Suggested Preparation Schedule for Teaching Summer School
There are many things instructors have to do to teach a successful class. They can be overwhelming when left all towards the end, especially if you have prelims, the first year exam, or research deadlines at the end of the semester.
We asked summer and semester instructors what action items they felt
were important to get done before the first class. These are summarized
below, along with suggested dates by when to complete the items.
These dates are guidelines, but the earlier you start on course preparation
the smoother it will go. The summer course is intense, meeting every day,
so that the more work you do before classes start, the saner your life
will be.
| Action | Complete by |
|---|---|
| Participate in Pathways
to the Professoriate series, if not done already |
2 months prior to first class. |
| Do two short practice teaching sessions | 1 month prior to first class |
| Read text completely | 1 month prior to first class |
| Learn JMP-IN | 1 month prior to first class |
| Prepare syllabus | 3 weeks prior to first class |
| Outline schedule of lectures | 3 weeks prior to first class |
| Set labs for course (use available resources) | 2 weeks prior to first class |
| Make course web page | 1 week prior to first class |
| Learn Blackboard | 1 week prior to first class |
| Prepare first few lectures | 4 days prior to first class |
| Visit the class room to become familiar with it | 2 days prior to first class |
| Activate Blackboard and web site | 1 day prior to first class |
More on the resources offered by The Graduate School
Pathways
to the Professoriate
Attend six seminars and receive credit for GS302 Instruction in
College Teaching.
Center for Instructional
Technology
Attend four seminars, one from each of the following categories and
receive credit for GS301 Instructional uses of Technology
- Introduction
- Developing and using course web pages
- Using technology to enhance class presentations
- Interactivity and class communication