Michigan State University’s Certification in College Teaching requires fulfillment of five core competencies.
Core Competency #1: Developing Discipline-Related Teaching Strategies: All history educators should be appropriately trained in the pedagogical approaches that best facilitate the learning of key concepts and methods of history. This means incorporating innovative lessons and assignments that keep students engaged and teach them the fundamental disciplinary knowledge. As technology advances and these approaches change, so too must educators. Thus, I believe that using LMSs like D2L and collaborate work spaces like the Google Docs and can be incorporated to reach these goals while addressing a changing student body–one that may prefer a hybrid or online classroom experience. This competency was completed through enrollment in AL 891.
Core Competency #2: Creating Effective Learning Environments: As an educator, I am invested in student learning. I believe that, of course, for a classroom to be effective, it must be interesting and engaging. Given the nature of history and historiography (in that historians are constantly debating one another), students can engage in peer instruction or collaborate assignments. This competency was completed through workshop attendance during the 2017 CCTI.
Core Competency #3: Incorporating Technology in Teaching: As mentioned above, history educators must be ready and willing to adapt to technologic additions to classroom pedagogy. Introducing course websites, extensive use of D2L (for more than simply syllabi availability), or consistent use of clickers or quiz software can significantly increase student engagement. Further, digital history methods, such as text analysis, data mining, and mapping, can be used to teach students innovate ways to think historically. This competency was completed through workshop attendance during the 2017 CCTI.
Core Competency #4: Understanding the University Context: As a future faculty member, negotiating various and differing institutional environments is imperative for professional development and teaching. Awareness of particular institutional missions, including the importance of teaching v. research, will allow me to see where my own goals regarding teaching align with a university or college’s. This competency was completed through workshop attendance during the 2017 CCTI.
Core Competency #5: Assessing Student Learning: What better way to improve as a teacher is there than assessing student learning? Evaluating how much and what students learned offers an incredible opportunity for educators to become more informed about and, therefore, improve their teaching styles. This competency was completed through a mentored teaching project in conjunction with the Interdisciplinary Inquiry and Teaching Fellowship.