Senior Teaching Consultant
I work on the pedagogical side of higher education to engender a deeper awareness of inclusive teaching practices among the graduate student body. I collaborate with instructors to develop student-centered practices, many of which are designed to be more inclusive of students of diverse backgrounds and learning styles.
Consultation Services
Teaching Observation: I observe the instructor with an eye towards particular elements of their teaching on which they would like feedback. I then meet with the instructor for a conversational debrief in which we explore ways to improve the instructor’s pedagogy based on their own teaching style and classroom needs.
Mid-Course Review: I work with the instructor to design an anonymous survey aimed at gathering feedback on particular elements of their teaching. I then meet with the students without the instructor present to solicit anonymous feedback based on the instructor’s directives. Finally, I meet with the instructor for a conversational debrief in which we troubleshoot any components of their teaching that hinder student learning.
Microteaching: I facilitate group microteaching sessions, in which each participant teaches a five-minute segment of a lesson. Other participants and I provide constructive feedback on their structure, engagement, and other facets of their teaching on which they seek to improve.
Job Market Materials: I review teaching statements, diversity statements, syllabi, teaching portfolios, and other teaching-related materials for graduate students approaching the job market, providing individual feedback on content and style. I work with consultees to develop the message and execution of their materials.
Pedagogy Workshops: I facilitate workshops offered to fellow graduate students. Some of these workshops are trainings for new Teaching Consultants. Other workshops are open to the broader student body. In Spring 2021, for example, I facilitated a workshop on classroom observations. I also began facilitating an asynchronous, month-long workshop on writing Teaching Statements.
Consulting Highlights
Being able to work one-on-one with instructors through Teaching Observations and Mid-Course Reviews allows me to offer advice that is tailored to their particular teaching style and experiences. This may take the form of introducing ideas for small group work, low-stakes classroom assessment techniques, or meta conversations with students; each of these practices contributes to the awareness that the instructor has of the prior knowledge and needs of the students while it also offers a format for the instructor to communicate and provide feedback on what they expect of their teaching statements.
Microteaching and workshop facilitation have increased my capacity to effectively share information and guide discussions among my peers, facilitating their learning through the process.
Sample of anonymous feedback from consultees:
“Mary Catherine was an excellent reviewer, and was so helpful in brainstorming solutions with me to problems I’ve been having in my teaching.”
“[Mary Catherine] was very composed and understanding, and let the students run most of the session while only being a connector, which I found to be very helpful and effective to ensure student involvement in teaching and critiquing.”
“[Mary Catherine] was really kind, and great with holding space for us to speak up.”
“Mary Catherine was great – very relatable, supportive, and encouraging.”
“Mary Catherine was great, super engaging, warm and concise.”
Disciplines in which I have consulted include:
• Anthropology
• Art History
• Astronomy
• Chemistry
• Classical Studies
• Classics
• Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology
• English and Comparative Literature
• German
• History
• Instructional Technology & Media
• Italian
• Music
• Political Science
• Psychology
• Public Health
• Religion
• Social Work
• Sociology
• Theater
