ASPIRE Teaching Intern, General Biology 1010, Belmont University, Nashville, TN
ASPIRE Teaching Internship Opportunity:
General Biology 1010
Class Lecture: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:00-9:15 am
Course-associated laboratory: Tuesday 9:30-11:30
Class Starts August 25, 2016
Belmont University
1900 Belmont Blvd
Nashville, TN 37212
Ranked No. 5 in the Regional Universities South category, Belmont University consists of approximately 7,400 students who come from every state and more than 25 countries. Committed to being a leader among teaching universities, Belmont brings together the best of liberal arts and professional education in a Christian community of learning and service. The University’s purpose is to help students explore their passions and develop their talents to meet the world’s needs. Belmont provides more than 80 areas of undergraduate study, 22 master’s programs and five doctoral degrees.
This teaching internship will provide experience in teaching a lecture and lab-based course within a liberal arts environment. The participant will be hosted by Dr. Erick Spears, Ph.D., Adjunct Instructor at Belmont and Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Vanderbilt. Dr. Spears has six semesters experience teaching this course and has taught other courses at numerous institutions over the past ten years. Under his mentorship the intern will have to opportunity to interact with undergraduate students in an instructional laboratory setting, give independent lectures, write exam questions, and observe different teaching styles. This internship will offer exposure and insight into the day-to-day activities at a medium-sized university with a strong liberal arts tradition.
General Biology (BIO 1010) is a non-majors' course in which students learn the principles of biology and how these principles affect their lives. The goal is to offer an overview of the scientific study of life that we call Biology. This course offers instruction in general biological concepts and includes practical applications of those concepts that will be relevant to students' future aspirations. Materials are presented in a standard lecture format generally following the required text. Two lecture periods are reserved for discussion-style activities that address controversial topics relevant to the current field of biology. Toward the end of the semester the end of the lecture period is set aside for each student to give a 10 minute talk on a topic relevant to biology.
The participant will:
- Observe teaching at the undergraduate level
- Meet and interact with undergraduate students
- Give 1-2 guest lectures and receive feedback
- Support teaching activities within a laboratory course
- Meet and learn from other STEM faculty at Belmont
INTERNSHIP DETAILS
Internship would be for the Fall semester, (3 mo) Sept through November 2016.
Part-time, un-paid opportunity (2-8 hours per week)
Applications due Midnight, Wednesday Aug 31, 2016
- Fill out the following ASPIRE Internship Application found here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BelmontFa2016_Spears
- Submit a CV and Statement of Teaching Philosophy to Ashley Brady at ashley.brady@vanderbilt.edu (with subject line: ASPIRE Teaching Internship_Belmont Fa 2016)
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Set up an in-person meeting with Ashley Brady prior to the application deadline.
Your information will then be passed along to the host who will contact you directly to schedule an interview.
Please review ASPIRE Internship FAQs: Found here
For further questions, please contact Ashley Brady (ashley.brady@vanderbilt.edu).
ASPIRE Internship eligibility requirements:
- Applicants must be a current Vanderbilt University PhD student or a current postdoctoral fellow.
- All PhD students must have completed all coursework for their degree prior to September2016.
- Biomedical PhD students must also have passed their qualifying exams before the application deadline.
- If you are not in a department supported by the BRET office, we will also require that you complete a form guaranteeing PI approval to participate in this program. Please contact Ashley Brady at ashley.brady@vanderbilt.edu for more information.
- If you are an international student or postdoctoral fellow, your visa status may affect your work eligibility. Please contact Ashley Brady to discuss this further.