Supervising & Small Group Teaching (Life Sciences)

Prerequisites

Why this course might make a difference:

This course complements the supervising training and information your Department will provide. It is a course that consists of: online material introducing the basics of undergraduate teaching in Cambridge; a face-to-face workshop, that is based on discussions and group activities; and follow-up online material that consolidates what you have learned so far.

By the end of this course you will know:

• the purpose of supervisions at Cambridge
• how to deal with common supervision scenarios
• how to provide effective feedback
• the practicalities of starting to supervise

Topics covered:

Stage 1 – Online

• Introduction to supervising (including what supervisions are, format, preparing for them)
• Background information for those who need it (British education system, Cambridge undergraduate system)

Stage 2 - Face-to-face workshop

• Role of a supervisor
• Dealing with different supervision scenarios
• Departmental information

Stage 3 – Online

• Summary of what you have learnt
• Practical tips and advice
• Resources for ongoing support and information

Life Sciences PhD Students

Completion of Pre-Workshop Online Materials

• A short online package will be sent to all participant in advance of attending the workshop
• This on line package will provide some background information on Cambridge’s undergraduate teaching system and the role of the supervisor in enhancing student learning
• This package is interactive in nature and you will be asked to consider your own perceptions about what it means to be a supervisor of undergraduate students

Number of sessions: 1

Please see the Course Description and Topics Covered for the course aims.

Blended learning course consists of introductory online component, face-to-face workshop and follow-up online component. Face-to-face workshop for 20 researchers, comprising of discussions and activities

• After taking part in the face-to-face workshop, you will be given access to a permanent online resource which will include outputs from the workshop session, as well as more detailed information about aspects of supervision practices at the University of Cambridge.
• It will provide information on topics such as effective feedback practices, reporting to college(s) on your supervisions using CamCORS, supervising students with disabilities, and effective questioning strategies.
• In addition, the package will include links to useful discipline-specific materials such as departmental marking criteria and supervision guides.

Introductory online session: approximately 1hour Face-to-face: 3 hour session, including coffee break Follow-up online session: approximately 1hour

Termly

• Effective Undergraduate Supervision
• Teaching and Learning