Minor in College Teaching Program

The teaching experience is a required component of the MICT and must be completed under the supervision of an MU faculty member or other appropriate instructional supervisor (e.g., staff from the Teaching for Learning Center). The experience should provide meaningful, college-level instructional responsibility and opportunities for observation, feedback, and reflection.

Examples of Approved Teaching Experiences

Students have fulfilled the teaching experience requirement in a variety of ways, including:

• Serving as the Graduate Instructor for an undergraduate course
• Facilitating a lab, discussion section, or recitation as a Graduate Teaching Assistant
• Delivering guest lectures or short instructional modules within an existing course led by a faculty member

In all cases, the teaching experience must be at the college level, include appropriate instructional supervision, and meet the observation, feedback, and reflection requirements outlined below. Students do not need prior approval for experiences that clearly align with these examples; however, those considering experiences outside these formats or who are unsure whether an experience qualifies are encouraged to contact the MICT Coordinator.

Teaching Observations and Reflective Components (required)

As part of the required teaching experience, students must complete all of the following:

• Two observed class sessions (minimum of five students per class)
• Two pre-observation self-appraisals
• Two classroom observation reports completed by a faculty supervisor (the Graduate School’s Formative Classroom Observation Form is encouraged)
• Two post-observation reflections responding to feedback and identifying an action plan

The teaching portfolio serves as a reflective and comprehensive record of teaching development and instructional practice and is completed in tandem with the teaching experience. It is intended both for program review and for use in academic job searches.

After completing the teaching portfolio, students must schedule a meeting with the MICT Coordinator to complete the program review process.

Required Portfolio Contents (in order)

The teaching portfolio must include a table of contents, and materials should be organized in the following order, compiled into a single, clearly labeled PDF:

1. Teaching Experience Overview: Description of the teaching experience, including course context, instructional responsibilities, accomplishments, challenges, lessons learned, and areas for future development.
2. Teaching Philosophy Statement: A statement describing instructional goals, teaching approach, and core values.
3. Course Materials:
   • Sample course syllabus
   • Sample lesson plan
   • Examples of student work, anonymized as appropriate
4. Observation #1
   • Pre-observation self-appraisal
   • Classroom observation report (completed by faculty supervisor)
   • Post-observation self-reflection responding to feedback and identifying an action plan
5. Observation #2
   • Pre-observation self-appraisal
   • Classroom observation report (completed by faculty supervisor)
   • Post-observation self-reflection responding to feedback and identifying an action plan
6. Student Course Feedback: Collect anonymized feedback from students enrolled in the course. If the MICT student is the instructor of record and receives formal course evaluations, those results may be included in this section. If the student is not the instructor of record, the Student Evaluation of Teaching Assistant Effectiveness may be used to collect feedback.

The above organization is required and is intended to ensure that all teaching experience and observation components are clearly documented and easy to review.

To complete the MICT, students must submit the following materials to the MICT Program Coordinator:

• Completed MICT Program Completion Form
• Completed teaching portfolio

Materials should be submitted via email to the MICT Program Coordinator. At the time of submission, students should request a meeting with the coordinator to review materials and confirm completion of program requirements.

Students should allow at least two weeks for review and processing after submitting materials.

You do not need to be enrolled in a formal teaching practicum to fulfill the teaching experience requirement. As long as the teaching experience you select meets the program requirements outlined above and you have completed the other required coursework, you are eligible.

The MICT is designed as a scaffolded experience, allowing you to build skills over time. We recommend completing the core course first, followed by electives, and then culminating the program with the teaching experience. This sequence allows you to apply what you learn in the classroom to your hands-on teaching experience most effectively.

The Graduate Minor in College Teaching (MICT), offered by the Graduate School, is distinct from the Graduate Certificate in College Teaching, which is offered by the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis in the College of Education & Human Development.

In addition to required coursework, the MICT includes a hands-on teaching experience and the development of a teaching portfolio and must be completed in conjunction with a graduate degree program. The Graduate Certificate consists of 12 credit hours offered 100% online and may be completed as a standalone certificate.

If you are unsure which option—the MICT or the Graduate Teaching Certificate—best fits your availability and career goals, we recommend discussing your options with your advisor.

Courses are offered at varying frequencies and in different modalities (e.g., asynchronous online, synchronous online, in person). For the most up-to-date scheduling information, we recommend checking myZou or contacting the department offering the course directly.

The Writing Center offers support for developing your teaching philosophy for the teaching portfolio. You can schedule an appointment to meet with a writing tutor or submit materials to the Online Writery. You may also wish to consult with your advisor regarding any discipline-specific expectations or norms.

If you are not the instructor of record, you may use the Student Evaluation of Teaching Assistant Effectiveness to collect feedback on your teaching. This form is designed specifically for teaching assistants, co-instructors, and others who are not eligible for formal course evaluations.