What is the aim of the ProLehre Onboarding?

The ProLehre Onboarding aims to support you as you begin your teaching career at TUM with some practical ideas for your teaching. Depending on your future teaching tasks, you can specialize in different topics within the ProLehre Onboarding (designing courses, supervising students' theses, or designing and grading exams).

Is there any cost associated with participating in the ProLehre Onboarding?

The ProLehre Onboarding is free of charge for all new educators at TUM.

How long does the ProLehre Onboarding take?

The ProLehre Onboarding takes about 12 hours to complete within a three weeks. To successfully complete the course, some tasks must be completed in self-study by a certain deadline, while other tasks are completed in online Live Sessions via Teams.

I cannot attend one or all of the Live Sessions. Can I still continue with the ProLehre Onboarding?

The online Live Sessions are an essential part of the ProLehre Onboarding. If you know before the course starts, that you cannot attend one or more Live Sessions, you should register for the next run of the ProLehre Onboarding! We offer the course every second month. You can find the dates of the next run on our website.

Where do I find the enrolment key for the self-enrolment in Moodle?

If you have not received an invitation email with the enrollment key via your School, please send us an email to onboarding@prolehre.tum.de. We will then send you the enrollment key for self-enrollment in Moodle.

Who can participate in the ProLehre Onboarding?

In principle, any lecturer can take part in ProLehre Onboarding. The main target group is new teachers coming to TUM. Lecturers with more experience are also welcome to take a look at our other course offerings. There are several courses to help you continuously develop your own teaching.

What if I am not a lecturer but would like to join the course though?

The ProLehre Onboarding can also be interesting for people who do not teach directly but support in supervising or examination. Especially the electives "Supervising Students' Theses" and "Designing and Grading Exams" may be interesting for you even if you are not a lecturer. Since we implemented a lot of transferring tasks, you should know this before signing up for the course. If you are unsure whether the course fits you and your tasks, you are welcome to contact us by email.

Can I also participate if I am not working at the TUM?

The ProLehre Onboarding is for (new) lecturers at TUM. If you are not employed at TUM but have a teaching assignment or are a guest lecturer at the TUM, of course, you can take part in ProLehre Onboarding. Unfortunately, ProLehre Onboarding is not intended for people who neither teach at TUM nor work at TUM. Luckily, ProLehre also has a general course program that external lecturers can also attend. Just have a look at the current course program to see if something is suitable for you!

What happens if participants don’t have a Moodle account?

A Moodle account is mandatory to participate in the ProLehre Onboarding. You can get a guest account from your chair if you do not have a Moodle account. Just ask them to create a guest account for you. With the guest account, you can join our ProLehre Onboarding.

Can I participate in the ProLehre Onboarding more than once to see the other electives?

Unfortunately, the ProLehre Onboarding is not designed to be attended twice. But have a look at our other courses. We especially recommend the course "Supervising Students' Theses" for those who didn't choose this elective. In addition, we also offer the Foundation Course, which develops fundamental competencies for teaching higher education. This course is offered in English and German.You will also find the courses in the general course program.

Can I still enter the course even if it has already started?

The ProLehre Onboarding is exactly timed with all the Self-Study Phases and the Live Sessions. That's the reason why it is important to be involved from the beginning. At the moment we offer the course every second month. So we would be happy to welcome you in the next run of the ProLehre Onboarding instead!

Where can I find some general information about the course?

You can find the most important information in the tile "Get to Know the Course".

I cannot finish the "Start Your Journey" in the given time. Can I still continue the ProLehre Onboarding?

Finishing the module "Start Your Journey" in time is mandatory to continue with the next module and to successfully complete the course. Therefore, you cannot continue the course if you cannot finish the module "Start Your Journey" in time. We would be happy to welcome you in the next run of the ProLehre Onboarding instead! We offer runs every second month.

What if unforeseen things occur?

We know that unforeseen things can occur (e.g., illnesses, births, deaths, etc.), that might make it impossible to finish the course. In this case, please contact us directly so that we can find a solution: onboarding@prolehre.tum.de.

Can I choose more than one elective during the ProLehre Onboarding?

No, because this course is designed to give you an overview of best practices in teaching, as well as the opportunity to explore one topic more in-depth than the others. We want you to focus on your chosen elective. Additionally, the same course cannot be credited twice for attaining the Certificate for Teaching in Higher Education. That is why we will not grant you access to the other two electives, even after you successfully finish your chosen elective. You are very welcome to look for more professional didactic and other special courses you are interested in at our homepage.

I cannot see the next task or tab. What could be the reason for this?

Each task and tab is hidden until the previous task is completed. Make sure to complete the last task that you can see. After finishing the task, you can continue with the next task. If you completed all the mandatory tasks and still cannot see the next tab, this might be a technical issue in your case. Ensure you have the newest browser version and update your browser if necessary. Some browsers may have problems viewing everything the right way. So, you could also use another browser to load the Moodle course.

When will the online meetings take place?

You can find all appointments in the tile "General Information".

I cannot attend one or all of the Live Sessions. Can I still continue with the ProLehre Onboarding?

The online Live Sessions are an essential part of the ProLehre Onboarding. If you know before the course starts, that you cannot attend one or more Live Sessions, you should register for the next run of the ProLehre Onboarding! We offer the course every second month. You can find the dates of the next run on our website. 

What happens if I am unexpectedly unable to take part in LS1, LS2, or LS3 while already participating in the ProLehre Onboarding?

We understand that unforeseen circumstances may arise. If you are unable to attend a Live Session, please contact us as soon as possible at onboarding@prolehre.tum.de with a brief explanation, and we will do our best to find a solution together with you.

