FAQs for Potential Internship Partners

1) What is the Delta Internship Program?

Delta and the Delta Internship Program are projects of the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning (CIRTL) on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. The Internship Program assists graduate students and post-doctoral researchers as they develop effective teaching skills to enhance learning for all.

A key component of a Delta internship is that students work actively in partnership with a faculty or instructional staff member to advance their training as teachers. We want to develop internship opportunities with faculty and instructional staff at local and regional institutions.

2) Why should I become involved?

The Delta Internship Program provides you, the partner, with the opportunity to work one-on-one with a UW-Madison graduate student or post-doctoral researcher interested in teaching and learning. Interns provide a valuable resource to partners. In addition to being experts in their STEM field of study, interns will be enthusiastic colleagues with new ideas. Working with an intern is an opportunity to build connections with the University of Wisconsin-Madison and ultimately to make a difference in someone’s life and influence future faculty.

3) What does an internship experience look like?

In general terms, interns and partners collaborate to define a teaching and learning question, devise and implement a solution and evaluate its efficacy for improving learning. The experience is based on the program theme of teaching-as-research, which encompasses learning through diversity and using learning communities as a tool to enhance learning.

Internships can include, but are not limited to:

• Adding an evaluation component to an existing course or laboratory;
• Curriculum (re)design and implementation;
• Instructional material design and implementation;
• Assisting with teaching a course.

4) What will be expected of me as a partner?

As a partner, you will need to be:

1. actively engaged in defining the problem and creating a solution (through ideas, constructive feedback, etc.);
2. supportive and available;
3. interested in the intern’s teaching and willing to provide guidance as well as constructive criticism; and
4. able to maintain regular meetings to discuss progress on the project and any difficulties encountered.

5) Where can I find out more about the program and how to become involved?

Contact us directly at internship@delta.wisc.edu.