The mandate of the Tomlinson Project is to enhance undergraduate science education. For many years, the Tomlinson Engagement Award for Mentoring (TEAM) has been the centrepiece of this program. While this initiative is currently under review, the Office of Science Education is offering a somewhat modified version of the TEAM award in terms of eligibility criteria and the application process for Fall 2024 andÌýfor Winter 2025.
New for Fall 2024 and Winter 2025: The focus of the TEAM program will be to enhance the undergraduate experience in large Science courses (150 students and more) by involving undergraduate students who can support their peers’ learning and engagement. The program does not provide staffing for support of course logistics and their implementation.Ìý
Award: $300 for 25/30 hours on a per term basisÌý
Deadlines and important dates:ÌýÌý
-
November 11, 2024: Deadline for submission of applications by instructors. These applications include requests for a specific number of TEAM students and descriptions of plans for selecting, training and engaging TEAM students through the term.Ìý
-
December 10, 2024: Date by which OSE will inform instructors whether their application is approved, and if so, how many TEAM students they will be awarded.ÌýÌý
-
January 10, 2025: Deadline for instructors whose requests are approved to submit TEAM student names (a separate form will be provided for this).Ìý
How to Apply
The application is a two-part process. The first part, due November 11, 2024 and linked below, requires instructors to request a specific number of TEAM students and describe their plans for selecting, training and engaging these students throughout the term. Once we receive all instructor applications and complete the review process, we will inform instructors of their request outcome by December 10, 2024. If approved, instructors will be asked to provide OSE with the list of TEAM student names by January 10, 2025 and a separate form will be provided for this.
Instructor applications: Please complete the Application for Winter 2025 by November 11, 2024 by filling out the form at this link:
Ìý
Eligibility Criteria
Eligibility requirements for instructor applicants:
-
Instructing a Science course. (The TEAM program is no longer available to the Faculties of Arts, Engineering, Music and Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.)
-
Course enrollment of 150 students or more.
-
Agreement to connect with the TEAM students on an ongoing basis. This includes the following activities:
1.ÌýAt the beginning of term, provide an orientation to clarify expectations and tasks to be performed.
2.ÌýDuring the term, establish opportunities for coaching, answering questions and ensuring tasks are being completed.
3. At the end of term, discuss TEAM students’ experience and exchange feedback (could be a survey, debrief meeting or a social gathering). -
Once approved, instructors will be required to select the TEAM students, and submit student names.
Eligibility requirements for students:
-
TEAM students must be registered as McGill undergraduate students and remain registered throughout the semester in which they receive an Award.
-
TEAM students must have completed the course/lab to which they are assigned.
-
Students will be given their Award by a transfer to their bank account upon receipt of the instructor’s approval at the end of the course. Students must have direct deposit set up with their bank, and the banking information must be in their Minerva account.
-
Each student may only receive 1 TEAM award per course per semester.
Examples of activities TEAM students can perform:
-
Attending lectures and supporting in-class activities that involve interaction with a course’s students.
-
Responding to student emails regarding course content and posting of questions and answers on discussion boards.
-
Attending the Peer Collab to support students with homework and exam preparation.
-
Co-facilitating tutorials and pre-exam review sessions (generally best when supervised by an instructor or TA).
-
Participating in study groups to assist peers with developing effective study methods and approaches to learning course content.
-
Participation in training offered by the instructor, the Department, or Faculty related to the TEAM experience.
-
Providing feedback to the instructor on the student experience and elements of course design.
Selection Process
Requests will be evaluated by the Office of Science Education (OSE), based on these criteria:
-
The course is a Science course whose enrollment is equal to or greater than 150 students.
-
The application form is fully completed.
-
The applicant agrees to provide feedback to OSE regarding the revised 2024-25 academic year’s TEAM program.
Please note, the processing of a request requires the application form to be completed. The overall number of awards is budget-limited and the number of awards per course is based on the course enrollment and an instructor’s plan for the TEAM students’ activity.
Questions? Please contact tomlinson.project [at] mcgill.ca
Ìý
The Tomlinson Project in University-Level Science Education (T-PULSE) was established in July 2002 as part of a significant endowment to McGill from Canadian scientist and businessman Richard H. Tomlinson to support the development of more effective teaching methods for university level science students and the dissemination of these techniques to the professoriate. Learn more about Richard H. Tomlinson and T-PULSE in this McGill Newsroom Article:ÌýMcGill Benefactor Richard Tomlinson made history.