What We Do
Academies & Workshops
Academies
Are you looking for a professional development activity related to teaching that is accessible and convenient? The Faculty Teaching Academy (FTA) – in its eighth year at TAMU – allows you to hear from colleagues from a variety of disciplines who have distinguished themselves as teachers. The program encourages you to schedule a classroom visit to see these recognized teachers in action. A certificate of completion is also available for your records. More information
Workshops
CTE offers a variety of workshops to assist you with enhancement of your teaching practice. Topics are based on questions and challenges identified by TAMU faculty and on current information from the literature on learning and teaching. Workshops offer practical ideas that faculty can implement as is or alter to better fit their needs. They also provide peer interaction and perspective. We are committed to offering flexible programming that addresses faculty concerns regarding learning and teaching. View workshop list
Consulting on Teaching & Curriculum
Teaching
CTE offer one-on-one consulting with faculty on teaching related topics. You can schedule an observation of your classroom teaching and get written feedback for your records. We can also assist with interpreting and responding to student opinionaire feedback. Any topic, from implementing high impact practices in your courses to documenting results of changes made in teaching – we are available to assist. More information
Curriculum
Assessment, accreditation, and expanding knowledge all play a part in motivating departments to realign and redesign curriculum or even develop new curriculum. CTE can assist your group with defining program goals and determining where they are introduced, reinforced and assessed throughout your curriculum. See success stories and more information
Graduate Student Professional Development
Teaching Assistant (TA) Training
The university-mandated TA Training Program supports new TAs in their assignments as lecturers, lab instructors, recitation leaders, and course graders for their departments. This one day training program provides new TAs the opportunity to clarify, question, apply, and organize knowledge comprising foundational principles in teaching and learning.
TA Mentor Training
TA Mentor Training assists experienced TAs in the development of skills, attitudes, and techniques needed to effectively mentor new TAs during the university-mandated TA Training Program. TA Mentors serve as facilitators for a variety of small group breakout sessions at TA Training and are instrumental to the professional development of new TAs in teaching. TA Mentor Training also supports mentors in the continual development of their own classroom teaching practice.
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Teaching Professional Development Course
Doctoral level students who desire a career in academia can benefit greatly from training and experiences in teaching. The STEM Professional Development in Teaching Course enables selected PhD students to learn how to teach and including the opportunity to design and implement a course module with a faculty mentor. The course is facilitated by teaching and learning consultants from the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE). Currently, the course is open to students in the following colleges: Engineering, Geosciences, and Science.
Graduate Student Professional Development in Teaching (GSPDT) Seminar Series
Open to all graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, the GSPDT seminar series promotes the active discussion of teaching and learning topics essential to students’ professional development in teaching. Seminars topics include learning outcomes and the course development cycle, syllabus design, productive question techniques, self-reflection, assessment, teaching methodology, active learning strategies, and many others.
For a complete listing of seminar and workshops, please visit ERS Event Registration System.
Individual Consulting
CTE offers one-on-one consulting with all graduate students and postdoctoral researchers on teaching related topics such as instructional methodology, syllabus design, effective feedback, and assessment. In addition, graduate students serving as Teaching Assistants (TAs) can schedule an observation of their classroom teaching and receive written feedback for their records. Graduate students and postdoctoral researchers can meet with a CTE consultant to discuss and/or review their teaching philosophy statement.
TA Consultant Program
The TA Consultant Program supports the professional development in teaching of graduate students, and includes opportunities that support enhanced teaching experience, as outlined in the Model of Graduate Student Professional Development in Teaching. TA Consultants are experienced Teaching Assistants exhibiting pedagogical skills and knowledge within their disciplines. TA Consultants, under the supervision of the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE), serve as instructional coaches and peer mentors to TAs across campus. TA Consultants are available to conduct classroom observations upon request.
Graduate Teaching Academy
The Graduate Teaching Academy (GTA) is a graduate student-led organization supported by the Office of Graduate Studies and the Center for Teaching Excellence and advised by CTE staff. TAMU graduate students and postdocs can complete a one-year program and receive the Graduate Teaching Academy Fellow Certificate.
Conferences
CTE hosts the annual Wakonse-South – College Teaching Conference and maintains information about other conferences focused on teaching. More conferences
