Instructor Training Resources#
Community-developed Resources#
Instructor Trainers Folder: This folder contains documents created by or for Instructor Trainers. Anyone may add or store content relevant to Carpentries Instructor Training or the Instructor Trainer community. Contents may not be up to date.
Neil’s TTT Planning Document: A useful item in the Instructor Trainers folder, this spreadsheet can help you equitably divide up teaching duties for an Instructor Training event as well as keep track of section start and stop times in two time zones.
Jeff’s email templating script for demos: this community-developed resource can lighten the load of preparing for your teaching demonstration.
Email Templates for Instructor Trainers#
Reminder Teaching Demo#
Note: There are instructions under “Preparing for a Demo”
Subject: The Carpentries teaching demonstration
Hi,
According to the Teaching Demo Etherpad you have signed up to give an online teaching demo on [ date ] at [ time ] (Local time: [ timeanddate.com link ]) as part of your checkout. I will be the Instructor Trainer hosting the session.
I wanted to be sure you know that I may give you any segment of the lesson you prepared to teach, so you must be ready to teach any part of your chosen lesson. Some people prepare to teach only 5 minutes from a particular section and they often have to reschedule as they seldom are assigned the section they have prepared for.
A lesson corresponds to a single line in the lesson tables (https://software-carpentry.org/lessons/ , http://www.datacarpentry.org/lessons/ , and https://librarycarpentry.org/lessons/) and a single repository on GitHub. Some lessons have supplementary modules, but you do not need to be prepared to teach the supplementary modules for your teaching demonstration.
For example, if you have chosen The Unix Shell, I may assign you any episode listed at http://swcarpentry.github.io/shell-novice/.
Please remember – this is not a high stakes test! This is a friendly opportunity to give and receive feedback on a more polished presentation style. In the event that I ask you to repeat your demo, I will provide this information with clear instructions on what to change in an email to you after the demo. You will only receive qualitative feedback publicly during the demo, not information regarding whether this checkout step is considered complete.
[ sender name ]
Bilingual Demo: Reminder Teaching Demo#
Subject: Carpentries instructor training: Teaching Demo
Hello,
Thanks for signing up to complete your “Teaching Demo” as part of the instructor certification process. We will meet on [ Insert Date ] at [ Insert Time ] in this Zoom videoconferencing room (insert zoom link here). Please review this short bi-lingual description of how Teaching Demo session works (https://github.com/carpentries/latinoamerica/blob/master/traducciones/demo.md#). Disclaimer: I understand Spanish better than I speak it. So, I will talk in Spanish as much as I can, but I will most likely give feedback about your teaching in English.
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
Hola,
Gracias por inscribirte para completar tu demostración de enseñanza como parte del proceso de certificación para instructores. Nos reuniremos [ Insert Date ] [ insert time ] aquí: (insert zoom link here). Por favor, lee ésta breve descripción bilingüe de cómo funciona la sesión de demostración de enseñanza aquí: (https://github.com/carpentries/latinoamerica/blob/master/traducciones/demo.md#). Aviso: Entiendo el español mejor de lo que hablo. Por lo tanto, voy a hablar en español un poco, pero es muy probable que les dé comentarios sobre su enseñanza en Inglés.
Por favor, hazme saber si tienes alguna pregunta o inquietud.
Best/Saludos,
[ sender name ]
Trainee Invited to Repeat Teaching Demo#
Note to Instructor Trainers: Even with a template, these emails can be hard to compose and send! When in doubt, do not hesitate to connect with the Instructor Trainer community and/or Core Team for support in deciding, customising, or responding to questions about these messages.
Subject: Carpentries Instructor Training: Teaching Demo
Hi [ trainee name ],
Thank you for completing your teaching demonstration. While you demonstrated good [ something they did well, e.g. command of the subject material], I am inviting you to return for another try at the teaching demo. The primary reason is because [ reason ]. [ Explanation of what you would like to prefer instead, and why it is central to Carpentries teaching practices. ]
We are excited about having you as a Carpentries Instructor and we want to have you on board! I know it is hard to make time for these sessions, and I hope you will find the opportunity for additional practice and feedback to be worthwhile.
I have contacted our Core Team to indicate that this session should be repeated. If you are close to the end of your checkout period, you can email instructor.training@carpentries.org to request an extension if you need one.
Please contact us with questions!
Best wishes,
[ sender name ]
Spanish: Trainee Invited to Repeat Teaching Demo#
Nota a los Instructor Trainers: Incluso con un template, este tipo de emails son difíciles de redactar y enviar! Si tienes preguntas, no dudes en contactar con la comunidad de Instructor Trainers y/o nuestro personal para tomar decisiones, personalizar o responder preguntas sobre estos mensajes.
Subject: Formación para instructor de las Carpentries: Demostración de enseñanza
Hola [nombre del aprendiz],
Gracias por realizar tu demostración de enseñanza. A pesar de que has demostrado un buen [algo que hizo bien, puntos positivos, e.g. conocimiento de los materiales de enseñanza], me gustaría invitarte a realizar de nuevo la demostración de enseñanza. La razón principal es [razón]. [Explicar lo que te gustaría ver en el/la candidato/a, y por qué es fundamental de acuerdo a las prácticas educativas de Carpentries].
