Teacher Training Program
The Teacher Training Program (TTP) was developed in 2018 by Aimee Pugh Bernard to offer advanced PhD students and postdoctoral fellows across the CU Anschutz medical campus an opportunity to develop a range of valuable teaching skills within the realm of scientific and medical education. The program aims to provide a flexible, dynamic, and collaborative curriculum design and teaching experience for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. Aimee provides a variety of flexible and individualized options, including mentoring, guidance and direct feedback on curriculum design, individual class session development, instructional practices (e.g. principles of scientific teaching, active learning, etc.), and assessment design and analysis. See below for workshop opportunities and teaching resources as well as testimonials from past TTP Fellows.
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Teacher Training Program Description and Application
Acquiring experience in curricular design and teaching practices of undergraduate and/or graduate-level courses during training is highly beneficial for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows considering future careers in academia. This type of training and experience is invaluable to future success and confers a competitive advantage to peers without similar teacher training. Use this link to learn more and/or apply.
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Scientific Teaching Workshop
Learning to teach is an essential component of academic training and professional development. As a participant in the CU Department of Immunology & Microbiology Teacher Training Program Scientific Teaching Workshop, you will learn the fundamentals of curriculum design and implementation grounded in the principles of scientific teaching. Use the link below to learn more about scientific teaching and/or apply.
Science Communication Workshop
As scientists, we are involved in some of the most innovative and cutting-edge work relevant to current, real-world issues. Communicating the details of our science to the general public is more important than ever - not only to obtain funding but to share the findings and impact of our scientific endeavors to society at large. What is your strategy to communicate your research to the general public? Use the link below to learn more about the science communication workshop and/or apply.
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Teaching Interest Group
Interested in connecting with individuals like you to become part of a teaching community?
Email Aimee.Bernard@cuanschutz.edu to join the team!
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Please use the link below to access teaching resources carefully curated by Aimee.
Brady Spencer, PhD
Post-doctoral Fellow, Doran Lab
"Dr. Bernard is very intentional in her training program to provide her mentees experience in many different aspects of teaching including developing curricula, building course materials in Canvas, writing a syllabus and class policies, and importantly, in communicating with students. This guided experience in interacting with students has been invaluable and has taught me how to design and enforce class policies, how to work with students who are performing poorly in the course, and how to grade and respond to unsatisfied students. I cannot imagine how difficult it would have been to learn these aspects of the teaching job on my own, while navigating a new faculty position; therefore, I am very grateful that Dr. Bernard incorporates these important aspects into her training regimen."
Scott B Thompson, PhD
Post-doctoral Fellow, Kedl Lab
"Overall my experience in the Teacher Training Program has been overwhelmingly positive and has provided me with essential techniques and skills for my future as a scientific educator. Dr. Bernard has been an outstanding mentor whose clear expectations and constructive criticism have fostered my growth as an instructor. I would strongly encourage any current pre- and post- doctoral trainees with an interest in future teaching work to participate in this program, as it will provide them with a foundation of pedagogical skills essential for future successful teaching."
William 'Billy' Palmer, PhD
Post-doctoral Fellow, Norman Lab
"During my third year as a postdoctoral fellow, I sought teaching experience to prepare myself for tenure-track faculty positions and was lucky enough to connect with Aimee to become a teaching assistant for the Introduction to Immunology (IMMU7530) course. Helping with the IMMU7530 course has been an invaluable experience unlike any other teaching assistant position, the difference certainly being Aimee’s knowledge and dedication to helping others improve. The result has been an increased confidence in my teaching ability and a better understanding of the practices and structures that can be used going forward in my career. Altogether, IMMU7530 has left me more prepared for a faculty position. I would recommend that any PhD student or postdoctoral fellow interested in teaching should jump at an opportunity to work with her, or take part in her teacher training program."