ILTHE Workshop (Feb 2015)
In order to be a part-time teacher/tutor/demonstrator for undergraduate/masters students in Newcastle University, respective schools would nominate PhD candidates to attend an Introduction to Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (ILTHE) two-day workshop. As I will be taking up a part-time demonstrating position soon, I was nominated for the ILTHE workshop in February. The workshop I attended was held at Bamburgh Room, King's Road Centre from the 9th of February to the 10th. Some of the topics covered included: - How students learn - Small group teaching - The skills of tutoring and demonstrating - Large groups and lecturing - Preparing to teach - Assessing students and giving feedback - Evaluating and developing your teaching As part of the workshop, I had to deliver a microteaching session of which I have chosen to talk about Polymers. By learning from how others teach and by listening to others' feedback of my microteaching session, I was able to pinpoint my strengths and weaknesses in teaching and what I should do to enhance my teaching skills/methods. (I find it really helpful, especially for someone like me with very little teaching experience). During the workshop, we were divided into groups of four/five and was given time to come up with a teaching plan for a given scenario (lecture theatre with restricted movement, etc). My teammates and I came up with our teaching plan called "The Ultimate Lecture" and our poster won the best/most voted teaching plan in this workshop. The Ultimate Lecture Team with our poster/teaching plan :) Our most voted/best teaching plan. I never expected teaching can be this fun! This workshop somehow encouraged me to pursue in academia in the near future. I hope to become somebody/lecturer that would inspire younger generations; someone who would make a difference in their lives (for the better) :D *fingers crossed*
