University of North Texas 
SEED: Supporting Effective Educator Development
Develop Your Teaching. Build Your Confidence. Grow as an Educator.
The Supporting Effective Educator Development (SEED) Program is a professional development
opportunity designed for UNT graduate students and postdoctoral scholars who want
to strengthen their teaching skills and prepare for future instructional roles. SEED
goes beyond workshops and self-paced training by combining foundational teaching concepts
with practical, hands-on application and reflection.
Whether you're new to teaching, currently serving as a teaching assistant, or planning a future academic career, SEED helps you develop the knowledge, skills, and teaching materials needed to become a more effective and confident educator.
Who Can Participate?
SEED is open to:
- Graduate students enrolled in at least one for-credit course at UNT
- Postdoctoral scholars affiliated with UNT
No previous teaching experience is required.
What Will You Learn?
By participating in SEED, you will learn how to:
- Design meaningful learning experiences that align learning goals, activities, and assessments
- Create engaging and inclusive learning environments
- Reflect on and improve your teaching through feedback and observation
- Develop practical teaching materials you can use in future instructional roles
Why Participate in SEED?
SEED helps you:
- Gain confidence as an instructor
- Build teaching experience before entering the classroom
- Create professional teaching materials
- Receive feedback from experienced educators
- Connect with a community of graduate student instructors
- Strengthen your academic and professional portfolio
For other questions about SEED, contact the SEED team at gstep@unt.edu or SEED Program Director Dr. Allison Boye at Allison.Boye@unt.edu.
Choose Your Pathway
SEED's structure is flexible for busy graduate students. The program uses a checkpoint system rather than frequent assignment deadlines, allowing participants flexibility while maintaining steady progress.
The Foundation Pathway is ideal for graduate students seeking a flexible introduction to college teaching fundamentals.
It is designed to be completed in approximately eight weeks, with major milestones spread throughout the semester. Participants submit work through Canvas and receive feedback from an assigned SEED facilitator.
What you'll complete:
- Four online providing evidence-based practices and research-aligned learning content
about fundamental topics in college teaching
- Learning objectives, course design, and syllabi
- Engagement and rapport
- Classroom management
- Assessment and alignment
- Brief application assignments
- Two live workshops
- A teaching observation and reflection
- A capstone teaching artifact design project
- A final reflection
What you'll earn: An Official SEED Certificate for sharing.
The Cultivation Pathway is designed for participants who want deeper engagement, additional feedback, and enhanced professional development.
In addition to the Foundation requirements, participants on the Cultivation Pathway must complete two advanced development activities, selecting from options such as:
- Microteaching and peer feedback sessions
- Writing and revising a teaching philosophy statement
- Interviewing experienced instructors about their teaching
- Conducting an assessment of their own teaching practice (for those currently teaching)
What you'll earn:
- SEED Certificate for sharing
- Digital Badge for sharing
- Special distinction that can be listed on CVs, resumes, job applications, and professional profiles