Embarking on your journey as a graduate student is both an exciting and challenging experience. Our goal is to support you in your teaching and writing by providing a wealth of resources and services designed to help you succeed. Let us help you achieve your highest potential!
McDougal Graduate Teaching Fellows
The McDougal Graduate Teaching Fellows at the Poorvu Center lead programs on effective and innovative teaching, develop teaching resources, and provide individual observations for graduate student and postdoctoral instructors at Yale. As a fellow, you will grow and deepen your expertise, while you reflect on and refine your approach to teaching through sustained engagement with interdisciplinary pedagogical scholarship. To be eligible, applicants must be registered graduate students in good academic standing with at least one semester of Yale teaching experience.
Certificate of College Teaching Preparation
The Certificate of College Teaching Preparation (CCTP) is an opportunity for Yale Graduate Students, Professional Students, and Postdoctoral Scholars to complete a comprehensive training program in effective college teaching. The goal of this certificate program is to equip Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Fellows with transferable skills that are valuable both on the academic job market and in a wide range of careers involving teaching and mentoring. The experience culminates in the production of a portfolio showcasing their teaching development.
Associates in Teaching
Offered in collaboration between the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) and the Poorvu Center, the competitive Associates in Teaching Program allows Ph.D. students the opportunity to expand their range of teaching experiences and responsibilities while receiving mentorship from a faculty co-teacher. Through the Associates in Teaching program, doctoral students collaborate with a faculty member to conceptualize or redesign, plan, and deliver an undergraduate course.
Graduate Writing Lab
The Graduate Writing Lab supports Yale graduate students with all aspects of written, oral, and visual communication. Our team helps graduate students communicate the significance of their research to a wide range of audiences. In addition to helping grad students join the academic conversation and navigate the writing conventions in their field, the Graduate Writing Lab strives to build community and promote a supportive writing culture in which every Yale graduate student can thrive.
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Teaching at Yale Day
This event introduces graduate and professional school students who are new to teaching at Yale to resources and best practices for engaging with faculty and students.
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Fundamentals of Teaching
This four-part series for graduate and professional students introduces the theory and practice of teaching while promoting deep, discipline-specific conversations.
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Teaching Courses and Seminars
Open to graduate students and postdoctoral scholars, these offerings are a foundational introduction to teaching in preparation for future teaching careers.
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Graduate & Postdoctoral Scholars Learning Communities
Structured space to share experiences, reflect on teaching practices, and refine ideas with peers and colleagues.
Graduate Resources
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A Guiding Framework for Teaching
The framework highlights the teaching philosophy and concepts that shape our educational development programming
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A Guiding Framework for Teaching: Resource Page
Instructors can use the framework to guide their teaching choices about assignments, assessments, and classroom facilitation.
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Active Learning
Active learning is instruction that creates opportunities for students to actively participate in the knowledge-making process.
Learning Resource Library
A collection of articles to support your journey as a student at Yale.
“My time at the Center for Teaching and Learning has made me think about always having current and future teaching goals for myself, be they trying out a new form of writing assignment or bringing social media into the curriculum. I hope that by articulating these goals to myself and to my colleagues, I will continue to develop as a teacher and discover a community of like-minded educators in the process.”
Annie Berke, Ph.D. (Film and Media Studies, American Studies)
Upcoming Events
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Canvas 101: A Foundational Series for Canvas @ Yale
Whether you’re new to Canvas or looking to refresh your foundational skills, this five-part series is designed to support instructors, instructional support staff, and academic leaders in building confidence and competence with Canvas tools. Each session offers hands-on guidance, practical strategies, and opportunities to explore features that enhance teaching and learning. Participants are …
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Getting Started with Canvas (Canvas 101 Session 1): Your First Steps to Success
Join us for a dynamic and hands-on training session designed for instructors, instructional support staff, and academic leaders who are new to Canvas or looking to refresh their foundational skills. This workshop will equip participants with the confidence and strategies needed to navigate Canvas effectively, set up courses with clarity, and utilize essential tools that enhance teaching and lea…
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Assignment Tool Kit (Canvas 101 Session 2): Creating, Customize, Collect
Join us for a dynamic and training session designed for instructors, instructional support staff, and academic leaders who are new to Canvas or looking to refresh their skills in creating effective assignments. This workshop will empower participants with the confidence and strategies to: Navigate the Canvas interface and personalize their dashboard Design and structure assignme…
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Gradebook Essentials (Canvas 101 Session 3): Setup, Tips and Troubleshooting
