Crafting Your Teaching Statement

March 25, 2020
Sue J, Goldie speaking to Teaching Fellows during workshop.

The Incubator welcomed Harvard graduate students for an interactive and informative workshop on how to design a teaching statement—a key document for individuals on or near the job market. Led by Dr. Adam Beaver, Director of Pedagogy at the Bok Center for Teaching and Learning, this workshop walked through the typical components of a teaching portfolio and the purpose and general framework for a teaching statement. The workshop is part of GHELI’s broader efforts to support the professional development of future global health educators.
Following a warm welcome from Faculty Director Sue J. Goldie, participants chatted candidly about their teaching experiences over cups of coffee and pastries. They broke off into pairs to brainstorm specific vignettes from the classroom that would lend itself well to the teaching statement narrative. In addition to answering questions along the way, Dr. Beaver guided the graduate students through a collective analysis of a sample teaching statement. 

In general, shared Dr. Beaver, the most effective teaching statements blend three things: a story, a demonstration of disciplinary mastery, and a window to one’s understanding of students. Such teaching statements are “vivid portraits” the candidate’s presence and personality within the classroom—and participants left the workshop with further tools and resources to refine their portfolios.