer Feedback: Given after each small group session.
- GED Feedback: Provided after the initial or second meeting.
- GED Project Management: Regular check-ins for guidance and progress.
Please email taga@torontomu.ca for information about when POT is offered.
Note, if you are unable to participate in this semester’s offering of the POT Workshop, there will be other opportunities to fulfill the level 2 requirement for the GDTP in the 2024-25 Academic Year.
Reach out to taga@torontomu.ca if you have any questions.
Program Overview
The Course Instructor Apprenticeship offers 15-24 hours of practical experience in course instruction under the supervision of a mentor. Participants will gain hands-on teaching experience at a third-level institution, guided by a faculty mentor, in an educational environment designed to prepare them for future teaching roles.
Eligibility & Prerequisites
This apprenticeship is voluntary and is available to TMU graduate students who are currently enrolled in Level 2 of the Graduate Teaching Development Program (GTDP).
Program Description
Participants will arrange to work with a faculty member (TFA or CUPE) from their discipline or a related field. Mentorship is completely voluntary for faculty members, and the apprenticeship allows for flexibility in mentor selection.
- Faculty mentors may come from either the participant’s home department or a different department.
- CELT does not assign mentors; if needed, participants should seek assistance from their respective Program/Department Graduate Program Administrators to find a suitable mentor.
Together, the mentor and apprentice will establish learning outcomes tailored to the apprentice’s professional development.
Suggested Apprenticeship Activities
Apprentices may choose to gain experience in the following areas: following areas:
- Lecture preparation and delivery
- Course design
- Assessment design
- Lab/Studio design
Prohibited Activities
The apprentice cannot perform tasks typically assigned to a Teaching or Graduate Assistant (TA/GA), including:
- Marking and grading
- Invigilating exams
- Leading laboratories/studios/tutorials
This 3-day (24-hour) experiential learning workshop is offered within a small group setting and is designed to enhance course delivery and facilitation strategies, including lesson planning, techniques for eliciting learner participation, and suggestions for evaluation of learning. Participants will have the opportunity to experiment with new strategies and techniques within a safe and collegial environment. Participants receive a certificate upon completion which is widely recognized at many Canadian and international post-secondary institutions.
Once both the CILT105 and Workplace Experience Option prerequisites have been satisfied, Level Two will be marked as complete. The student may download a Level Two Certificate of Completion and they will be sent an invitation to download their CanCred Level Two badge.
Contact
taga@torontomu.ca