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UCSD Center for Teaching Development

Preparing Future Physics Faculty
(PFPF)

CTD Home > CTD Programs > Preparing Future Physics Faculty (PFPF) > Activities/Competency Checklist

Activities/Competency Checklist

Competency 1: Course Development/Curriculum and Syllabus Design

Course Description (summarize):

Requirements:

  • Readings
  • Seminar
    • Course Development/Curriculum and Syllabus Design
  • Documentation
    • Course Syllabus
    • Sample Lesson Plan
Activities Comments/
Evaluation		 Date/
Initial
seminar participation    
develop rationale for the course
   
review domain of knowledge in the area
   
investigate student characteristics
   
check appropriate previous courses and requirements for subsequent courses
   
consult with colleagues who have taught similar courses
   
consult with departmental mentor at partner institution or UCSD
   
draft initial course plan
   
select relevant themes
   
list subjects
   
analyze importance, difficulty level
   
define and delimit course content
   
prepare course objectives
   
develop syllabus
   
develop assignments, sample lesson plans
   
determine criteria for selecting text and teaching materials    
prepare evaluation items based on previously-stated objectives    

Competency 2: Effective Implementation of Course

Requirements:

  • Readings
  • Seminars
    • Cognitive Strategies/Information Processing
    • Effective Implementation of Course
    • Assessment, Grading, and Evaluation
  • Internship
    • at selected target institution
  • Observations/Documentation
    • at least one observation (preferably two observations several weeks apart)
    • lesson plan or outline
    • a full 50 minute class or microteaching lesson (can be videotaped)
  • Feedback
    • conference with observer (departmental faculty member or CTD Director)
Activities Comments/
Evaluation		 Date/
Initial
seminar participation
    
contact mentor at partner institution
    
obtain internship or visiting lectureship, or co-teach course with mentor
    

prepare class sessions based upon knowledge of:

  • cognitive strategies / how students process information
  • learning modalities and styles
  • teaching styles and strategies
  • active learning
  • alternative formats
  • interpersonal relationship / communication issues
    

prepare and deliver effective lectures:

  • integrate material from a variety of sources
  • exhibit effective public presentation skills
  • develop skillful questioning techniques designed to promote complex thinking
    

utilize classroom management principles:

  • challenge to authority
  • problem students/problem situations
  • academic dishonesty
  • recognize issues of academic and cultural diversity, gender equity, sexual harassment
    

provide appropriate feedback:

  • develop fair and consistent grading practices
  • develop consistent and appropriate ways to respond to students' writing
    

Competency 3: Professional Roles and Responsibilities

Requirements:

  • Readings
  • Seminars
    • Professional Roles and Responsibilities - Teaching/Research/Service
    • Preparing Teaching Portfolios
  • Documentation
    • teaching statement
    • interview mentor at UCSD or target institution
    • service options proposal
Activities Comments/
Evaluation		 Date/
Initial
seminar participation
    
establish a mentoring relationship with a faculty member    

develop an understanding of faculty roles and responsibilities:

  • academic freedom
  • professional ethics and responsibility
  • shared governance
  • scholarship
  • service
  • develop service proposal
    

develop an understanding of institutional culture at a variety of postsecondary institutions:

  • research universities
  • doctoral universities
  • comprehensive colleges and universities
  • baccalaureate (liberal arts) colleges
  • associate of arts colleges (community colleges)
    

prepare teaching statement for professional teaching portfolio:

  • feedback conference
  • consultation on portfolio packet
    

Competency 4: Proficiency in Utilizing Instructional Technology

Requirements:

  • Readings
  • Workshop
    • Utilizing Instructional Technology
  • Documentation
    • initiate development of course web page
Activities Comments/
Evaluation		 Date/
Initial
workshop participation    
construct course web page
   
use listservers in discipline-specific areas    
develop communication medium for entire class or workgroups    
use online discussion forums    

Additional Optional Activities

Activities Comments/
Evaluation		 Date/
Initial
maintain annotated log of activities    
prepare departmental or interdisciplinary lecture beyond specific content information (ex: ethics, distance learning, case study analysis, etc.)
    
prepare article for publication    
implement service project    
prepare conference presentation    
other    

To view this checklist in a text only printable format, click here.

Preparing Future Physics Faculty

PFPF Program

Photo of Physics Faculty Member

PFPF Components

Other Information

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