Join us for a practical and interactive training session designed for instructors, instructional support staff, and academic leaders who want to gain confidence in using the Canvas Gradebook. Whether you’re new to Canvas or looking to refine your grading workflow, this session will provide essential strategies for managing grades effectively and troubleshooting common issues. Participants wi…
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Quizzes in Canvas (Canvas 101 Session 4): Classic vs New – What You Need to Know
Join us for a focused and practical session designed for instructors, instructional support staff, and academic leaders who want to make informed decisions about which quiz tool best fits their teaching needs. This session will help participants: Understand the key differences between Classic and New Quizzes Explore the strengths and limitations of each tool Learn how to cre…
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Working Together in Canvas (Canvas 101 Session 5): Empowering Student Collaboration with Groups You Need to Know
Discover how to foster meaningful student collaboration in Canvas through the effective use of Groups. This hands-on session is designed for instructors, instructional support staff, and academic leaders who want to create engaging, student-centered learning experiences. Participants will: Learn how to set up and manage Canvas Groups for assignments, discussions, and projects Exp…
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Assessment, Grading, and AI
No one wants to grade AI-generated text, and students do not want to outsource their learning to AI. How do we return to our assessments—essays, group projects, presentations, reading responses and beyond—in light of AI? This workshop is premised on the belief that unpermitted AI use will be less appealing and accessible when assessments align with learning goals and when we are explicit about …
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ITW: Participation and Equity (Online)
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…
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ITW: Online Teaching (online)
Although many classes are conducted through in-person instruction, online teaching remains an important and valuable medium for reaching students. We will consider best practices for remote teaching and both the challenges and benefits of teaching online. We will discuss ways to incorporate equity and accessibility into online teaching and how to build community in the online classroom. Please …
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CCTP Orientation and Learning Community Meetup (Virtual)
Kick off the spring semester with the CCTP community! The first half hour will introduce the Certificate of College Teaching Preparation (CCTP)—what it is and how to get involved. Afterward, stick around to find a learning community or socialize! Whether you’re brand new, curious about the CCTP, or already working on your certificate, this is your chance to meet others pursuing the CCTP and …
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ITW: Universal Design for Learning—Higher Expectations, Lower Barriers
Does creating a rigorous classroom come at the cost of accessibility and equity? In this Intermediate Teaching Workshop (ITW), we’ll explore the meaning of Universal Design for Learning, use this framework to identify the barriers present in the traditional classroom model, and discover how to incorporate rigor without sacrificing access. If you have any questions, please contact Taylor Dover (…
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ATW: Course Design (2 sessions - 1/22, & 29)
Designing your own course but don’t know where to start? Whether it’s your first time leading your own course or you’re just interested in improving your teaching, this two-part Advanced Teaching Workshop will walk you through where to start, what to focus on, and how to build an equitable and engaging curriculum. In this workshop, we will write learning objectives, design assessments, and buil…
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ATW: How We Learn (2 sessions - 1/27 & 2/3)
How can we leverage the science of learning to enhance our own pedagogy? In this two-part workshop, we will explore the research behind learning and discuss how we can translate this research into creating effective learning environments for our students. Together, we will review and refine our teaching praxis on the basis of two evidence-based frameworks for learning and explore the intricate …
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ATW: Course Design (2 sessions)
Designing your own course but don’t know where to start? Whether it’s your first time leading your own course or you’re just interested in improving your teaching, this two-part Advanced Teaching Workshop will walk you through where to start, what to focus on, and how to build an equitable and engaging curriculum. In this workshop, we will write learning objectives, design assessments, and buil…
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ITW: AI in the Classroom
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…
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ITW: Collective Knowledge in the Classroom
Where do you know from? The goal of the workshop is to reframe our understanding of how knowledge is produced and shared in the classroom to consider ‘knowing’ a collective practice. The workshop will utilize pedagogical scholarship to help participants expand their teaching practice beyond traditional models of knowledge transfer. We will begin with a group reflection of our respective discipl…
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Yale AI Updates + Community Chat: Teaching & Learning
Join us for a live online session focused on how AI is shaping teaching and learning at Yale. We’ll share the latest AI tools and updates, demo helpful features, and talk through classroom policy considerations. This is also your chance to ask questions, explore use cases, and connect with others thinking about AI in education. Agenda: 30 Mins - AI Tools and Updates 10 Mins - Classroom AI…
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Linked ITW-to-ATW: ITW: Disability in the Classroom (Online - 2/6, & 13)
How can we build classrooms that more fully support disabled, neurodiverse, and chronically ill students? In this two-session workshop series, we will learn how to build classrooms and cultivate teaching methods that are holistically accessible, learn about disability resources on campus, and critically engage with how disability influences student and teacher experiences. The ITW will help gro…
