Preparing to Teach Certificate

About PTT

Participants in the Preparing to Teach certificate 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.

Upcoming Cohorts

Fall 2026

• Schedule:
  • Weeks 1-8 and 10: Thursdays 1 – 4 p.m. from September 17 until November 26
  • Week 9 (microteaching): week of November 16 – 20 (day/time TBD)
• Modality: In-person
• Applications open: July 30, 2026
• Applications close: September 3, 2026
• Decisions communicated no later than: September 8, 2026
• Brightspace page and communications launch for the program: One week prior to start of course

Winter 2027

• Information regarding the availability of a Winter 2027 cohort will be made available on this webpage by November 2026.

*NOTE: registration in PTT requires a $50 cash deposit, which is returned in full upon successful completion of the program.

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 and 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:

• Mediaspace Recordings of TLS workshop offerings

For additional training opportunities, please visit our TA Training webpage.

Apply for PTT

Applications for the Fall 2026 cohort will open by or before July 30, 2026.

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.