Career Pathways Week: Teaching

Welcome to our 2024 Career Pathways Week: Teaching, May 6th-9th, brought to you by GradSuccess!

Use this form to sign up for individual sessions. We encourage you to join our in-person events where light snacks and refreshments will be served.

For the virtual events, the Zoom link(s) will be shared with you the day before the session(s) for which you register.

Please register by 5 pm the day before the session you'd like to attend to receive the Zoom link. If you have any questions, email Nathaly Martinez at gradsuccess@ucr.edu.

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Brian Sato

Monday, May 6th | 12:00-1:00pm | In-person in HUB 367

We're kicking off the GradSuccess Spring 2024 Career Pathways Week: Teaching with a keynote talk by Professor Brian Sato, a leader in undergraduate STEM education.

His research investigates how students learn and ways to improve the classroom experience. He helps lead the Postsecondary Education Research & Implementation Institute (PERI2) at UCI. He has also organized several regional and national STEM conferences aimed at disseminating evidence-based teaching practices including meetings for the Association for Biology Laboratory Education, Project Kaleidoscope, and a UC-wide STEM Education Consortium that he co-founded. Networking hour to follow from 1-2p.

Networking Time with Dr. Brian Sato

Monday, May 6th | 1:00-2:00pm | In-person in the Spieth Courtyard

Meet with Dr. Brian Sato in the Spieth Courtyard to discuss a career plan focused on teaching at a college or university. Light refreshments will be served.

Dr. Sato is a Professor of Teaching in the Molecular Biology and Biochemistry department of the School of Biological Sciences at UC Irvine. He is also Associate Dean in the Division of Teaching Excellence and Innovation. Join him and other graduate students and postdocs for a time of conversation and mentoring.

UTC Workshop 1: Decolonization in Pedagogical Practice

Monday, May 6th | 2:00-2:50pm | GradQuant (LFSC 1425)

In this session, we'll discuss practical approaches to decolonizing curriculum. This includes reshaping syllabi, selecting diverse course materials, and adopting inclusive teaching methods to empower students and challenge colonial frameworks.

Getting Hired: CSUs & Community Colleges Panel

Tuesday, May 7th | 10:00-11:00am | Zoom

Hear from a diverse panel of UCR alumni about their journeys from PhD students to faculty at local institutions.

Panelist 1: Dr. Wendy Ochoa, San Diego State University
Panelist 2: Dr. Maritza Morales-Gracia, Cal State LA
Panelist 3: Dr. Christina Trujillo, Santa Barbara City College
Panelist 4: Dr. Aaron Sappenfield, Riverside City College

UTC Workshop 2: Effective Instruction in a Laboratory Setting

Tuesday, May 7th | 1-1:50pm | GradQuant (LFSC 1425)

Do you feel that 10-15 minutes at the beginning of a lab section is not enough to instruct effectively? Do you feel helpless in a lab course where so little instruction and structure is under your control?Do you find yourself repeating the same instructions about the simplest of things in a lab? Do you want to discuss how to instruct labs to manage student expectations better? ...then this workshop is for you! Stop by to discuss all this and more with other TAs who are kind of in the same boat! This workshop aims to discuss how laboratory instruction can be tailored to cover student and course expectations effectively, with emphasis on how to use the 10-15 minute initial instruction time to our advantage as teaching assistants.

UTC Workshop 3: Making Effective Rubrics

Tuesday, May 7th | 3-3:50pm | GradQuant (LFSC 1425)

This workshop will delve into rubrics and why they are an important teaching tool including when and how to use them. By the end, you will have a better understanding of how to construct your own rubric.

Workshop: Teaching Philosophy Statement

Wednesday, May 8th | 12:00-1:00pm | In-person at HUB 367

Faculty job postings often ask for teaching philosophy statements. Dr. Ashley Harlow will cover the principles and strategies for drafting a teaching philosophy statement and how to tailor it to reflect differing contexts and criteria.

UTC Workshop 4: Gamification in Education

Wednesday, May 8th | 2-2:50pm | XCITE Center for Teaching and Learning (Rivera)

By the end of this session, participants will learn what gamification is and how it can be incorporated into the classroom. Participants from both STEM and CHASS will experience a gamified lesson and have the resources for gamifying their own teaching.

Teaching: Coffee Social & Mocktail Hour Networking Event

Wednesday, May 8th | 3:00-4:00pm | In-Person at the XCITE Commons Patio (Rivera Library)

No registration necessary. Coffee Social is open to all graduate students and postdocs.

Graduate students and postdocs, come and join us on the XCITE Patio for a special Coffee Social & Mocktail Networking Event with free mocktails, coffee, tea, and snacks. Please bring your student ID.

UTC Workshop 5: Inquiry-Based Learning

Thursday, May 9th | 10-10:50am | GradQuant (LFSC 1425)

In this workshop, we explore the basic principles of inquiry-based learning and how to incorporate inquiry-driven activities into our classrooms with a focus large/gen ed classes in STEM. We will discuss challenges to implementing these practices together and brainstorm potential solutions in a short inquiry-based communal activity.

Clinic: Teaching Philosophy Statement

Thursday, May 9th | 11:00-12am | Zoom

Work directly with Graduate Writing Center Consultants to have your teaching philosophy statement reviewed, and make yourself a compelling job candidate. Space is limited.

UTC Workshop 6: New Technologies in the Classroom to Foster Student Engagement

Thursday, May 9th | 2-2:50pm | GradQuant (LFSC 1425)

This workshop will explore the ways in which technology can be used in the classroom to help foster student engagement, improve accessibility, and effectively integrate AI into the learning process. Participants will gain a new perspective and techniques towards ongoing technological developments that will shape the future of higher education. These include how to apply AI as a learning tool and how to use technology as a form of accessible learning.