The Drake Institute provides opportunities for Ohio State graduate students and postdocs to engage in learning and community-building throughout the fall and spring semesters. Our programming offers tailored support to help this audience develop as effective, evidence-informed instructors, both now and in preparation for their future careers.
Graduate Teaching Toolkit Explores Universal Design for Learning
Regardless of their teaching appointments, graduate student instructors work with a wide range of learners who differ in their motivation, skillsets, background, and disability status. The Autumn 2026 Graduate Teaching Toolkit will explore Universal Design for Learning, a framework designed to support student learning across these differences.
The UDL framework advocates for flexibility along three dimensions: how we motivate and engage students, how we represent course content, and how our assignments and activities allow students to express what they have learned. Each month, Toolkit sessions will explore one of these topics in detail. Participants will leave with a more complex understanding of who their students are, what they need, and how to support their learning.
Graduate Teaching Toolkit is a workshop series for current and aspiring graduate instructors. Each workshop is designed by graduate students for graduate students and aims to promote professional development, reflection, and community-building among graduate students who are passionate about improving their teaching. All graduate students, regardless of teaching experience or appointment, are welcome to attend.
This semester's Graduate Teaching Toolkit will be held monthly on Tuesdays from 11:30 – 1 p.m. at the Ohio Union. Buffet style lunch will be provided.
Recruiting Graduate Students for Learning Communities
Apply by 11:45 p.m. on Monday, September 21.
Starting in fall of each academic year, the Drake Institute facilitates two learning communities designed for graduate students and postdocs. These opportunities are offered in connection to the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning (CIRTL), a cross-institution network that prepares graduate students for faculty positions by educating them on evidence-based teaching practices.
The deadline to apply to our learning communities is fast approaching—submit your application today!
Foundations of Pedagogy Learning Community
This learning community is designed for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars who are new to the body of research on teaching and learning and interested in learning about pedagogy. The cohort meets monthly from October to May to explore and discuss foundational pedagogical concepts. Each month, participants will read 1-2 pieces of research and engage in online and in-person activities to understand and apply that month’s topic. At the end of the learning community, participants are eligible to apply for the CIRTL Foundations of Pedagogy teaching endorsement.
For questions and concerns, contact the learning community coordinators, Erin Mercurio (mercurio.40@osu.edu) or Carmi Thompson (thompson.4455@osu.edu).
Teaching-as-Research Learning Community
The Teaching-as Research (TAR) community is designed for graduate students who are pursuing a career in academia and would like support with fully designing and implementing a research project in an area of teaching and learning. Participants will engage in virtual monthly meetings during the autumn and spring semesters to discuss project development, receive feedback, and explore how to best engage in "teaching as research." Participants who complete the program will be eligible to apply for the CIRTL at Ohio State Practitioner teaching endorsement.
For questions and concerns, contact Zac Patterson, Assistant Director of Research, at patterson.957@osu.edu.