Frequently Asked Questions about F2P2 and the Teaching Certificate Program

Questions for Those New to the Teaching Certificate Program

Questions for Those New to F2P2

Questions for Those Enrolled in F2P2 Before Fall 2005

Questions for Those New to the Teaching Certificate Program

  • How do I sign up for the Teaching Certificate program?

    Please refer to the program planning meeting section of the Teaching Certificate description.

  • What are the requirements for the new Teaching Certificate program?

    Please refer to the Teaching Certificate web page.

  • Can I participate in CFT workshops and events even if I don’t want to work toward the Teaching Certificate?

    Absolutely. Our workshops, orientations, working groups, and conferences are designed to meet your teaching and professional developments needs, not to dictate the terms of how you meet those needs.

  • When I complete the Teaching Certificate program, will someone from the CFT write a letter of recommendation for me? What documentation will the CFT provide as to my participation in the Teaching Certificate program?

    When you complete the Teaching Certificate program, the contents of your electronic portfolio will provide a flexible way to document and share your participation in the program. You may choose to make your entire e-portfolio available online for academic job search committees or other interested parties, or you may choose to make only a portion of your e-portfolio available in this way.

    The Center for Teaching is not in a position to write you a letter of recommendation since we will not be evaluating the quality of your work in the Teaching Certificate program. Instead, we certify that you have participated in the program in the ways listed in the program description. The value of your work in the program and the lessons you have learned about your teaching through the program will hopefully be evident in the contents of your e-portfolio.

  • How long does the Teaching Certificate program take and when should I start?

    The program is designed to be completed over 3 or 4 semesters. You may start the program anytime you wish, but we generally recommend that you start it sooner rather than later. Teaching Certificate activities are more likely to benefit you if integrated with other professional development activities (such as those offered by your home department). The sooner you start planning your Teaching Certificate work, the more integrated this work can be with your other activities.

    Another factor to consider is what sorts of teaching opportunities do you have? Your work on the Teaching Certificate is most effectively done while you are teaching. Some departments require you to teach early in your graduate school career, while in others you don't teach until your second or third year into the program.

  • What is an ePortfolio and how do I get one?

    Teaching Certificate participants will use an ePortfolio to organize materials and track their progress in the program. We are currently assessing the software options and hope to have a system in place by spring 2006. Don't let this slow you down; when the ePortfolio system is launched you will be able to add your Teaching Certificate materials to it.

Questions for Those New to F2P2

  • How do I sign up for F2P2?

    Because F2P2 is now a voluntary, self-directed professional development program open to all Vanderbilt graduate students, professional students, and post-doctoral fellows, there is no registration system. For more information about this program, visit the F2P2 web page.

  • Can I participate in CFT workshops and events even if I don’t want to work toward the Teaching Certificate?

    Absolutely. Our workshops, orientations, working groups, and conferences are designed to meet your teaching and professional developments needs, not to dictate the terms of how you meet those needs.

Questions for Those Enrolled in F2P2 Before Fall 2005

  • Why is the CFT changing the Teaching Certificate requirements?

    In reviewing F2P2, we realized that the emphasis on professional development in the program fell beyond the scope of our mission, which focuses on teaching. We decided that we’d like to redirect our efforts towards what we know and do best: working with instructors on teaching development, enhancement, and reflection.

  • How does the new Teaching Certificate compare with the old?

    The new one focuses exclusively on teaching and learning in the college setting and not on professional development. Further, it emphasizes the scholarship of teaching and learning in a framework of inquiry, experimentation, and reflection.

  • What if I've fulfilled most of the requirements for the previous F2P2 program and was planning on completing the program this year?

    You must let Jeff Johnston, Assistant Director of the CFT, know by November 11, 2005, if you want to complete these requirements so we can schedule an individual meeting to discuss with you how best to do so.

  • Which set of requirements do I need to fulfill if I began F2P2 recently, the old F2P2 requirements or the components of the new Teaching Certificate?

    Unless you've made significant headway in the old program, we suggest that you apply your work to the new Teaching Certificate. A CFT consultant can meet with you to discuss your options and help you make a decision.

  • Can I use some of the activities I have completed for the former F2P2 program to satisfy requirements in the new Teaching Certificate program? Some activities from the Teaching and Learning track of the old program may apply to Cycle One of the new program. We suggest that you look closely at the cycle one guidelines and then think about whether or not your activities might apply. Contact Jeff Johnston if you have specific questions.

  • When registering for a CFT workshop, I noticed that no F2P2 track was listed. What happened to the F2P2 tracks? How do I know which track to apply a workshop to?

    We've abandoned the track system for the Teaching Certificate but recognize that you may need to use it still to complete the previous requirements. When it's fairly evident to you in which track we would have placed a workshop (e.g. a workshop on grading in Teaching & Learning or a teaching portfolio workshop in Professional Development), please go ahead and count a workshop toward the self-evident track. When it's not so clear—and this may be the majority of cases for you—please ask the CFT staff member leading the workshop, who can either tell you or direct you to the person who can.

  • If the CFT is going to focus less on professional development, who will be offering professional development opportunities and guidance?

    There are a wide variety of resources on the Vanderbilt campus devoted to the professional development of graduate and professional students and post-docs. These include the Career Center, the Psychological and Counseling Center, the Women’s Center, the BRET Office of Career Development and Outcomes Analysis, and others. Additionally, many of these organizations have recently joined together to create the Graduate Development Network to focus on issues particular to graduate students. The CFT will continue to offer a variety of professional development services and programs to graduate and professional students and post-docs.

If you have additional questions, please
contact Jeff Johnston.


HOME | ABOUT CFT | PROGRAMS | SERVICES | RESOURCES

Center for Teaching
1114 19th Avenue South
Peabody Box #183
Nashville, TN 37203
Phone 615-322-7290
Fax 615-343-8111

 

General Questions?
Contact Us

Web Site Questions?
Contact Webmaster

Copyright ©2009