In 2023, UMB was invited to join the Center for Integration, Research, Teaching, and Learning (CIRTL) Network. The CIRTL Network aims to advance the teaching of STEM disciplines in higher education. Founded in 2003, as the National Science Foundation Center for Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, CIRTL uses graduate education as the leverage point in developing a national faculty committed to implementing and advancing effective teaching practices. UMB graduate students, postdocs, faculty, and staff can gain from CIRTL's nationally recognized programs and certifications.

1. Please register with CIRTL. The account is free and will offer many online courses, workshops, and seminars in the area of teaching and learning.
2. Check out CIRTL's upcoming virtual workshops that are now available to UMB students and postdoctoral fellows as part of the CIRTL program.
3. Sign up to be on our UMB CIRTL Newsletter so we can send you announcements about upcoming opportunities on our campus.

Three ideas are at the foundation of the CIRTL Network:

1. Learning-through-Diversity (LtD) capitalizes on the rich array of experiences, backgrounds, and skills among students and faculty to enhance the learning of all.
2. Teaching-as-Research (TAR) is the deliberate, systematic, and reflective use of research methods by instructors to develop and implement teaching practices that advance the learning experiences and outcomes of both students and teachers.
3. Learning Communities (LC) bring together groups of people from different disciplines for shared learning, discovery, and the generation of knowledge of effective teaching practices.

More information about CIRTL’s values, ideas, and history can be found on the CIRTL website.

CIRTL Certificates are nationally recognized and showcase your dedication to evidence-based teaching and learner-centered support, with a focus on diversity. These certificates can enhance your CV. 

Certificate Levels

Associate

This initial level is the foundation of teaching and learning.

Associate Requirements:

• Four activities (workshops or courses) across topics on pedagogical practices.
• One additional activity (workshop or course) focused on Social Responsibility can include any of the following:
  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
  • Ethics
• A teaching philosophy statement and Cover Letter.

These activities can be offered by UMB, the UMB Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning, regional CIRTL partners (e.g., UMCP, UMBC, JHU, or Howard University), and the national CIRTL network. Participation in these activities can be either face-to-face or online.

Practitioner

The second level of CIRTL certification demonstrates more profound knowledge and skills in quality teaching and learning methodologies and practices.

Practitioner Requirements:

• Associate certificate.
• Five activities (workshops or courses) across topics on pedagogical topics:
  • At least two activities demonstrating teaching experience and learning about educational research:
    • Any workshop on educational research and/or the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
    • Evidence of higher education teaching experience (e.g., the instructor of record at UMB or another college or university, a Graduate Teaching Assistant, or guest lecturer). 
  • Completion of the ELEVATE: Certificate in Effective Online Instruction.
  • At least one activity focused on diversity, diverse learners, or culturally responsive teaching and learning
• Revised teaching philosophy statement

Scholar 

This final level of CIRTL certification shows your commitment and experience in teaching and learning.

Scholar Requirements:

• Practitioner Certificate.
• Three activities on teaching and learning (more advanced topics are recommended).
• Teaching experience as an instructor of record.
• A developed teaching portfolio.
• Implement and present a final Teaching-as-Research project:
  • The presentation can be a poster at CIRTL for all network TAR presentations or at a conference with a strand focused on teaching and learning.
  • Publication of the TAR project is highly desired.

Prior to pursuing any certificate, please contact Jennifer Aumiller, MEd, the Director of the Office of Postdoctoral Scholars and the Director of the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Career and Professional Development (jaumiller@som.umaryland.edu) to ensure your selected activities will count toward certification.

CIRTL Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs):

• An Introduction to Evidence-Based Undergraduate STEM Teaching is an open, online course designed to provide future STEM faculty, graduate students, and post-doctoral fellows with an introduction to effective teaching strategies and the research that supports them. The eight-week course aims to equip the next generation of STEM faculty to be effective teachers, thus improving the learning experience for the thousands of students they will teach.
• Advancing Learning through Evidence-Based STEM Teaching will provide graduate students and post-doctoral fellows in the STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) who are planning college and university faculty careers with an introduction to “teaching as research”—the deliberate, systematic, and reflective use of research methods to develop and implement teaching practices that advance the learning experiences and outcomes of both students and teachers. Participants will learn about effective teaching strategies, the research that supports them, and how to collect, analyze, and act upon their evidence of student learning.

Certification-eligible activities:

UMB Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning

Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) Virtual Sessions

All sessions are from 1:00-2:00 pm EST

• October 5, 2023: Backward Design, Writing Learning Objectives, Learning Taxonomies
• October 19, 2023: Assessments and Rubrics
• November 2, 2023: Creating Content: Effective PPTs for Learning
• November 16, 2023: Active Learning Strategies

Email facultycenter@umaryland.edu to express interest and register for these events. 

Online Teaching Community (OTC) Virtual Sessions

All sessions are from 12:00-1:00 pm EST

• October 6, 2023: How Faculty and Students Can Use Edge Copilot—A Generative AI Assistant
• November 3, 2023: Considerations for Teaching International and Nonnative English Speakers
• December 1, 2023: Infusing Coaching Tools and Strategies into Your Teaching

Email facultycenter@umaryland.edu to express interest and register for these events. 

Regional CIRTL Partners

• CIRTL@JHU, Johns Hopkins University, Center for Teaching Excellence and Innovation
• CIRTL@UMD, University of Maryland, College Park, Graduate School
• CIRTL@UMBC, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Graduate School
• CIRTL@Howard, Howard University, Graduate School

The National CIRTL Network

• CIRTL Events

• Susan Bindon, DNP, RN, NPD-BC, CNE, CNE-cl, FAAN
• Gregory Brightbill, EdD, MBA
• Brittany Corbin, BSN, RN, PCCN, CNE-cl
• Heather Ezelle, PhD
• Scott Riley, PhD
• Sol Roberts-Lieb, EdD