A framework for training graduate students and campus communities in inclusive teaching

ABSTRACT While graduate student teaching assistants (TAs) contribute significantly to university education, many graduate programs across diverse disciplines offer limited formal pedagogical training. In turn, many researchers informally develop teaching and mentoring skills as they advance to facul...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Berit E. Batterton, C. Melman Neill, Christopher R. Biggs, Hannah S. Rempel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Society for Microbiology 2024-12-01
Series:Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/jmbe.00125-24
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1846126663775027200
author Berit E. Batterton
C. Melman Neill
Christopher R. Biggs
Hannah S. Rempel
author_facet Berit E. Batterton
C. Melman Neill
Christopher R. Biggs
Hannah S. Rempel
author_sort Berit E. Batterton
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT While graduate student teaching assistants (TAs) contribute significantly to university education, many graduate programs across diverse disciplines offer limited formal pedagogical training. In turn, many researchers informally develop teaching and mentoring skills as they advance to faculty positions or related careers. This can perpetuate a lag in the implementation of inclusive educational environments despite the clear benefits demonstrated by recent pedagogical research. For instance, the integration of inclusive teaching strategies like universal design for learning, growth mindset feedback, and the use of relatable role models in curricula may help increase the persistence, success, and self-efficacy of traditionally underrepresented groups in the sciences. Additionally, research indicates that training graduate TAs in evidence-based practices may have benefits beyond teaching efficacy, such as greater confidence in research preparedness and science communication—skills applicable to any scientific field or career path. Here, we developed and implemented an inclusive teaching series for a marine science department that included: (i) campus-wide pedagogical journal article discussions and knowledge-sharing, (ii) expert-led interactive workshops on evidence-based teaching strategies, and (iii) a graduate TA professional development module on inclusive lesson planning with opportunities to teach and receive feedback. Based on our experiences, we share a framework and resources to facilitate a broader adoption of formalized TA training in inclusive teaching practices within graduate programs across a variety of fields.
format Article
id doaj-art-9f7e65e731184624b52990568a283d5c
institution Kabale University
issn 1935-7877
1935-7885
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher American Society for Microbiology
record_format Article
series Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education
spelling doaj-art-9f7e65e731184624b52990568a283d5c2024-12-12T14:00:32ZengAmerican Society for MicrobiologyJournal of Microbiology & Biology Education1935-78771935-78852024-12-0125310.1128/jmbe.00125-24A framework for training graduate students and campus communities in inclusive teachingBerit E. Batterton0C. Melman Neill1Christopher R. Biggs2Hannah S. Rempel3The University of Texas at Austin, Marine Science Institute, Port Aransas, Texas, USAThe University of Texas at Austin, Marine Science Institute, Port Aransas, Texas, USAThe University of Texas at Austin, Marine Science Institute, Port Aransas, Texas, USAThe University of Texas at Austin, Marine Science Institute, Port Aransas, Texas, USAABSTRACT While graduate student teaching assistants (TAs) contribute significantly to university education, many graduate programs across diverse disciplines offer limited formal pedagogical training. In turn, many researchers informally develop teaching and mentoring skills as they advance to faculty positions or related careers. This can perpetuate a lag in the implementation of inclusive educational environments despite the clear benefits demonstrated by recent pedagogical research. For instance, the integration of inclusive teaching strategies like universal design for learning, growth mindset feedback, and the use of relatable role models in curricula may help increase the persistence, success, and self-efficacy of traditionally underrepresented groups in the sciences. Additionally, research indicates that training graduate TAs in evidence-based practices may have benefits beyond teaching efficacy, such as greater confidence in research preparedness and science communication—skills applicable to any scientific field or career path. Here, we developed and implemented an inclusive teaching series for a marine science department that included: (i) campus-wide pedagogical journal article discussions and knowledge-sharing, (ii) expert-led interactive workshops on evidence-based teaching strategies, and (iii) a graduate TA professional development module on inclusive lesson planning with opportunities to teach and receive feedback. Based on our experiences, we share a framework and resources to facilitate a broader adoption of formalized TA training in inclusive teaching practices within graduate programs across a variety of fields.https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/jmbe.00125-24inclusive pedagogygraduate curriculumTA trainingprofessional developmentevidence-based teaching
spellingShingle Berit E. Batterton
C. Melman Neill
Christopher R. Biggs
Hannah S. Rempel
A framework for training graduate students and campus communities in inclusive teaching
Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education
inclusive pedagogy
graduate curriculum
TA training
professional development
evidence-based teaching
title A framework for training graduate students and campus communities in inclusive teaching
title_full A framework for training graduate students and campus communities in inclusive teaching
title_fullStr A framework for training graduate students and campus communities in inclusive teaching
title_full_unstemmed A framework for training graduate students and campus communities in inclusive teaching
title_short A framework for training graduate students and campus communities in inclusive teaching
title_sort framework for training graduate students and campus communities in inclusive teaching
topic inclusive pedagogy
graduate curriculum
TA training
professional development
evidence-based teaching
url https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/jmbe.00125-24
work_keys_str_mv AT beritebatterton aframeworkfortraininggraduatestudentsandcampuscommunitiesininclusiveteaching
AT cmelmanneill aframeworkfortraininggraduatestudentsandcampuscommunitiesininclusiveteaching
AT christopherrbiggs aframeworkfortraininggraduatestudentsandcampuscommunitiesininclusiveteaching
AT hannahsrempel aframeworkfortraininggraduatestudentsandcampuscommunitiesininclusiveteaching
AT beritebatterton frameworkfortraininggraduatestudentsandcampuscommunitiesininclusiveteaching
AT cmelmanneill frameworkfortraininggraduatestudentsandcampuscommunitiesininclusiveteaching
AT christopherrbiggs frameworkfortraininggraduatestudentsandcampuscommunitiesininclusiveteaching
AT hannahsrempel frameworkfortraininggraduatestudentsandcampuscommunitiesininclusiveteaching