HOW TO BECOME A PRECEPTOR
for GC-170A INTRODUCTION TO GLOBAL CHANGE

CLICK HERE to learn about how to earn Honors Credit by being a Preceptor  

We hope to recruit a group of preceptors from the class to join the Core Teaching Team of professor and GTAs.  Preceptors are undergraduate students who become assistants in the class, helping their fellow students in a number of ways.  Here's how to do it:

1.  See the UA Teaching Teams Program website for prospective preceptors to learn about the overall logistics of the program. 

2. Read the GC-170A Preceptor FAQ below to learn more about how preceptors will participate in this course.

3. Check your class schedule to be sure you are open for weekly Teaching team meetings on Mondays from 4:00 - 5:30 pm.

4.  Fill out the GC 170A1 Preceptor Application (to be linked) and read through the Preceptor Contract. (You will be asked to sign this contract once you are accepted into the preceptor program.)

5.  See Dr H for a 20-30 minute interview that you arrange by emailing Dr H.

Interested?  To learn more, click on the photos to hear these two former
students talk about their experiences as a GC-170A (formerly NATS 101)  Preceptor:


Lon Huber
Dave Trautman
former Anthropology Major 		Lon Huber
former Public Policy
& Management Major

GC-170A PRECEPTOR FAQ:

WHAT IS A PRECEPTOR?  

Suitably qualified and motivated students enrolled in this course are invited to participate as preceptors. A preceptorship combines elements of an internship, an assistantship, honors work, and peer tutoring. The program allows a lower division undergraduate to receive academic credit for working on a teaching team with the instructor and GTAs to help fellow students with the course. Preceptors will be selected after the instructor has conducted a brief interview with each candidate.

WHO CAN BE A PRECEPTOR?

Any enthusiastic and self-motivated student qualifies. Most preceptors will be first-time volunteers enrolled in the course. A few will have taken the course previously and are returning to assist in an expanded role.

WHAT SKILLS ARE REQUIRED? 

Curiosity and interest in the subject matter coupled with a desire to help fellow classmates are most important. You will develop your own communication and leadership skills while helping classmates with real or imagined problems with the course work. Punctuality, reliability, and effective time management are also important because you will make a commitment for the rest of the semester to act as an important bridge between the class and the instructor. We will arrange a series of training workshops during the semester to help you improve these skills just in case yours are initially less than exemplary.

WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO?

In general, being a preceptor contributes to a peer support system that significantly augments the ability of the instructor and GTAs to help the class with assignments, research projects, collaborative learning activities, and preparations for exams. You will help classmates with their work, so you will probably be expected to complete your projects and assignments on an accelerated schedule. You may occasionally lead in-class discussions with your working groups -- a small group of classmates with whom you will interact all semester. You will attend weekly planning meetings with the instructor and GTAs to help with your preparations, and you will attend a suite of workshops which should enhance your communication skills. You must attend class regularly, of course!

WHAT WILL I GET OUT OF THE EXPERIENCE?

One tangible return is academic credit in the LASC 297a or 397a, Preceptorship Training Workshop courses, which could be an important talking point in your resume some day when you want to convince someone that you are self-motivated. But there are more rewards than just another entry in your transcript! Being a preceptor is guaranteed to enrich your own understanding of the course material, hence you are likely to do very well in this course. The leadership and communication skills that you will develop in a preceptorship will benefit you throughout your academic career. In particular, the experience of helping fellow students will certainly develop a practical sense of what it might be like to be a teacher some day. You will also meet many classmates, thus reducing the anonymity of large classes, and by working as a team with the instructor and GTAs you may establish important faculty contacts that could influence your academic growth at the University.

WANT TO APPLY?  PLEASE COME IN FOR AN INTERVIEW

If interested, please fill out the GC 170A1 Preceptor Application Survey and email  Dr H to set up a 20-30 minute interview with her in the Tree-Ring Laboratory (319 Bannister Tree-Ring Building):         DIRECTIONS TO DR H's OFFICE

GC 170A1 PRECEPTOR APPLICATION  SURVEY

IMPORTANT:  To be a preceptor you must be available to attend our weekly Teaching Team meetings which will be held from 4:00 � 5:30 pm on Mondays).  It is through attendance and active participation in these meetings/classes that preceptors are graded and earn part of their 3 units of credit for LASC 297a.  You will also attend your regular LASC class sessions during the weeks they are scheduled.

 

    

  Link to view PRECEPTOR CONTRACT

CLICK HERE to learn about how to earn Honors Credit by being a Preceptor