Gaining Momentum

When Ivan Rosa de Siqueira came to Rice from Brazil in 2017, he brought with him years of experience teaching high school physics, where he emphasized active engagement, classroom discussion and critical thinking. At Rice, he was excited to fulfill his department’s requirement of being a teaching assistant, but he hadn’t taught consistently in English or to university-level students from such diverse backgrounds.

“I had teaching roots, but I had to grow and adapt based on the audience,” explained Ivan, who credits the training he received at the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) for helping him grow. Established in 2012, the CTE serves as a critical resource to faculty and graduate student teachers alike, offering essential training, mentoring, evidence-based research and a community of engaged teachers striving toward the same goal — helping Rice students to learn and grow.

At the CTE, Ivan learned about developing assessments, grading fairly, navigating complex situations and how to work with students and administrators if students need special accommodations or experience harassment.

“The CTE training helped me a lot in building a professional yet approachable relationship with students,” said Ivan, who, as dean’s teaching assistant for CHBE 401, was able to take on a greater role in teaching activities. He created an efficient weekly calendar to fit lectures, homework assignments, recitation sessions and office hours.

Students appreciated his direct interaction and tailored approach so much that, during the last class of the semester, they presented him with a thank you card acknowledging him for his help — and a custom-made mug printed with the Navier-Stokes equation.

“I often find myself smiling as I sip coffee from that mug and recall the incomparable feeling of positively impacting students’ lives through my teaching,” he said.

In the spring of 2021, students nominated Ivan for a Center for Teaching Excellence graduate teaching award for student support, which he won. In their letter to the nominating committee, students said his “ability to connect and empathize with us made us more receptive to Ivan’s teaching, and he gained our respect by being well-prepared, by having a deep understanding of the topics, and by maintaining an organized classroom. This balance really helped him stand out as an educator.”

Ivan’s TA experience and his training at the Center for Teaching Excellence have cemented his desire to become a professor when he returns to Brazil after graduation. “Even for students who won’t end up in academia, the center’s courses are invaluable,” he said.