CIRTL at Virginia Tech Practitioner Teaching Program

Get Involved!

The Practitioner Teaching Program is designed for graduate students and postdoctoral associates to engage in and reflect on effective teaching practices. Specifically, by participating in this program, participants will engage in sessions and activities aligned with the CIRTL Network’s Learning Goals of 1) developing evidence-based teaching knowledge, 2) connecting with community to enhance teaching, 3) cultivating teaching skills through reflective improvement, and 4) preparing for an impactful career.

The Goal

The goal is for participants to deepen their knowledge of evidence-based teaching practices while actively engaging in and reflecting on teaching in practice.

Digital Badge

Upon program completion, participants will receive a digital CIRTL at Virginia Tech Practitioner Badge recognizing their achievement of program requirements. A digital badge provides a way to visually communicate accomplishments with a variety of audiences through online platforms (e.g., digital resumes, e-portfolios, LinkedIn).

Eligibility

To be eligible for the CIRTL at Virginia Tech Practitioner Teaching Program, participants must 1) have completed the CIRTL at Virginia Tech Associate Teaching Program, 2) be a current graduate student or postdoctoral associate at Virginia Tech for the duration of the Practitioner Teaching Program, and 3) be able to complete the program requirements within the academic year of application/acceptance. Note that badges will not be awarded to those who are not current graduate students or postdoctoral associates at Virginia Tech. The program is open to graduate students and postdoctoral associates regardless of teaching experience or responsibilities.

Program Details

The Practitioner Teaching Program is an academic year-long, cohort-based learning community. Participants will meet regularly with their cohort in two-hour, synchronous learning community sessions. During these sessions, participants will 1) continue to learn about and engage in teaching-related topics in workshops/seminars with CETL staff, faculty, and other guest speakers from Virginia Tech, 2) engage in facilitated working sessions to develop teaching portfolio materials, and 3) participate in discussions and peer review sessions with cohort members. In addition to the cohort sessions, participants will be required to complete one CIRTL Network program from a list of eligible programs. Topics to be discussed throughout the program will include, but are not limited to, course design, assessment of learning, engaged/active learning, lesson planning, classroom management, universal design for learning, reflective teaching practice, teaching as research, and a variety of pedagogies, including team-based learning, problem-based learning, project-based learning, experiential learning, and global learning.

Expected Participant Time Commitment: Participants can expect to spend an average of five hours per month on program activities during the fall AND spring semesters. This is inclusive of synchronous meeting times and asynchronous activities and assignments.

Program Requirements:

• Participation in at least four of five cohort sessions each semester
• Participation in one CIRTL Network program (from a list of eligible programs)
• Completion of all program activities, which include a teaching observation, a lesson plan, a microteaching experience, teaching artifact(s) development, a teaching-as-research plan, and an updated teaching philosophy statement

2025-26 Program Cohort Schedule: Practitioner Teaching Program cohort sessions will take place synchronously and online during the times listed below. Please note that this is an academic year-long program, and you will need to participate in at least four meetings in the fall semester AND at least four meetings in the spring semester.

• Fall Semester, Mondays 10:00 a.m.-noon
  • September 22
  • October 6
  • October 20
  • November 10
  • December 1
• Spring Semester, Mondays 10:00 a.m.-noon
  • February 9
  • February 23
  • March 16
  • April 6
  • April 27

Questions?

If you have questions about the CIRTL at Virginia Tech Practitioner Teaching Program, please email cirtl@vt.edu.