PREVIEW: Spring schedule for CIRTL workshops on teaching demos, post-PhD plans, and more

UNL is a member of the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning (CIRTL) Network, which means that all graduate students and postdocs have access to teaching training and resources through the CIRTL Network.
UNL is a member of the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning (CIRTL) Network, which means that all graduate students and postdocs have access to teaching training and resources through the CIRTL Network.

UNL is a member of the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning (CIRTL) Network, which means that all graduate students and postdocs have access to teaching training and resources through the CIRTL Network.

CIRTL's Spring 2023 online programming includes two courses, a MOOC, three workshops, and two event series. Programming will run January through April. Stay tuned for schedule details and registration information

Read more about CIRTL programming, teaching & learning programming beyond The CIRTL Network, and job openings in teaching & learning below.

Fall 2022 (Remaining)

Thursday, Dec. 1 | Equity, Diversity, and Inclusive Teaching in the Community College Setting

Community colleges are truly diverse settings, attracting individuals from all different walks of life with a common interest in advancing their education. If you are interested in exploring a career at a community college, then understanding the diversity of their student populations is crucial. This panel consisting of faculty and administrators from various community colleges will share insights on student diversity. We will also explore the types of inclusive teaching strategies that best support community college students and help to create more equitable classrooms. No capacity limit.

Register for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusive Teaching in the Community College Setting.

Read more about CIRTL programming, teaching & learning programming beyond The CIRTL Network, and job openings in teaching & learning below.

Spring 2023 Courses

Research Mentor Training | Course

Work with a community of peers to develop and improve your research mentoring skills in this engaging course. Students will develop their personal mentoring philosophy, learn how to articulate that philosophy across a variety of disciplines, and refine strategies for dealing with mentoring challenges. Capacity: 30.

Laying the Foundations for a Successful Teaching Career | Course

This 5-session short course explores and builds a foundation of skills and habits to develop teaching approaches that will support a successful teaching career. Development of these skills can start as early as graduate school. Includes developing or refining some aspects of your teaching portfolio. Capacity: 30.

Spring Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs)

CIRTL MOOCs take place on the EdX platform and use video-based modules, discussion boards, and peer-reviewed assignments to teach participants about different aspects of evidence-based STEM teaching over the course of 8 weeks. Registration is required; there is no cost to participate and no enrollment cap. For more information, visit the CIRTL MOOC website.

Advancing Learning Through Evidence-Based STEM Teaching

This MOOC provides current and future STEM faculty members effective teaching strategies and the evidence that supports these strategies. This course builds on, “An Introduction to Evidence-Based Undergraduate STEM Teaching.” The Intro course is recommended, but not required, as a prerequisite for participating in this course. No capacity limit.

Spring Workshops

Communicating to Learn: Incorporating Scientific Communication into STEM Courses

Many instructors are eager to help students develop critical skills that extend beyond the classroom or the major. This is sometimes explained as teaching students to “think like a scientist” or “think like an engineer”, but how do we actually accomplish this goal? In this workshop, we will highlight the value of “communicating to learn” and show how communication-based assessments and activities can promote critical thinking and foster deeper learning of technical content. No capacity limit.

Decode a Troublesome Concept or Skill for Your Learners

This 2-part workshop is for anyone who needs to explain a concept or skill to students in any instructional role: an instructor, a guest lecturer, as a teaching assistant or tutor holding office hours. The main deliverable of the workshop is to develop an analogy for a particular concept/skill that will make your learners say “Aha! I truly understand what you mean!” Capacity: 20.

Preparing Your Teaching Demo for a Job Interview

As part of the interview process for a faculty position in the U.S., you may be asked to lead a teaching demonstration. In this interactive workshop, we'll discuss ways to go into your teaching demo with preparedness, confidence, and adaptability. The workshop will help participants generate a) questions they will need to answer ahead of time in order to plan an effective teaching demo and b) strategies for adapting to challenging situations that might occur during a teaching demo. Capacity: 50.

Spring Workshops

Communicating to Learn: Incorporating Scientific Communication into STEM Courses

Many instructors are eager to help students develop critical skills that extend beyond the classroom or the major. This is sometimes explained as teaching students to “think like a scientist” or “think like an engineer”, but how do we actually accomplish this goal? In this workshop, we will highlight the value of “communicating to learn” and show how communication-based assessments and activities can promote critical thinking and foster deeper learning of technical content. No capacity.

Decode a Troublesome Concept or Skill for Your Learners

This 2-part workshop is for anyone who needs to explain a concept or skill to students in any instructional role: an instructor, a guest lecturer, as a teaching assistant or tutor holding office hours. The main deliverable of the workshop is to develop an analogy for a particular concept/skill that will make your learners say “Aha! I truly understand what you mean!” Capacity: 20.

Preparing Your Teaching Demo for a Job Interview

As part of the interview process for a faculty position in the U.S., you may be asked to lead a teaching demonstration. In this interactive workshop, we'll discuss ways to go into your teaching demo with preparedness, confidence, and adaptability. The workshop will help participants generate a) questions they will need to answer ahead of time in order to plan an effective teaching demo and b) strategies for adapting to challenging situations that might occur during a teaching demo. Capacity: 50.

Spring Events

Be Your Own Driver: Imagining Post-PhD Career Versatility

Join us to hear CIRTL alumni reflect on how they came into these positions: what made them pursue this career path; its benefits, stressors, and rewards; and how CIRTL shaped their interests, skills, and community. No capacity limit.

How CIRTL has Impacted my Career: Hearing from CIRTL Alumni

This series supports graduate students and postdoctoral researchers at all levels to articulate and build upon professional skills acquired within and outside of academic experiences. As these sessions empower participants toward the pursuit of liberating and versatile occupation possibilities, we will also resist perceived and received norms of the employment “use” of a graduate degree. No capacity limit.