Teaching Qualification

Since the start of this academic year, I’m working towards getting a formal teaching qualification. As a full-time researcher, I like to dive into my experiments and the literature in my dimly-lit laboratory. That also means that I sometimes lose track of the ‘bigger picture’ and forget to communicate my work (properly) to the outside world. Over the years, I really enjoyed giving the occasional guest lecture, but felt a bit clueless when it came to effective teaching.

This is why I decided to register for a BKO (Basis Kwalificatie Onderwijs = Teaching Qualification) at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam. Every two weeks, I get together with a bunch of like-minded aspiring university teachers. We get an overview of theoretical insights and best practices within the educational sciences. By doing so, the VU hopes to turn us into responsible, inclusive and enthusiastic university lecturers.

I’ve already completed a number of exercises related to lecturing, tutoring and course evaluation and assessments. Recording my own lecture and evaluating it in a group may seem a bit confrontational (nothing worse than hearing your own voice), but really does help to improve and learn! I look forward to getting taught more, to learn about teaching. Great fun.