Training Future Faculty
Training Future Faculty (TFF) is a teaching professional development program for graduate students and post-doctoral scholars at OHSU. Each participant is provided with a mentor from the TFF organizing committee. Participants are encouraged to complete the program in one academic year but are allowed two years if needed. Upon completion of Training Future Faculty, participants will be able to:
- Practice curriculum development and delivery through a trauma-informed, DEI lens
- Prepare materials for academic job applications (teaching philosophy, portfolio, diversity statement)
- Teach to a diversity of students
- Prepare to teach in a variety of learning environments (online, hybrid, in person)
- Apply learning theory in the classroom
Application process: Applications are accepted year-round but cohorts are organized in late August/early September. Cohorts are currently capped at 20 participants. To apply to Training Future Faculty, follow this link to the application.
Program Components (approximately 30 hours)
- Complete all five online modules of Fundamentals of Teaching and Learning.
- Two teaching observations and feedback sessions (one of these can be a microteach).
- Participate in teaching workshops in at least two (2) of the (4) subject areas (Accessibility, Teaching Strategies, Diverse Populations, Assessment).
- Attend professional development meetings with cohort. These meetings include workshops on preparing to teach, syllabus design, educational theories, assessment, active learning, and teaching philosophy, portfolio, and diversity statement creation.
- Design and lead a microteaching session.
- Complete a teaching philosophy and diversity statement (optional).
Additional details on workshops and trainings are noted on the Program Offerings page.
Events (beginning with the academic year)
- September: New cohort orientation and meeting with teaching mentor
- October: Fundamentals of Teaching and Learning course begins
- November: Fall Mini-Conference, a day of TFF-specific workshops open to all graduate students and post-docs
- January: Professional Development Group meetings begin; Early Career Faculty panel open to all graduate students and post-docs
- February: Professional Development Group
- March: Professional Development Group
- April: Professional Development Group wraps up; microteaching session 1
- May: Microteaching session 2
Amy Forester, MFA, EdD in progress
Program Manager
Justi Echeles, MA
Graciela Vidal, MS, MEd
Lawrence Williams, MS
Brenda Martinez, PhD
This award celebrates one person who has completed or nearly completed the TFF program and who shows great promise as an educator. Nominations are due by April 30. The award winner will be announced during the lunchtime awards ceremony at Symposium on Educational Excellence on May 19. Here is the link to submit a nomination.
TFF Tattler is a newsletter with a different teaching and learning theme each month.
"TFF definitely met my expectations and provided the input and resources I had hoped for. I have learned a lot about both the theory and the practice of teaching, some of which I had never consciously considered before."
"I thought this was a fabulous course and I have recommended it to several people!"
"...TFF has definitely met my expectations and set me on the path to becoming a better instructor. I have learned a lot about pedagogy and teaching strategies and feel better equipped as I work towards improving as an educator."
"I feel like I am more comfortable teaching in person classes because I now have so much more knowledge about teaching pedagogy. I had some idea previously about aligning classes. I now have a better idea of how to write learning objectives and outcomes, implement low stakes assessments during classes, and use a variety of teaching activities during classes to meet multiple learning styles. I have not taught any online classes, but I did learn techniques to help with online teaching that will help me in the future."
"Overall, I have achieved goals of becoming more comfortable with teaching process, learning skills to improve communication, and learning to organize class content."
FAQs
Participants are welcome to try any area of engagement except the professional development group without commitment.
The program requires a total of about 27-30 hours to complete (approximately 10-11 for Fundamentals of Teaching and Learning Online; 4 hours for teaching observation and feedback; 3 hours for workshops; and 10-12 hours for the professional development group).
A TFF faculty will reach out to schedule an in-person orientation and planning session.
The program is free and it is not for credit. However, students in SOM Grad Studies may request to use their professional development credits for TFF. Ask your department chair or program director for more information.
Lesson planning, classroom management, active learning, course design, assessment design, creation of job hunt materials like teaching statements, and other skills relevant to teaching in higher education.
For more information, email tff@ohsu.edu.