New lecturers
The Teaching & Learning Centre supports all lecturers, including new staff, in teaching, innovation and professional development. We have tried to answer a number of frequently asked questions below. The TLC Humanities website is only available in Dutch, with the exception of this page. You can easily translate the Dutch texts by right-clicking and selecting ‘Translate to English’.
Can’t find the answer to your question below? Take a look at the A-Z list on the staff website or email us at tlc-fgw@uva.nl, we are happy to help! You can also schedule an appointment with us directly.
Frequently Asked Questions by new lecturers about teaching
1. I am just starting as a lecturer and don’t have a lot of experience yet. How can I prepare for teaching?
- Take a look at the checklist for early-career lecturers (EN). In this checklist you will find an overview of questions you can ask yourself when preparing a lecture or seminar. In addition to the checklist, you will also find a format for a lesson plan that can help you plan your teaching.
- Curious about suitable courses you can follow? Take a look at the development courses we offer in the menu, including two courses especially for early-career lecturers:
- Course Basic 1 (EN)
Basic 1 focuses on the skills every lecturer needs when teaching a group of students, varying from how to design a lesson plan to how to mark assessments. You will learn how to find suitable learning activities and ways to get students engaged with your lessons, all while ensuring a safe and positive learning environment. Basic 1 is open to anyone with teaching duties, even occasional ones, but it also serves as the starting point for earning the University Teaching Qualification (UTQ), if that is what you want to do.
- Course Basic 1 (EN)
- Curious about the Teaching and Examination Regulations (OER)? Visit the A-Z list. The Teaching and Examination Regulations contain the rights and obligations of students.
- Where can I find tips to save time by giving students efficient feedback? See the article Efficient assessment and feedback (Dutch).
2. Where can I find information about the digital learning environment (Canvas) and other educational IT tools?
- There is a self-paced Canvas e-learning module where you learn, among other things, how to:
- prepare your course in Canvas;
- communicate with your students;
- set up and assess assignments;
- calculate and enter final grades.
- Use the tool selector on the TLC website to find a tool that suits your teaching situation. You can find it in the menu on the left or visit the tool selector directly (available in English soon).
- Join the course Manuals Canvas Humanities in Canvas. On this page you will find manuals for all the tools available in Canvas.
- For other questions, please email the ICT & teaching team via icto-fgw@uva.nl.
3. Where can I find information about assessment and plagiarism?
- The course coordinator is responsible for assessment within the course; if this is you, you can consult your Programme Director.
- Information about plagiarism can be found in the A-Z list (medewerker.uva.nl > Faculty of Humanities > A-Z > education). Visit the page Plagiarism detection or Plagiarism and fraud directly.
- On the course page Manuals Canvas Humanities in Canvas you will also find an extensive manual for the plagiarism checker.
- For questions about assessment, you can contact the Humanities assessment specialists via goedtoetsen-fgw@uva.nl. They offer online office hours several times a week.
- Curious about grading in the Netherlands? Visit the Grading scheme page in the A-Z list.
- Would you like more information about designing and grading assessment? There is an elaborate online resource on assessment available (EN).
- You can read more about quality assurance of assessments and assessment records on the staff site.
- Read more about assessment and AI.
4. Where can I find information about relevant courses and workshops for teachers (freely accessible), such as the University Teaching Qualification (UTQ)?
- Check the development courses on offer in the menu on the left under Development (Dutch).
- Do you want to know when and how you can follow the UTQ? This information is available in the A-Z list: University Teaching Qualification FGw.
5. How do I get in touch with other early-career or more experienced lecturers?
- The docenTENkamer is a knowledge platform for education which organizes themed sessions on a regular basis. Keep an eye on the Development page on this website.
- Do you want to share experiences and knowledge with other colleagues? Sign up for an ‘intervision’ group: Lecturer Peer Feedback Sessions.
6. Where can I go with questions about classrooms or timetabling?
- For all your questions about timetabling, please contact your Programme Coordinator.
- Do you want to know what audiovisual equipment is available in your classrooms? Take a look at the Audio and Video page in the A-Z list.
- Would you like to try out certain equipment with an expert before a lecture? Or are you running into technical problems during your teaching? Please call Facility Services on 020 525 1403 or send an email to servicedesk-fs@uva.nl.
