Introduction to peer teaching for teaching assistants and group leaders
Undergraduate course
- ECTS credits
- 2.5
- Teaching semesters
- Autumn
- Course code
- MNPED101
- Number of semesters
- 1
- Teaching language
- English
- Resources
- Schedule
Course description
Objectives and Content
This course is intended for students teaching or mentoring other students (peer teaching): new and early-career teaching assistants, group leaders, and tutors in the faculty of mathematics and natural sciences. We welcome advanced bachelor-level students, master-level students, and PhDs new to peer teaching. Emphasis will be placed on preparing students to teach using student-active, evidence-based instructional strategies.
This 2.5 ECTS course will involve students in two, four-hour classes before the semester starts. Additional requirements include three assignments throughout the semester. Course participants will receive a certificate attesting to their completion.
Course goals:
- Provide peer teachers in MatNat with a unified training experience
- Clarify roles, responsibilities and expectations associated with peer teaching in the faculty
- Give peer teachers a toolkit of resources for facilitating inquiry, addressing common challenges, soliciting and responding to feedback, grading assignments, and fostering a sense of belonging in their teaching roles
Learning Outcomes
At the conclusion of the course, the student will be able to:
- Articulate their own priorities for teaching
- Explain the expectations for their specific teaching roles
- Use student active teaching methods
- Describe how to handle common challenges that arise in teaching
- Develop and implement strategies for inclusive teaching
- Solicit and respond to student feedback in a constructive manner
- Construct a plan for future teaching that builds on past experience
ECTS Credits
Level of Study
Semester of Instruction
Required Previous Knowledge
Access to the Course
Access to the course requires admission to a programme of study at The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. Students with teaching or mentoring responsibilities at the Faculty will be prioritized. You can combine taking this course with being employed as a teaching assistant at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences.
Teaching and learning methods
The course will involve students in two, four-hour classes before the semester starts. These will be facilitated using evidence-based teaching methods designed to involve all students (e.g., group discussion, formative assessment, and in-class assessment for learning). The distribution of time is as follows:
- Pre-class preparation: 2 hours
- Class time: 8 hours
- Individual work on three assignments: 50 hours
Assignments will be handed in via the course mittUiB page, and graded in a timely manner via rubrics, which will be shared with the students prior to the assignment deadlines.
Compulsory Assignments and Attendance
Two 4-hours classes and three assignments.