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RET NPEP Teaching Fellows

A comprehensive pedagogical and professional development initiative to prepare graduates of the Northwestern Prison Education Program (NPEP) for their roles as NPEP teaching assistants.

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Overview

The Reflective & Effective (RET) Certificate Program for Northwestern Prison Education Program (NPEP) Teaching Fellows is a comprehensive pedagogical and professional development initiative collaboratively designed by Searle Center and NPEP to prepare graduates of the NPEP for their roles as NPEP teaching assistants. Spanning three academic quarters from October to June, the RET NPEP program focuses on three key areas of study: Pedagogical Foundations; Course Design, Delivery, and Assessment; and Facilitating Learning and Evaluation. 

Teaching Fellows participate in nine seminars throughout the program, including an orientation and final presentation. Each two-hour seminar includes a recorded presentation created by Searle Center educational developers, followed by group discussions facilitated by trained Student Pedagogical Partners. Outside of these seminars, Fellows engage with scholarly literature related to the seminar topics and complete assignments demonstrating their learning outcomes. The total time commitment for Teaching Fellows ranges from 15 to 20 hours per quarter, amounting to 45 to 60 hours over the entire program. 

RET NPEP enhances Teaching Fellows' skills in teaching and learning, including discussion facilitation, lesson plan creation, and the use of formative and summative assessments to gauge student progress. Successful completion of the program results in a Reflective & Effective Teaching Certificate from the Searle Center, endorsing the Fellows' abilities to contribute effectively to the educational environment within the prison system. 

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the RET Certificate Program, NPEP Teaching Fellows will be able to: 

  • analyze and apply various teaching and learning theories to make informed pedagogical choices, 
  • identify barriers to student participation and develop explicit strategies to foster engagement and a sense of belonging in the classroom, 
  • design course materials and develop lesson plans to effectively facilitate student learning, 
  • create formative and summative assessment tools to measure student learning and progress, 
  • develop effective skills to lead classroom discussions and activities that enhance the student learning experience, 
  • engage in critical reflection to evaluate and continuously improve teaching effectiveness, and 
  • make data-driven decisions to improve student outcomes. 

Time Commitment

Teaching Fellows should expect to devote 20 to 25 hours to Reflective & Effective Teaching activities each quarter, for a program total of 60 to 75 hours. These time commitments are based on how deeply Teaching Fellows delve into the content and serve as suggestions. 

 

Sample Time Breakdown Per Quarter: 

  • Reading (4–7 hours) 
  • Attending Seminars (6 hours) 
  • Watching recorded presentations (3 hours) 
  • Engaging in Facilitated Discussion with Student Pedagogical Partners (3 hours) 
  • Completing Assignments (5–7 hours) 
  • Mentor Meetings (1 hour) 
  • Classroom Observations (3 hours) 

Certification Requirements

The following requirements must be met to complete the program and receive a certificate. 

  • Attendance of all nine seminars or satisfactory completion of make-up work for any missed seminars. 
  • Satisfactory completion of assignments. 
  • Demonstrated achievement of learning outcomes through seminar discussion and program assignments.