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ITW: Grading and Rubrics
Have you encountered any issues regarding grading? Have you ever felt uncertain when designing a rubric? Consider joining our workshop, where we will address questions like: How can we grade fairly, transparently, and in a way that motivates students? What grading tools and techniques foster student engagement? In this workshop, we will analyze best practices for grading, study common types of …
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ITW: Play in the Classroom
Do you want to have more fun in class? College students aren’t too old to have fun! Play can be an essential component of the learning process, but it is often only associated with childhood education. What might play bring to higher education and university curricula? In this ITW, we will discuss how play helps learners engage and relax in the classroom, make connections, and think creatively …
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LC: Empathy and Vulnerability in the Classroom (2/10, 17, 24, & 3/3)
How can we manage tense moments when facilitating discussions in the classroom? How can we show up for our students emotionally when discussing intellectually challenging topics? In this learning community, we will explore how we as instructors can center empathy and vulnerability in the classroom. We invite instructors from all disciplines to explore these topics through reading and discussing…
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Fundamentals of Equitable Teaching (Online - 2/11, 18, 25, & 3/4)
Are you aiming to foster an equitable and supportive classroom environment? Are you hoping to design lesson plans, assignments, and activities that are accessible and engaging to a breadth of students? In this four-part (online) series, we will explore what it means to be equitable, become familiar with the scholarship on equitable teaching, and consider how inequity shapes our disciplines and …
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Linked ITW-to-ATW: ATW: Disability in the Classroom [Online]
How can we build classrooms that more fully support disabled, neurodiverse, and chronically ill students? In this two-session workshop series, we will learn how to build classrooms and cultivate teaching methods that are holistically accessible, learn about disability resources on campus, and critically engage with how disability influences student and teacher experiences. The ITW will help gro…
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ITW: Teaching Quantitative Reasoning
How do you develop the next generation of scientists, mathematicians, or engineers? This workshop will provide guidance on applying equitable and effective teaching strategies in Quantitative Reasoning (QR) courses, and more broadly, STEM subjects. These disciplines require teaching students logic and analytical skills through the lens of course content. We will define quantitative reasoning an…
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ITW: Leading Effective Discussions (online)
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 foundational toolkit for starting and shaping a …
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ITW: Teaching First-Generation Low-Income Students
First generation and low income (FGLI) students form a diverse and rapidly growing student population. Like many non-traditional student groups, FGLI students face challenges and barriers in college settings not necessarily designed for them. In this workshop, we will analyze first generation and low income students’ experiences and the strengths they bring to learning. We will examine first-pe…
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Yale AI Updates + Community Chat: Teaching & Learning
Join us for a live online session focused on how AI is shaping teaching and learning at Yale. We’ll share the latest AI tools and updates, demo helpful features, and talk through classroom policy considerations. This is also your chance to ask questions, explore use cases, and connect with others thinking about AI in education. Agenda: 30 Mins - AI Tools and Updates 10 Mins - Classroom AI…
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ATW: Lecturing for Active Engagement (Online)
How can we keep students engaged while delivering content efficiently in a large lecture class? In this ATW, we will explore strategies for enhancing lecture effectiveness that maintain student interest and promote active learning. Participants will develop practical tools and strategies for equitable and effective teaching and time management. We welcome teaching fellows and instructors at all…
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LC: Disability Justice as Pedagogy (Online - 3/31, 4/7, 14, & 21)
This online learning community invites instructors from across disciplines to explore how the principles of disability justice can shape our teaching. We will start by introducing principles and vocabulary of disability justice, drawing on readings from both the scholarly disciplines of critical pedagogy and disability studies, and from grassroots disability justice organizers and culture worke…
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Fundamentals of Equitable Teaching (In-Person - 4/1, 8. 15, & 22)
Do you want to support and facilitate the success of students with wide-ranging experiences, identities, and learning styles? Are you interested in learning about the ‘hidden curriculum’ and how structural inequity in university settings impacts student engagement both in and outside of the classroom? In this four-week workshop, we will work together to recognize and address possible sources of…
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Yale AI Updates + Community Chat: Teaching & Learning
Join us for a live online session focused on how AI is shaping teaching and learning at Yale. We’ll share the latest AI tools and updates, demo helpful features, and talk through classroom policy considerations. This is also your chance to ask questions, explore use cases, and connect with others thinking about AI in education. Agenda: 30 Mins - AI Tools and Updates 10 Mins - Classroom AI…
We’re here to help!
Reach out to the Poorvu Center team if you have any questions or to learn more about our programs.