iBC Undergraduate Teaching Position and Course Descriptions

To apply for an undergraduate teaching position please fill out this application. You may want to review the position descriptions and accompanying courses prior to applying. These are listed below:

Fall Seminar Course: The Science of Learning for Peer Mentors

All undergraduates who are new to working with the iBC program will be strongly encouraged to take a seminar course “The Science of Learning for Peer Mentors” (SCEN130). The class will meet on Wednesday’s from 1:25-2:15 for one credit. This class coaches students on how to be a strong peer mentor in the classroom.

This class is in addition to your duties in the classroom or tutoring in the iBC program. Returning students who have worked with us in the past, but have NOT taken the class are strongly encouraged to do so. Preference for all positions will be given to students who can take SCEN130 or have taken SCEN130/SCEN230. If you wish to join this iBC program, please set aside this Wednesday 1:25-2:15 time slot in your schedule.

Spring Seminar Course: Discipline-based Leadership & Mentoring

All undergraduates who are new to working with the iBC program will be strongly encouraged to take a seminar course “Discipline-based Leadership & Mentoring” (SCEN230). The class will meet at time TBD in the Spring 2021 semester for one credit. This class allows students to develop their understanding of how identity influences the college process through the lens of their own personal identities. The goal being to help DBLM students improve their interpersonal skills and cultural competency, which will be applicable to their futures regardless of career path.

This class is in addition to your duties in the classroom or tutoring in the iBC program. Returning students who have worked with us in the past, but have NOT taken the class are strongly encouraged to do so. Preference for all positions will be given to students who can take SCEN130 or have taken SCEN130/SCEN230. If you wish to join this iBC program, please set aside time for this in your Spring 2021 schedule (time slot forthcoming).

Chemistry Workshop Leader Positions

What does the position entail?

Integrated workshop leaders are responsible for leading TWO sections of 12 students through an activity with general chemistry practice problems (each is ~60 minutes) and attending one weekly training session. We plan on having 12 weeks of workshop this Fall. A thorough knowledge of general chemistry is essential for a successful leader who must assist other general chemistry students as they strive (or struggle) to learn general chemistry. We believe that how you interact with the students and guide them (not just answer their questions) is just as important – if not more so – than your content knowledge.

What is the workshop leader schedule?

The weekly CHEM107 workshops will primarily be scheduled for Mondays, starting at 8:00 am and ending by 4:35 pm. There will be a hand full of CHEM107 workshops scheduled for Fridays, times not yet determined.

There will be a REQUIRED training meeting for all fall workshop leaders (new and returning) from 9-12 noon on the morning of Monday, August 26. There will also be weekly training times throughout the semester that may be determined based on your availability.

What do you get out of it?

Gratitude from your students. That rush when you see your students “get it” on their own. Stay fresh with the basics of chemistry. In addition to a small monetary stipend for this position, there is also the possibility of obtaining Discovery Learning Experience (DLE) credit for your role as a workshop leader. This involves keeping a journal and a few other steps.

Biology Lecture Peer Mentor

What does the position entail?

Attending all lectures for the professor you are working for on Tuesday’s/Thursday, attending a 1 hour prep meeting with your assigned professor on Monday’s, and if you have not been a peer leader before enrolling in SCEN130 which will be Wednesday’s time 1:25-2:15. During lecture you will be expected to engage with the students in the course before and after class, and when the class is doing active activities you will be expected to circulate and talk with and help student groups alongside the instructor. Individually or in groups, Peer Mentors may also make presentations to the class on aspects of their process and/or tips & tricks for college success.

What is the schedule for a lecture peer mentor?

A 1 hour training meeting on Monday’s with your professor, and attending all lectures on Tuesday’s/Thursday’s for your assigned section (2.5 hours/week)

What do you get out of it?

Gratitude from your students. That rush when you see your students “get it” on their own. Stay fresh with the basics of biology. Knowledge in pedagogy and mentoring students.

Studio Fellow Positions

What does the position entail?

Studio fellows collaborate with ISE Lab Preceptors and Faculty to lead 40 minute studio activities with a full section of 48 students. As a studio fellow, you will work with integrated students to plan their laboratory experiments, analyze their data, build scientific reasoning and communication skills, and improve content mastery in both chemistry and biology. While a knowledge of both subjects will be valuable as you mentor your students, we believe that how you interact with the students and guide them (not just answer their questions) is just as important – if not more so – than your content knowledge.

What is the studio schedule?

Studios for iBC1 will primarily be scheduled on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursday, and Fridays throughout the day. The studio schedule will vary by week, as studio fellows only participate on the days when they will have the greatest impact on their students. A 1 hour prep meeting with Preceptors and other studio fellows on Monday afternoon, time TBD.

There will also be REQUIRED weekly training times throughout the semester. This will most likely occur on Monday afternoons, that may be determined based on your availability.

What do you get out of it?

Gratitude from your students. That rush when you see your students “get it” on their own. Stay fresh with the basics of chemistry. There is also an hourly wage for the studio fellow position.

Tutoring Positions

What does the position entail?

Tutors work in the ISE Lab tutoring center and focus on helping students with biology and chemistry lecture content as well as studio and lab work.

What is the tutoring schedule?

The tutoring center has tutors most afternoons and evenings during the week (including weekends).

What do you get out of it?

Gratitude from your students. That rush when you see your students “get it” on their own. Stay fresh with the basics of chemistry and biology. There is also an hourly wage for the turoring positions.

Chem Lab TA Position

What does the position entail?

As a teaching assistant for the chemistry department, you will be the instructor of record for your assigned chemistry lab section. You will be responsible for maintaining a safe, collaborative, and professional laboratory learning environment Regular weekly tasks will include timely and effective grading and holding office hours. Anticipated weekly hourly commitment is 10 hours per week.

Required Training

To be successful in this role, you will need to be trained on a weekly basis. These weekly training will occur every Monday, 10:30 AM – 1:00 PM. Your availability for training is required.

What do you get out of it

As part of this immersive teaching experience, you will work closely with iBC laboratory staff, faculty, and preceptors. You will also learn and apply best practices in experiential learning, gain leadership skills, and enhance your own knowledge of integrated chemistry concepts.

Please note that additional opportunities to serve as a lab TA in general chemistry courses outside of CHEM107/108 may also be available. Your experience as a CHEM107/8 student will also qualify you to teach labs in CHEM103/4. If you are interested in a Lab TA position, your information may be forwarded on to the Chemistry department.

Application Instructions

To help us select and place potential chemistry workshop leaders, biology peer mentors, and studio fellows in a role that best fits your schedules and the academic needs of our incoming class of Freshmen, we request that you complete the application below by Friday, July 31, no later than 5:00 pm Eastern. We will begin reviewing applications on May 1st. If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Daly ([email protected]) or Dr. Fajardo ([email protected]) for workshop and Chem lab TA’s, Dr. DeVito ([email protected]) for questions about biology peer mentors, or Dr. Pamela Mosley ([email protected]), iBC Program Manager, for studio fellows.

The survey will give us a sense of your availability. Please select only those time slots that you are certain are available to you each & every week – no exceptions. Please indicate ALL times that you anticipate being available, not just your preferred time slot.

Please note that there are only a small number of each position available, and demand for these slots is often quite high. If you are not able to secure a position, we hope that you will be eager to contribute through a tutoring role as well! More information about potential tutoring opportunities will come in a future email.

As in past semesters, these programs have been a rewarding learning experience for integrated students, peer leaders, and for the professors. We look forward to another successful semester and working with you as this upcoming semester as we welcome a new class of BLUE HENS!!!

iBC Undergraduate Student application (UDel email required)