"[IAP] offers opportunities for creativity and flexibility in teaching and learning." --About IAP, http://web.mit.edu/iap/aboutiap.html MIT's Independent Activities Period (IAP) is a great example of teaching and learning in non-traditional settings. It offers an opportunity for undergraduates to teach in a low pressure environment, without the long-term commitment or syllabus restrictions teaching/TA-ing a full class has. It also offers a setting for trying out ideas for new and innovative classes and learning situations. UTEACH will help promote and support undergraduate teaching during IAP by: Recruiting many undergrads to teach/run activities during IAP. Encouraging undergrads to experiment with different methods and settings for teaching, including developing pilot courses that could become seminars or activities during the term, running activities in their residences, using electronic classrooms and presentation technology, and so on. Helping students connect with other students or staff who can help them plan their activity or co-teach with them. Helping students find any materials, money, and resources they need. Keeping students on schedule (making sure they submit IAP guide entries, requests for funding, room reservations, and so on before the appropriate deadlines). Along with the Teaching and Learning Lab and the Teacher Education Program, offering the students a one-time teaching workshop to get them thinking about how they want to teach or run their activities. Bringing the students together in groups before IAP or in early IAP to discuss and share ideas about how to organize and run their activities. This can also be an opportunity to practice teaching to the other students in the group. Arranging videotaping of each activity, and giving the tape to the student running the activity. Students can evaluate themselves, or there will be times set up when students can meet with someone skilled at evaluating teaching and go through and analyze the tapes. The current list of IAP activities sponsored by UTEACH is in the on-line IAP guide at: http://student.mit.edu/iap/NSUTEACH.html contact Ben Davis at bendavis@mit.edu for more information or to suggest an IAP activity. back to the UTEACH home page