Postdoc Training - Preparing for College Teaching in STEM

Preparing for College Teaching in STEM is a ten-week, interactive program designed to help postdocs at the University of Pennsylvania prepare to teach their first college course, with particular attention to supporting a diverse student body. Led by the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Teaching and Learning, the program encourages participants to become thoughtful, reflective instructors by engaging with selected readings, creating teaching materials, and collaborating with peers.

Each week, participants will complete approximately two hours of preparatory readings and assignments, and they will meet for 90-minute synchronous, in-person sessions each Thursday afternoon to discuss, apply, and extend course ideas. The program focuses on evidence-based teaching practices, including active learning, assessment strategies, and approaches for building community and communicating effectively with students.

This course aims to prepare participants both to teach their first college course and to go on the academic job market.

Participants will:

  • Create materials that will help them in their teaching and on the market (sample assignments and activities, syllabus, teaching philosophy).

  • Discuss teaching with a group of other instructors as a way of exploring what works and developing concrete teaching practices, with a particular focus on creating an inclusive classroom environment.

  • Learn about what the education literature tells us about student learning and a range of effective teaching strategies and techniques.

Since there are limited spaces available, an application is required. Application forms are available annually in January and application decisions will be determined annually in mid-February.

Application process for the Spring 2026 Course will open soon. 
 

Preparing for College Teaching in STEM

Time: Thursdays, 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM
Schedule: Feb 26 – April 30, 2026

Instructor: Jennifer Round, PhD (jround@upenn.edu), Center for Teaching & Learning

Description: This ten-week interactive program will introduce Penn postdocs to best practices in academic teaching. Through selected readings, discussion, and reflection, participants will examine the the needs of diverse learners and identify the knowledge and skills we’d like them to gain from our courses. We will explore the use of active learning to structure class sessions that are engaging and interactive, and we will consider various types of assessment and feedback that support our students in achieving their learning goals. Throughout this program, we emphasize the importance of building community and communicating effectively with students to set them up for academic success. Participants are asked to reserve two hours per week for preparatory readings and assignments and 90 minutes each Thursday afternoon for synchronous, in-person discussions. 

Goal: The goal of the course is to prepare participants to teach in higher education and gain the confidence and practical skills to be able to successfully transition into academia or any industry requiring strong pedagogical skills.