An inclusive and welcoming learning environment is a central part of any productive classroom. Achieving this, however, is not simply a question of avoiding exclusionary language and practices. It requires an active effort on the part of instructors to acknowledge and respect students’ identities, while opening spaces for them to Continue Reading >>
Congratulations to the fourteen outstanding GSIs receiving the 2015 Teaching Effectiveness Award (TEA). These GSIs devised excellent strategies to address teaching and learning difficulties that arose in their classes, and their award-winning teaching ideas are available for you to adapt for use in your teaching. Here is a small sampling Continue Reading >>
The GSI Center offers the following assistance to GSIs teaching in the Summer Sessions: Consultations and Classroom Observations One-on-one consultations on syllabus and course design, teaching in a compressed time frame, preparing and presenting a lecture, activities to promote discussion, mid-course evaluations, and more. Classroom observations to receive feedback on your Continue Reading >>
Many of Berkeley’s faculty members provide excellent mentorship to the GSIs who work in their classes. This year, four were selected to receive an award for their mentoring activities: Sabrina Agarwal, Anthropology David Henkin, History Martha Olney, Economics Anant Sahai, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Candidates for this award are Continue Reading >>
Recipients of the 2014-2015 Outstanding GSI (OGSI) Award were honored at the annual OGSI Award Ceremony on Tuesday, May 5. Each year, recipients are nominated within their teaching departments. They receive certificates of distinction from the GSI Center, which also hosts the award ceremony. Currently-enrolled graduate students who receive the OGSI Continue Reading >>
Recipients of the 2014-2015 Outstanding GSI (OGSI) Award were honored at the annual OGSI Award Ceremony, which took place at the International House, 2299 Piedmont Ave, on Tuesday, May 5. Each year, recipients are nominated within their teaching departments. They receive certificates of distinction from the GSI Center, which also hosts Continue Reading >>
Strategies for Exam Reviews GSIs methods for helping students solidify their learning in preparation for exams: Playing Teacher: Adding Predictive Power to Students’ Toolboxes, Emily Hamilton (History) Instilling Effective Study Skills in Students: Start Early, Know Your Weaknesses, Jennifer McGuire (Integrative Biology) Teaching Young Scientists to Speak the Way They Think, Continue Reading >>
Assessing and Improving Your Teaching First-time GSIs and seasoned veterans alike look for ways to further develop their teaching. Having someone observe your teaching and gathering student input using midterm evaluations are great ways to spot things you’re doing well and things to improve. Strategies for Exam Reviews GSIs share Continue Reading >>
Public speaking, conveying complex information to non-experts, managing teams, evaluating the work of junior colleagues — these are among the many skills GSIs develop in their teaching, and these skills are eminently transferable to career settings in higher education, private industry, non-profits, or governmental agencies. The documents linked below can Continue Reading >>
This is a good time in the semester to review ways you can encourage students to engage actively in their learning. The online Teaching Guide for GSIs offers some excellent strategies to use in a variety of GSI-led settings. Active Learning Techniques Group Work Managing Lab Partners and Groups Encouraging Continue Reading >>