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Kickoff Session Leaders

Kickoff Session Leaders are a dedicated group of graduate students who help introduce incoming TAs, graduate student instructors, and postdoc instructors to learning and teaching at Northwestern University during the Academic Kickoff.

PROGRAM DETAILS

Location
Evanston Campus 

Size & Format
In-person: 8-24 participants

Dates & Times

  • Training Sessions: August 6, 8, 21 and 22 
  • Fall Kickoff Event: Monday, September 16  in Norris University Center 
Applications Now Open! 

Audience
Graduate Students, Postdoctoral Trainees

Overview

Kickoff Session Leaders develop sessions for the Academic Kickoff to support their peers with teaching at Northwestern. Through interactive summer workshop leader training sessions, Kickoff Session Leaders collaborate with one another to develop and provide feedback on their session plans. Session Leaders engage in revision and reflection as they facilitate their session twice throughout the year.

Eligibility

Graduate students and postdocs from any department or program are invited to apply. Interested applicants should

  • Be in or beyond the second year of their program
  • Have at least two (2) quarters experience as a TA or instructor in their department/program at Northwestern
  • Be able to participate in the Fall Quarter Academic Kickoff
    • Monday, September 16, 2024 |  Norris University Center 
  • Be able to participate in the Searle Center's training sessions for Kickoff Session Leaders in summer
    • Tuesday, August 6
    • Thursday, August 8 
    • Wednesday, August 21 
    • Thursday, August 22 

Application or Registration

 Apply today! 

Applicants will be notified in June of their acceptance. 

Objectives 

As a result of being a Kickoff Session Leaders, participants will be able to:

  • Develop evidence-based and interactive sessions to support first-time TAs and instructors
  • Provide constructive and reflective peer feedback on peers’ session plans and materials
  • Build community amongst graduate students and postdoctoral scholars with teaching responsibilities at Northwestern

Time Commitment and/or Schedule

Being a Kickoff Session Leaders is a 2 month commitment, with an estimated total time commitment of 20 hours.

Throughout the year, Session Leaders:

  • Attend Session Leader training during the summer (All session 10AM - 1PM)
    • August 6 
    • August 8 
    • August 21 
    • August 22
  • Attend the Fall Quarter Academic Kickoff
    • Monday, September 16, 2024 | Norris University Center
  • Give and receive feedback on their own and peers’ session plans

Contact Us

Kate Flom Derrick, Assistant Director of Reflective Pedagogy
kate.flomderrick@northwestern.edu