Teaching at MIT

Teaching is central to MIT’s educational mission.

Serving as a teaching assistant (TA) provides graduate students a wealth of opportunities to develop their skills.

Each year, MIT awards the Goodwin Medal to a graduate TA or Instructor (G) who has performed above and beyond the norm, and whose teaching efforts can truly be characterized as “conspicuously effective.” This award was established in memory of Harry Manley Goodwin, the first dean of the graduate school at MIT, through a gift from his widow, Mary B. Goodwin, and son, Richard H. Goodwin.

School and/or departmental TA training and evaluation

At the beginning of the academic year and (for some) during IAP, schools and departments organize orientation workshops for new graduate teaching assistants. Students are informed of required sessions by their departments.

The Office of Faculty Support updates an online evaluation system for courses, instructors, and TAs across the Institute. There are standard evaluation items included on the form for which students will be asked to rate the quality of teaching on a 7-point scale. On occasion, individual departments may add or substitute evaluation items, but this document may be used to inform your approach to teaching both inside and out of the classroom.

Teaching + Learning Lab (TLL)

The Teaching + Learning Lab (TLL) partners with MIT educators, staff, and administrators to create an educational environment where students are academically challenged, actively engaged, and personally supported. TLL offers events, workshops, and certificate programs to support your professional development in your current and future teaching responsibilities at MIT, as well as for preparing for careers in academia.

Academic wellbeing practices

To explore methods that might work for your teaching style, use DoingWell’s filterable list of ideas that MIT instructors have used to promote wellbeing and engagement for students.