Esta no ha sido una decisión fácil de tomar – nos encantaría tenerte como instructor en Carpentries! Sé que es complicado hacer tiempo para este tipo de sesiones pero espero que consideres este tiempo adicional de práctica y feedback como una oportunidad.
Me he puesto en contacto con nuestro personal de checkout indicando que esta sesión debe repetirse. Si estás cerca de tu periodo de checkout, puedes enviar un email a instructor.training@carpentries.org para solicitar una extensión si la necesitas.
No dudes en ponerte en contacto si tienes cualquier pregunta!
Saludos,
[nombre del remitente]
Trainee Passed Teaching Demo#
Subject: Carpentries Instructor Training: Teaching Demo
Hi [ trainee name ],
I’m happy to share that you have passed your teaching demonstration! You demonstrated a [good command of the subject material and a solid understanding of The Carpentries teaching methods]. We are excited about having you as a Carpentries Instructor.
I’ve forwarded this information to our Core Team. If this was the last step in your Instructor Training checkout, you will be contacted in about a week.
Welcome to The Carpentries Instructor community!
Best wishes,
[ sender name ]
Email Templates (Instructor Trainers: Spanish)
Spanish: Trainee Did Pass Teaching Demo#
Subject: Formación para instructor de las Carpentries: Demostración de enseñanza
Hola [nombre del aprendiz],
Me alegra informarte que has pasado tu demostración de enseñanza. Has demostrado un buen dominio del contenido de los materiales y de las metodologías de enseñanza de las Carpentries, por tanto, es un placer recibirte como instructor/a en las Carpentries. Ya he comunicado esta información a nuestro Core Team. Si esta fue la última parte de tu proceso de certificación, recibirás tu certificado oficial de las Carpentries junto con las instrucciones para inscribirte para impartir talleres en una semana aproximadamente. Si aún tienes que completar algún paso en tu proceso de certificación, asegúrate de completarlos antes de la fecha límite. Si tienes alguna pregunta, por favor envía un correo a instructor.training@carpentries.org.
Bienvenida/o a la comunidad de las Carpentries.
Saludos,
[nombre del remitente]
Teaching demo cancelled - trainees#
Subject: Teaching demo cancelled - please reschedule
Dear checkout participant,
Thank you for signing up to do your teaching demonstration at [time in UTC from Etherpad] [time and date link]. Unfortunately, we need to cancel this session due to [reason (optional)]. There are still spots open in upcoming sessions on the Etherpad, and I hope you will be able to find one that suits your schedule.
I know it is hard to make time for these sessions, and I apologise for any inconvenience this has caused. I am excited to have you as a part of our Instructor community.
Sincerely,
[Name]
Email templates for Members#
Trainee Recruitment Email (From Member Contact)#
Dear [ name ],
We are excited to announce that [ site name ] has become a member of The Carpentries!
The Carpentries is a global community of volunteers who develop and teach interactive, hands-on workshops on computing and data skills, addressing basic training needs that are unmet in most disciplines.
As part of our Carpentries membership, we can have [ number ] people from [ site name ] complete The Carpentries’ Instructor Training program and become certified Carpentries Instructors.
Certified Instructors can co-teach Carpentries workshops here at [ site name ], helping us reach more people and build these skills across our community. In addition, Carpentries Instructors also have the opportunity to teach as part of a team at other institutions in The Carpentries network, meeting others with similar skills who enjoy sharing them. Hosting institutions cover travel and expenses for volunteer Instructors teaching workshops in-person.
[Service as a Carpentries Instructor is a voluntary activity. This service can support existing work responsibilities in a variety of roles. It also represents an opportunity for career development. Carpentries Instructors are sought after in a variety of academic and professional teaching roles. Participation as an Instructor builds skills as well as a track record in teaching while expanding your professional network.]
The Carpentries Instructor Training is primarily focused on evidence-based teaching practices and does not include technical skills training. It is expected that trainees will have or will develop the technical skills necessary to guide learners through the entry level curricula for one or more Data Carpentry, Library Carpentry, or Software Carpentry workshops.
If you are interested in being trained and certified as a Carpentries Instructor, please [ instructions to express interest or apply ] by [ deadline ].
Please get in touch with questions!
Selected Trainee Information Email (From Member Contact for pooled training events)#
SUBJECT: Invitation to become a certified Carpentries Instructor
Dear [ name ],
Thank you for your interest in Carpentries Instructor Training! I am pleased to be able to offer you an opportunity to be trained through our Carpentries membership.
Instructor Training events are held online via video conference, with schedule options including two full days or four half days. There are two steps to register:
Visit the Instructor Training Calendar and select an event. Click on the link to Eventbrite and use the following code: [ CODE ]. Please do not share this code.
Complete The Carpentries’ profile-creation form using the same registration code: [ CODE ]. This allows The Carpentries to track your progress to certification.
You will receive more details about your training from The Carpentries (instructor.training@carpentries.org) one week prior to your event. Be sure to look out for this email, and check your spam filters. There is a small amount of preparation expected before the training as well as three short tasks involved in certification. To learn more, see Preparing for your Training.
If anything comes up and you are no longer interested or able to participate, please let me know as soon as possible so that I can offer this seat to another person.
We are all excited to grow our local Carpentries community and look forward to bringing you on board.
If you have any questions, please contact me or The Carpentries Instructor Training team at instructor.training@carpentries.org.
Best,
[ sender name ]