Student-Led Education

(Student-Led Education is now defunct. See Student Facilitated Courses.)

The purpose of Student-Led Education (SLED) is to guide undergraduates through the process of teaching their own university courses. It's already possible to teach courses on this campus -a handful of students have been through the process already. But unless you're unusually savvy, it's difficult to make it through the entire process on you're own. We exist to mentor students who have an idea of something they would like to teach from concept to classroom.

We serve students interested in facilitating their own course, and faculty who are interested in finding student instructors to support and mentor.

Over a given quarter, SLED performs three functions:

Training

• Orientation and information sessions to introduce students to the process
• Workshops and office hours to guide students through the idea generation
• Handouts and informational material to organize your plan

Resources

• Vouchers for printing copies free of charge (available Fall 2011)
• Directory of contacts for professors for sponsoring
• Grant-writing assistance
• Website for organizing course offerings each quarter, new and archived

Support

• Working with course facilitators and faculty sponsors during teaching
• Classroom observations, evaluations, and feedback
• Conflict resolutions (if need be)

From Concept to Course

Start by downloading the packet here: Course_Proposal_Packet.pdf This is a tentative packet because it's taken from UC Berkeley's version of the program:http://www.decal.org (But we'll only be changing the resources listed, so it's still worth filling out.)

If you want to teach a course Fall 2011, here are the steps you need to follow:

BEFORE SPRING 2011 IS OVER

1. Come up with an idea, see DECal for examples. Fill out the brief course interest form here.

2. Find friends who you would want to teach with (or go lone-wolf) and professors who could sponsor you

3. Approach all of these individuals (especially the professor) and begin working on a syllabus.

BEFORE FALL 2011 BEGINS

1. Your professor and department chair must both approve the syllabus as either a 98 or 198 course.

2. Complete the packet and turn it in to us.

Tips, Tricks, & Sage Advice

Types of Courses (This is not an exhaustive list, but a springboard for ideas)

• Seminars: Invite guest speakers each week, course goes through several topics relating to a theme)
• Project courses: The outcome of your course is a product, like a journal publication or performance,
• Guide courses: The course is a support/resource group, like PreLaw 101 or Getting Involved on Campus
• Media study: You course applies academic consideration to a prominent cultural trend (like Jersey Shore, Harry Potter, Family Guy, Hipsters)

Finding a sponsoring professor (in order of importance)

1. Reach out to a professor that knows and likes you

2. Find a professor that has been here longer (Lecturer<Assitant Prof<Associate Prof<Distinguished Prof) because he or she will be more experienced, and has a stronger chance of getting your proposal by the Department Chair. Bonus points if your professor IS the Department Chair.

3. Find a professor with experience in your area of interest

Resources

• You can sign up for an in-depth course on how to teach undergraduates here
• To increase your understanding of how your department will view your course proposal, view learning outcomes here
• Creating your own student learning outcomes here
• Teaching Large Classes: here
• List of links to teaching tips here