Return to full graphic version

GSI Teaching & Resource Center
University of California, Berkeley

Search:
Quick links:
[Conferences, Workshops, Seminars & Institutes] [Teaching Guide] [Consultations/Observations] [Grants] [Awards]
[Language Proficiency Program] [Faculty Working with GSIs] [About the Center] [Calendar] [FAQs] [Contact Us] [Home Page]

View Your Course as One Step in Helping GSIs to Prepare for Their Own Future Roles as Professors

For many graduate students, your course may provide their only teaching experience prior to assuming roles as faculty members themselves. While GSIs certainly need to learn how to grade papers, conduct labs, and lead discussions, these activities alone are not sufficient to prepare them for future teaching careers. GSIs can also learn a great deal about course design, delivery, and instruction through discussions with faculty instructors. Offering your GSIs regular opportunities to discuss with you goals for the course, teaching strategies, ways to improve student success in the course, and how well goals are being reached, allows GSIs to view the teaching process from a perspective inaccessible to them in their roles as lab/discussion leaders. Likewise, working with more experienced GSIs on preparing and delivering a guest lecture for your course can provide them with valuable experience in this role.

  1. Plan a pre-semester course orientation.
  2. Know your GSIs.
  3. Meet weekly with GSIs to talk about teaching.
  4. Build into the weekly meetings specific pedagogical goals.
  5. Encourage your students to keep a teaching journal.
  6. Observe your GSIs in the classroom.
  7. Encourage GSIs to be videotaped in the classroom.
  8. Set up a peer observation program.
  9. Encourage your GSIs to get ongoing feedback on teaching and learning from their students.
  10. Recommend participation in teaching-related events.
  11. Help GSIs construct a teaching portfolio.
  12. Encourage your GSIs to read pedagogical literature.
  13. View your course as one step in helping GSIs to prepare for their own future roles as professors.
  14. Take part in the programs for faculty of the GSI Teaching and Resource Center.

FACULTY LINKS:

[ SITE MAP ] [ GRADUATE DIVISION ] [ TEACHING RESOURCES PAGE ] [ UC BERKELEY ]