The Preparing to Teach (PTT) certificate is a 10-week program designed to help PhD candidates prepare for the teaching components of a career in academia. Participants will learn about and gain hands-on experience with a range of teaching and assessment methods and teaching techniques for managing large and small classes, and will explore approaches to address teaching and learning issues particular to their disciplines.
Although informed by theory, the focus will be on teaching practice. Participants will develop new course materials and try out various teaching approaches within a supportive peer cohort.
Please note: Participation in the certificate is ineligible for paid pedagogical training for TAs.
2025-2026 Cohorts
This year, TLS is offering one cohort of the program, in the Winter 2026 term.
- Schedule:
- Weeks 1-8 and 10: Wednesdays 1 – 4 p.m. from January 14 until March 25
- Week 9 (microteaching): week of March 16 – 20 (day/time TBD)
- Modality: In-Person
- Applications Open: October 16, 2025
- Applications Close: December 15, 2025
- Decisions communicated no later than: December 19, 2025
- Brightspace page & communications launch for the program: 1 week prior to start of course
*NOTE: registration in PTT requires a $50 cash deposit, which is returned in full upon successful completion of the program.
See below to apply for an upcoming cohort.
Program Learning Outcomes
By the end of this program, you will be able to:
- Design a syllabus for a course in your discipline that exemplifies the principles of constructive alignment
- Construct a lesson plan and deliver a teaching demonstration (microteach) that implements learner-centred approaches
- Articulate a personal philosophy of teaching that adheres to the features characteristic of a “teaching philosophy statement” and which is informed by educational theory
Program Requirements
To earn the certificate, participants are expected to:
- Actively participate in all* sessions
- Provide constructive feedback to peers
- Complete the required readings and other assigned media sources between sessions
- Prepare and submit three assignments by the indicated due dates
- Assignment 1: Teaching Philosophy Statement
- Assignment 2: Microteaching Demonstration & Microteaching Reflection
- Assignment 3: Annotated Course Syllabus
*Please note: This program is based on a high degree of interactive learning; absences from class meetings will affect your ability to contribute to forthcoming sessions. For this reason, only one absence during the 10-week period is allowed. If for any reason you are absent from two sessions, you may be removed from the program.
Additional Information
If you are looking for additional resources to help you develop as a teacher and/or to prepare your teaching dossier, check out the following:
- Structuring Your Teaching Philosophy Statement
- Dalhousie University’s Teaching Dossier Template
- The University of Toronto’s Teaching Dossier Guide
- The University of Calgary’s Teaching Philosophies and Dossiers webpage
And if you’re looking for resources that introduce you to similar content as the PTT program, check out the following links:
For additional training opportunities, please visit our TA Training webpage.
Apply for PTT
Note: all applications are vetted carefully to ensure suitability for the program. In particular, candidates should expect to have their applications evaluated on the basis of the following criteria: level of study (Masters, PhD, Postdoctoral), stage of progress in the degree, workload for the term (academic or otherwise), availability, access to other training opportunities better suited to interests, proximity to graduation, and proximity to first teaching assignment.
Apply for PTT (note: registration closes December 15, 2025)