Initial Publication Date: October 9, 2020

Workshop Goals

Participants will:

1. Identify common challenges encountered by paleontologists preparing for common career paths.

2. Identify realistic expectations for teaching-intensive positions.

3. Develop an action plan to improve candidates' competitiveness for teaching-intensive positions.

4. Identify professional development opportunities supporting pedagogical knowledge and resources for effective teaching in your specialty.

5. Consider strategies for managing time and a work-life balance in teaching-intensive positions.

6. Contribute to a network providing mentorship and peer support.

Workshop Program for Monday, Oct. 12, 2020 Live Session

1. Welcome and introductions; workshop goals

2. Discussion: Being a paleontologist AND teaching - it's not just a fallback!

  • "Alternative" (non-R1/Museum curatorial) career paths and positions
  • Shifting to a teaching-intensive focus
  • Striving for work-life balance

3. Discussion: Low-budget, high impact research

4. Discussion: Gaining relevant teaching experience

  • Advancing your pedagogical knowledge
  • Applying for positions; Finding mentors and being a mentor
  • Strategies for gaining "lead instructor" experience

5. Wrap-up and planning

Workshop Program for Monday, Oct. 26, 2020 Live Session

1. Welcome and introductions; workshop goals:

  • Identify realistic expectations for teaching-intensive positions.
  • Develop an action plan to improve your competitiveness for teaching-intensive positions.

2. Discussion: Types of positions and contexts

3. Reflection on own skills, abilities, and career preferences/goals.

4. Discussion: Compare and contrast current job ad language.

5. Discussion: Elements of a competitive application (not all-inclusive!)

  • Reading a job ad for relevance, and when to apply.
  • How a cover letter shows that you are a good fit.
  • Making a clear CV
  • Writing an understandable research statement
  • Writing a genuine teaching statement
  • Addressing diversity, inclusion, and equity
  • Remote/online teaching
  • Other: communicating with search committee/human resources, online application forms, what "instructor" means in different contexts, teaching demonstrations

5. Wrap-up and planning