The Groundwork Program
Teaching Training for Graduate Students
About Groundwork
The Groundwork Program (Groundwork) is an opportunity for graduate students and postdocs to learn more about teaching essentials in the college classroom. It is a virtual, three to four day program of workshops, discussions, readings, and hands-on micro-teaching activities. Participants in Groundwork will be exposed to the fundamentals of college teaching, such as syllabus and student learning outcome creation, classroom management, active learning, and other strategies for engaging students.
- Microteaching has been used for decades to help teachers get practical, hands-on experience in teaching in a supportive environment with feedback. Moreover, delivering the microteaching again provides participants an opportunity to incorporate peer feedback and gain more confidence in their approach to teaching.
What Past Participants Have to Say
“Useful, practical techniques I can implement NOW. Great instructors, who are fun, funny, engaging, love what they do and are passionate about it.”
“The instructors/counselors were great role models who practiced what they preached and made everything we learned real for us by actually teaching at a high level. The coursework covered all the dollar issues and did so effectively."
“Great and friendly environment. Teaching experience (microteaching) with peer and expert feedback. Sessions on several aspects of teaching like from the syllabus to feedback. Hands-on activities and suggestions for sticky situations.”
Eligibility
Groundwork is open to all Texas Tech Master's, Doctoral, and Post-Doctoral students who apply and are accepted to participate. A teaching appointment is NOT required. Past Groundwork participants and current and former TEACH Program Fellows are ineligible. Groundwork will be limited to 40 participants.
Application Process
Groundwork happens twice during the Spring semester:
- Winter Groundwork (last week of January)
- May Groudwork (the week after commencement)
The application Process includes the following requirements:
- A completed applicant profile through SmarterSelect
- Thoughtful reflections to three questions:
- Why are you aplying for Groundwork?
- What excites you about teaching?
- What are one to two specific teaching concerns that you would like to work on during the Groudwork Program?
If you have additional questions regarding the application process, please contact Mike Lemon (Instructional Development Coordinator, Graduate School).
How are Groundwork Participants Selected?
The Instructional Development team reviews all completed applications. We use the following rubric criteria to select participants.
Reasons for Applying:
Why are you applying for Groundwork?
| 5 | Expresses a genuine interest in improving student-centered learning. |
| 4 | Expresses concrete interest in improving student-centered learning. |
| 3 | Expresses some interest in improving teaching. |
| 2 | Expresses a vague interest in improving teaching. |
| 1 | Only interested in boosting their CV or making professional contacts. |
| 0 | Has participated in Groundwork before or does not answer the question. |
Interest in Teaching:
What excites them about teaching?
| 5 | The applicant identifies specific things about working with students. [Focus on student learning and student-teacher relationship] |
| 4 | The applicant identifies specific things about teaching they find enjoyable. [Focus on teacher rather than student] |
| 3 | Demonstrates interest in teaching but doesn’t address what they find exciting about teaching. |
| 2 | Addresses personal benefits or expectations, not what they find exciting. |
| 1 | Only interested in self-promotion and/or boosting CV. |
| 0 | Has participated in Groundwork before or does not answer the question. |
Interest in Teaching:
What are one to two items that you would like to work on in the Groundwork Program?
| 5 | Lists specific, constructive, and genuine (authentic) teaching-related concerns. |
| 4 | Identifies some concerns that are constructive. |
| 3 | Identifies concerns that mostly focus on presentation elements. |
| 2 | Identifies concerns that are unlikely to be directly addressed by Groundwork. |
| 1 | Only interested in self-promotion and/or boosting CV. |
| 0 | Has participated in Groundwork before or does not answer the question. |
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Graduate School
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Address
Administration Building 328, Texas Tech University, 2625 Memorial Circle, Lubbock, TX 79409-1030 -
Phone
806.742.2787