I’m a Graduate Student

The framework highlights the teaching philosophy and concepts that shape our educational development programming

Instructors can use the framework to guide their teaching choices about assignments, assessments, and classroom facilitation.  

A guide and list of Yale-related AI resources for faculty instructors interested in using or discussing AI in the classroom. 

First generation and low income students form a diverse and rapidly growing student population. How can we best support these students in the specific challenges they face and how can we design our classes with these students in mind? This Learning Community is povides just the place to analyze first generation and low income students’ experiences through first-person narratives and discuss evi…

Writing is the lifeblood of divinity scholars’ academic and professional success. In this interactive panel, YDS faculty members will share the writing practices that have sustained their own careers, from maintaining productivity, to balancing teaching and personal commitments, to finding joy and meaning in their writing. This window into the writing lives of YDS faculty can help you develop a…

Are you currently applying to PhD programs? A crucial component of your application is your statement of purpose. This workshop will present guidelines for narrating your intellectual autobiography, explaining your fit with your target program, and describing your proposed research interests. We will also provide real examples of statements to analyze and discuss, and guide you through starting…

Join your fellow graduate students to set goals, eliminate distractions, and get some focused writing done. We will provide quiet writing space and sustenance (beverages, snacks, and dinner). You will help us create community, accountability, and support as we build our writing momentum together. Please note: We will be checking registered participants in, so make sure that you have received…

Join your fellow graduate students to set goals, eliminate distractions, and get some focused writing done. We will provide quiet writing space and sustenance (beverages, snacks, and dinner). You will help us create community, accountability, and support as we build our writing momentum together. Please note: We will be checking registered participants in, so make sure that you have received…

Beyond just being an indicator of students’ progress, class participation can serve as a crucial facilitator of understanding through building classroom environments that encourage meaningful student engagement. This workshop explores the meaning of “participation” and the diverse ways in which it can appear in the classroom, the stakes of why participation is important to student learning, and…

Are you a researcher in a lab and interested in mentoring others? Are you working closely with students, technicians, or volunteers in the lab and want to make sure you set yourself up for success as a new mentor? In this 2-part Intermediate Teaching Workshop (ITW), you will learn about productive ways to establish clear mentor-mentee expectations in the lab, supporting your mentee’s growth and…

How can we promote thoughtful and productive discussions in the classroom? What strategies can we use to encourage equitable student engagement across disciplinary settings? In this workshop, we will identify the components of an effective discussion and introduce strategies for facilitating dynamic and constructive conversations. You will gain a concrete toolkit for starting and shaping a clas…

Are you seeking to cultivate a classroom environment that fosters equity and support, actively addressing and challenging forms of exclusion in academia? Are you hoping to design lesson plans, assignments, and activities that are accessible, inclusive, equitable and meet the diverse needs of students? In this four-part series, we will learn to apply evidence-based equitable teaching strategies,…

Kick off the year with the CCTP community! The first half hour will introduce the Certificate of College Teaching Program (CCTP)—what it is and how to get involved. Afterward, stick around for a fun social hour with snacks and plenty of time to connect with fellow CCTP participants. Whether you’re brand new, curious about the CCTP, or already working on your certificate, this is your chance …

How can we grade fairly, transparently, and in a way that motivates our students? What grading techniques foster student engagement and investment in learning, and what practices might we want to move away from? In this workshop, we’ll reflect critically on the values that our grading tools express, identify common types of grading bias, and introduce alternative strategies for grading for more…

Writing a prospectus in the sciences? In this workshop, we will cover the structure and content of a prospectus, as well as writing tips and resources. After that, Yale PhD students who have successfully defended their prospectuses will share strategies from their experiences navigating this challenging new genre, which will conclude with a Q&A. Our panelists will include: Shoham Benmelech (B…

While we may often think of instruction as an abstract and intellectual endeavor, how we inhabit the classroom cannot be decoupled from aspects of who we are emotionally, mentally, and physically. So, what does it mean to bring your whole self into the classroom? Should you even bring your whole self to the classroom? What are you left to process after teaching? Your body’s relationship to teac…

How can your teaching statement offer a clear and compelling description of you as an instructor to future employers? This hands-on workshop offers strategies and suggestions on how to present your teaching principles and practices on the academic job market. We will review examples of successful teaching statements, explore the expectations of the genre, and discuss how to make the most of thi…

Working on a master’s thesis in the social sciences or humanities? This workshop will prepare participants to begin their projects with practical exercises focused on entering an academic conversation. You’ll develop strategies for gathering resources and streamlining the writing process. We will also discuss the various components of the thesis, including how to choose a topic, conduct a liter…

How can your teaching statement offer a clear and compelling description of you as an instructor to future employers? This hands-on workshop offers strategies and suggestions on how to present your teaching principles and practices on the academic job market. We will review examples of successful teaching statements, explore the expectations of the genre, and discuss how to make the most of thi…

Generative AI tools like ChatGPT are becoming fixtures in classrooms, but how do we thoughtfully integrate them into our teaching? In this interactive workshop, we’ll explore how generative AI is shaping student learning, assignment design, and classroom engagement across disciplines. Together, we’ll examine sample use cases, discuss how to set clear expectations around AI use, and surface stra…

How can we keep students engaged while delivering content efficiently in a large lecture class? In this ATW, we examine how to enhance lecture effectiveness by breaking up dense lecture sections with objective-oriented and engaging student participation activities. We also will discuss development of a teaching persona that welcomes participation and design of effective and engaging lecture med…

How do you respond when a student shares with you that they are struggling with depression, anxiety, or other barriers to their wellbeing in your classroom? This workshop will invite graduate student instructors across the disciplines to develop skills and strategies for supporting students’ mental health. We will learn how to apply principles of accessible design to structure our own classroom…

Office hours can be much more than a place for students to ask last-minute homework questions. When framed intentionally, they can support deeper learning, foster stronger connections, and promote equity by reaching a broader range of students. In this workshop, we will explore strategies for making office hours welcoming and effective learning spaces. We’ll discuss how to clearly communicate t…