The SDSU Graduate School is pleased to announce the 2023-24 Excellence in Graduate Teaching Award, in recognition of graduate students who exemplify excellence in the teaching/learning mission of SDSU. The purpose of this award is to raise the attention given to excellence in teaching and mentoring as a component of graduate education and the preparation of graduate students for future service as college and university faculty.
The SDSU Excellence in Graduate Teaching Award competition is open to all graduate students who have graduate teaching assistantships and are actively enrolled students. Nominations must include a letter of support from the department head, a current curriculum vitae, the nominee’s teaching portfolio, which includes: statement of teaching philosophy, evidence of instructional design for improved student learning, video clip of “teaching in action", evidence of effective student/colleague mentoring and evidence of professional development. Nominations are limited to six pages double spaced excluding the nomination form, letter of nomination and curriculum vitae.
Primary consideration will be given to nominees with an excellent teaching portfolio and student evaluations. Nominations must be submitted electronically before 11:59 p.m., December 14, 2023.
Evaluation Criteria
- Letter of support from the nominee’s department head (includes description of any departmental honors awarded to this masters/doctoral student for excellence in teaching)
- Current Curriculum Vitae
- Nominee’s Teaching Portfolio (maximum of 6 pages double spaced):
- Statement of Teaching Philosophy[15 points] Please convey your core ideas about being an effective teacher. Share your values and beliefs related to teaching and learning. Discuss your goals and the methods or strategies you use to achieve those goals.
- Evidence of instructional design for improved student learning [30 points] In your experience as an instructor, explain how you have used instructional design to develop learning materials, experiences, and environments that promote better student learning. This could include content production, learning activities, student-instructor interaction, peer-to-peer interaction and effective assessments, among other things.
- Video clip of “Teaching in Action” (10 minute maximum/electronic link provided)[30 points] Use the video clip to demonstrate how you have implemented key elements of your teaching philosophy or instructional design. A variety of teaching settings may be used for the video including but not limited to lecture, facilitated discussion, lab, etc. as appropriate to the course. Rather than expertise in creating the video, the focus should be on activities that demonstrate improved learning, such as student engagement, personalized learning, project-based learning, etc. For asynchronous online courses, a video presentation by the instructor of key engaged learning activities, or learning environments, would be examples of good evidence.
- Evidence of Effective Student/Colleague Mentoring[10 points] Describe your experience with mentoring students outside of the classroom, whether that be related to the courses you teach or in other settings. Additionally, discuss any experience you have with mentoring your peers or colleagues in the context of teaching.
- Evidence of Professional Development [15 points] Explain how you have used professional development opportunities to grow in your teaching excellence. If appropriate, how have you aligned professional development in the feedback you have received on your teaching?
Please Note:
Excluding nomination form, letters of nomination and vitae, the nomination (Teaching Portfolio) is limited to six (6) pages double spaced. Applications which do not adhere to submission requirements; including deadlines, page limits and video length, will not be considered.
The SDSU Excellence in Teaching Award criteria is based on the MAGS Excellence in Graduate Student Teaching Award criteria.