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Quarterly Academic Kickoff Events

Quarterly Academic Kickoff Events feature interactive sessions designed to facilitate graduate student and postdoc transitions to teaching roles at Northwestern University. The events are held every fall and spring.

PROGRAM DETAILS

Location

Spring Quarter: TGS Commons - 2122 Sheridan Rd RM #140, Evanston

Fall Quarter: Norris University Center - 1999 Campus Drive, Evanston 

Size & Format

In-person: 31+ participants

Dates & Times

Spring Quarter 2024: 

  • Tuesday, March 26, 2024 (STEM Teaching Focus) 
  • Wednesday, March 27, 2024 (Social Sciences & Humanities Focus) 

Fall Quarter 2024: 

  • Monday, September 16, 2024

Audience
Graduate Students, Postdoctoral Trainees

Overview

The Quarterly Academic Kickoff events provide first-time TAs and grad student and postdoc instructors opportunities to learn about and explore institutional knowledge to prepare for the first day of classes! Participants are invited to attend a variety of interactive sessions throughout the day facilitated by campus partners and experienced graduate student instructors known as Kickoff Session Leaders. Each session is grounded in evidence-based practices and Northwestern’s Principles of Inclusive Teaching. Participants will also have plenty of opportunities to informally socialize during morning coffee, intentional breaks, and lunch.

Eligibility

All graduate students and postdoctoral scholars who will be TAing or teaching for the first time in the upcoming quarter are welcomed and encouraged to join us!

Registration

Registration for the Spring Quarter Kickoff Events on Tuesday, March 26 and Wednesday, March 27 in TGS Commons is closed. 

Objectives

The Academic Kickoff Events aim to

  • Introduce graduate students and postdocs to evidence-based teaching practices
  • Demonstrate ways to implement Northwestern’s Principles of Inclusive Teaching
  • Raise awareness of campus resources via sessions hosted by campus partners to help you to connect to key offices and learn more about our invited speakers
  • Start conversations about Sparking Student Curiosity & Engagement, Fostering Inclusion & Student Belonging, Providing Constructive Student Feedback, Managing Interpersonal Dynamics in Peer-Developed and Facilitated Workshops
  • Begin to build community and a network of supportive around learning and teaching

Schedule

Check out our current schedule for this year's Spring Quarter Academic Kickoff Events on Tuesday,

March 26 & Wednesday, March 27, 2024 

Tuesday, March 26, 2024 in TGS Commons - STEM Teaching Focused 
Time Event Facilitator
10:00 - 10:45 AM

Sparking Curiosity & Student Engagement in the STEM Classroom

Clover Moisanu, Chemistry PhD Candidate 

10:45 - 11:30 AM  Managing Interpersonal Dynamics in STEM  Thao P Nguyen, Biomedical Engineering PhD Candidate
11:30 - 12:00 PM  Lunch & CIRTL at Northwestern Info Session

Erika Nadile, Assistant Director, Searle Center for Advancing Learning & Teaching

12:00 - 12:45 PM Providing Constructive Student Feedback in STEM 

Hendryck Gellineau, Chemistry PhD Candidate 

12:45 - 1:30 PM  Fostering Inclusion & Student Belonging in the STEM Classroom 

Natalie Gilbert Gonzaga-Saavedra, IBiS PhD Candidate 

Schedule of Events

Wednesday, March 27, 2024 in TGS Commons - Social Sciences & Humanities Teaching Focus 

Time Event Facilitator
10:30 - 11:15 AM  Providing Constructive Student Feedback in the Social Sciences  Tomer Yehoshua-Sandak, Economics PhD Candidate
11:15 - 12:00 PM  Fostering Inclusion & Student Belonging in the Social Sciences Classroom  Gerpha Gerlin, Anthropology PhD Candidate 
12:00 - 12:30 PM  Lunch & Searle Center Info Session 

 

Kate Flom Derrick, Assistant Director, Searle Center for Advancing Learning & Teaching

12:30 - 1:15 PM  Managing Interpersonal Dynamics in the Social Sciences 

Varun Devakonda, Human Development & Social Policy, PhD Candidate 

1:30 - 2:15 PM Providing Constructive Student Feedback in the Humanities 

Elizabeth Howell, History PhD Candidate 

2:15 - 3:00 PM Sparking Curiosity & Student Engagement in the Humanities Classroom

Elizabeth Winter, English PhD Candidate 

Contact Us

Kate Flom Derrick, Assistant Director of Foundations in Learning & Teaching