The career outcomes for many BCM graduate students include academic appointments in higher education which include teaching duties. The Biomedical Educator CAQ (BE-CAQ) is designed to give graduate students the opportunity to receive additional training & skills development in teaching. Participants will receive classroom training in teaching skills and contemporary teaching technology. They will also participate in opportunities to practice teaching skills and be evaluated. Participating faculty include members of the Department of Education, Innovation & Technology, as well as experienced educators among the BCM graduate faculty.
The BE-CAQ program begins each year in January and has a 10-18 month time to completion. The program is open to students who have completed all previous coursework requirements and achieved candidacy. Many students who serve as teaching assistants in graduate courses apply to the BE-CAQ program to continue their training as educators. Applications are accepted each fall and are due by Nov. 1.
BE-CAQ Courses
Fundamental Teaching Skills
The course is designed to introduce students to education fundamentals like planning learning objectives, common learning technologies, syllabus development, lecture presentation skills, active learning, facilitating small group learning, and student engagement.
Technology in Teaching
This course covers a broad selection of current and forthcoming academic technologies and provides learners with hands-on experience in designing active learning lessons that are enhanced through the integration of technology in both hybrid and face-to-face learning environments.
The Science of Teaching
This course covers different learning theories and how they impact the teaching strategies we use. The learner will design and deliver their own in-class lesson based on their learning theory, synthesizing what they have learned in prior courses.
Practical Experience
Students are provided the opportunity to apply teaching skills in a variety of formats both inside and outside BCM. As part of their training, students will participate in a minimum of three practical teaching opportunities, which can consist of an appointment as a teaching assistant in a graduate course, or other educational activity proposed by the students. Part of the practical training experience will include at least one evaluation by a member of the faculty.
Capstone Project
After completion of the required didactic coursework and practical teaching experiences, the culmination of the BE-CAQ program is an educational workshop designed and presented by the student. The capstone workshop will allow the students to demonstrate many of the skills they have learned during the program, including preparing learning objectives and lesson plan, engaging an audience of learners, utilization of educational technologies, and more. Following their workshop, the student will receive feedback and evaluation from a panel of faculty.
Additional Opportunities
In addition to the program requirements listed above, students in the BE-CAQ program will be provided with opportunities for social and educational engagement via presentations by guest speakers, journal club opportunities and social events.
