A postgraduates perspective

1
A postgraduates perspective

• Léon Gaillard
• University of Birmingham

A little about me My expectations Opportunities
at Birmingham Skills gained Suggestions
2
A Little About Myself

• MSci Physics w. Astrophysics University of
  Birmingham, 2003
• Ongoing PhD in High Energy Nuclear Physics at
  Brum
• due to finish this September
• Postgraduate Teaching Assistant (PGTA)
• Undergraduate Lab demonstrator
• Undergraduate Tutor
• Planning to leave academia after PhD in favour of
  industrial research, but may be drawn back
  eventually

3
Expectations

• Completion of my education
• Give back to the subject
• Chose the most interesting subject
• Opportunities to learn something new
• Build skills
• Wasnt thinking about teaching

4
Opportunities I - Teaching

• ILUO
• Revision
• Core physics
• Maintain my hobby - astro
• Training received
• Lab demonstrator
• Tutorials
• Responsibility
• Organisation
• Nostalgia

5
Opportunities I - Teaching

• ILUO - completion of undergrad education
• Idea taken from Japanese industry
• Introduce topic
• Review topic, attempt problems
• Application to deeper problems
• Objective understanding
• Last stage is teaching others
• More student mentoring please!

initial
utility
leavening
6
Opportunities I - Teaching

• Training
• General (3 days at start)
• 1 day course run by Staff Development Unit
• Some theory of teaching
• Guidance on conduct, marking, planning
• Lab demonstrating
• Review of apparatus with head of lab
• On the job learning
• Tutoring
• Some written guidance (e.g. skills - chairing
  talks sessions)
• Observed tutorial later in year
• Follow up session
• Support
• PGTA contact, Heads of courses, head of year
• Senior tutor (academic/pastoral)
• Admin teaching support

7
Opportunities II - Postgrad

• Self management
• International perspective
• Self motivation
• Programming
• Communications
• Web
• Talks (organise/present)
• Written
• HEG website
• Open Access French courses

8
New Skills Summary

• From Teaching
• Tutorials
• deeper understanding of core physics
• evaluation
• planning
• time management
• responsibility
• Lab sessions
• technical proficiency
• evaluation
• Training new demos

9
Recommendations

• Retain knowledge and expertise
• Pass on expertise
• Tutor mentor
• Tutorial templates
• Incorporate mentoring in undergrad programme
• Involvement in example classes
• Lecturer - tutor interaction
• Help tutor to concentrate on key points
• Direct feedback
• Resource for lecturers

10
Have my expectations been met?

• Postgrad teaching has
• been fun
• provided helpful revision
• Boosted my skills
• Postgrad teaching could
• Benefit more from passing on in-house expertise
• As for my PhD expectations