The Center for Teaching & Learning’s College Teaching in Practice (CTP) micro-credential prepares graduate student instructors, postdoctoral scholars, faculty and staff to enhance their teaching skills at the post-secondary level. Participants are required to complete the following requirements: teach two semesters, either as a TA or instructor of record; attend 10 hours of CTL trainings; complete 20 hours of disciplinary-specific professional development in teaching; perform two video consultations with CTL staff; have one classroom observation performed by a faculty member; and submit a teaching portfolio for review at the end of program. This badge is no cost for participants at CU Boulder.

After completing this micro-credential, participants will be able to: 

Learners will benefit from the micro-credential in many ways. First, participants will have a representation of their level of proficiency in the college classroom to show to potential hiring committees at all levels of institutions across the country and world. Second, job seekers can demonstrate their levels of communication, project management as they balance their teaching, scholarship and outside responsibilities, team work if they were part of a teaching assistant cohort, relationship building with students, fellow teachers and faculty, and skill development to potential recruiters outside of higher education. 

Self-enroll in the Canvas Course

Tasks to Completion

  1. Register for Workshop, Discipline Specific Hours and Observation Tracking: Go to gtpfeedback.colorado.eduLinks to an external site. and register as a user.
  2. Participating in Center for Teaching & Learning approved workshops/trainings (10): Any CTL offering may count towards one hour of the 10 required. When registering and attending events, participants will be given credit. All CTL offerings are listed on the Events PageLinks to an external site..
  3. Participating in discipline specific professional development in teaching hours (20): Can be obtained through pedagogy courses, TA training, national and international disciplinary pedagogical workshops/training, additional CTL workshops, additional approved campus pedagogical training, teaching a course as instructor of record or other approved hours by CTL staff. After completion of all twenty hours, participants may quickly submit these under the Quick Links area on the CTL websiteLinks to an external site. As of summer 2023, all participants should download the Personal Attendance Tracking form and log each workshop/event attended. When all 20 are completed, please send to ctl@colorado.edu for filing.
  4. Video-teacher consultation (VTC): One VTC is required for this badge. Summer and winter break courses may be included in this. VTCs are performed by trained CTL Lead Network graduate students or CTL staff. Please contact your departmental CTL Lead or the CTL directly to schedule this.
  5. Classroom observation by a faculty member (1): One faculty observation is required for this badge. This may be a participant's direct advisor/supervisor or a TA coordinator. We suggest participants choose someone who may be a person they ask to write letters of recommendation while on the future job market. Classroom Observation GuideLinks to an external site.
  6. Submission of a Teaching Portfolio to the Center for Teaching & Learning: Portfolios are submitted only after all other requirements are met. They are read and approved by the CTL Director before an exit survey is sent and the micro credential awarded. This may be submitted directly to the CTL or uploaded here in Canvas. Teaching Portfolio Artifact GuideLinks to an external site.
  7. Exit survey administered and Badge awarded: An exit survey will be sent to the participant after all other tasks are completed.