Usually, the next steps you have to take are the following:

1. Complete all assignments in the Self-Study Phase you have already started in your current Moodle course. For example, if you have completed three tasks of the theory section of your elective, you have to finish all tasks in that section in your current Moodle course. In the next run, you can then start directly with Live Session 2.
2. Continue in a later run: You do not need to repeat parts you have already completed. Depending on where you stopped, you will re-enter the next run at one of these “Jump-In Points”:
   • Before LS1: if you missed LS1 entirely but finished all the task of "Start Your Journey"
   • Directly after LS1: if you completed LS1 but missed the Self-Study Phase of the elective
   • Before LS2: if you completed LS1 and the first Self-Study Phase of the elective but missed LS2
   • Before LS3: if you completed LS2 and the second Self-Study Phase of the elective but missed LS3
3. Register for the next suitable run in time — note that the enrollment deadline applies to you as well, even if you are only joining for LS3 or starting from LS2.
4. Complete the “Self-Registration” form immediately after enrolling. This is required for your certificate of attendance.
5. Email us your enrollment details and your “Jump-In Point”. We will then assign you correctly, so you see the course from that stage onward. Everything you have already completed remains recorded in your original run.

If you have any questions, please contact us.

I cannot see the relevant tile for the upcoming Live Session. What can I do?

You have to finish all the mandatory tasks before seeing the next tile. Just have a look at the progress list. Sometimes, one or another task is still missing to complete the chapter. If you have completed all the relevant tasks and still do not see the tile mentioned in the email (and also reloading the page doesn't help), there might be another technical problem in your case. Please check if you have the newest browser version and update your browser then. Some browsers may have issues with viewing everything in the right way. So, you could also use another browser to load the Moodle course.

I am not sure if I finished all the mandatory parts for the next Live Session.

You can check whether you have completed all the important parts of the course for the next Live Session in your progress list. If all the checkboxes for the mandatory parts of the course are ticked, you are ready for the next step, so probably the next Live Session. In general, you should see the course section or tile that was mentioned in your reminder email.

We are using MS Teams for the Live Sessions. If you are not familiar with Teams yet, please read this Teams guide before the first Live Session. It explains how to log in with your TUM account, how to use audio/video, and how breakout rooms work during the session. Going through the guide beforehand will help ensure a smooth start to the meeting.

Where can I find the Teams link for the first Live Session (LS1)?

You will find the Teams link for the first Live Session in the tab "Explore Good Teaching" as soon as you have finished the last task in the tab "Start Your Journey". If you can not see the tab "Explore Good Teaching", you may not have completed all the mandatory tasks of the module "Start Your Journey". Then you should look at the progress list in the "Start Your Journey" tile. This list outlines all the tasks you need to finish before you can access the first Live Session.

Where can I find the Teams link for the second Live Session (LS2)?

You can find the Teams link for the second Live Session in the tab of your chosen elective after you have completed all the mandatory tasks in the elective. This includes finishing the entire theory section. Once you complete the theory part, a new text field labeled "2. Practice (Live Session 2)" will appear.
If you are unsure whether you have completed all the mandatory tasks for your elective, refer to the progress list. This list outlines all the tasks you need to finish before you can access the second part of the module: "2. Practice (Live Session 2)." 

Please ensure you complete the final theory task at least 2 hours before the Live Session, so at 8:00 a.m. on the day of LS2. The task will close 2 hours prior to the session, as we need this time to prepare. Your timely completion is important and appreciated.

Where can I find the Teams link for the third (and last) Live Session (LS3)?

You can find the Teams link for the third Live Session in the tab "Put it into Practice" after you have completed all the mandatory tasks in the elective. This includes all three parts of the elective: theory, practice, and teaching project. The teaching project will be the last task before you can see the Teams link. So, you have to complete your project before LS3. Once you successfully submit your teaching project, the tab "Put it into Practice" will appear.

Can the ProLehre Onboarding be credited for the Certificate of Higher Education?

ProLehre Onboarding can be credited towards the Bavarian Certificate of Higher Education. Currently, the study units can be credited to the advanced level. As soon as we have integrated it into the curriculum, we plan to credit it towards the foundation level.

Can the ProLehre Onboarding be credited at the Graduate School?

The ProLehre Onboarding can also be listed on your Transcript of Records as an interdisciplinary qualification.

There is a difference here between interdisciplinary qualification (responsible: Graduate School) and subject-specific qualification (responsible: your Graduate Center, where you can earn credits). As ProLehre Onboarding does not correspond to a subject-specific qualification, it is currently credited as an interdisciplinary course. You can also voluntarily (in consultation with your Graduate Center) include various thematically relevant further education in your Transcript of Records. The 12 hours (a transfer to ECTS is not necessary here) of the course are then noted in the Transcript of Records and thus indicate the scope.

What support will be available to me after completing the ProLehre Onboarding?

ProLehre also offers support beyond the ProLehre Onboarding. Check our website for courses in English and German. You can find the website in the block "ProLehre Offers" (Click on the gray arrow on the right side of the Moodle page). We are looking forward to meeting you in our courses!

Which course would you recommend for more advanced lecturers?

In addition to the ProLehre Onboarding (12 hours in total), there is also the more systemic basic course (called Foundation Course in english with a total of 45 hours). You can choose from different formats in English and German at different times. We are sure there will be one format that fits your schedule. All teaching skills are covered here: presenting, activating, advising, evaluating, etc. (for comparison: in the onboarding course mentioned below, participants choose an elective). By attending the course, participants acquire the Bavarian University Teaching Certificate (foundation level) within one semester. In short, if someone is not an absolute beginner and/or has several teaching responsibilities, we would rather recommend the Foundation Course. What is also great is that you can continue with the advanced level after the Foundation Course. So, don't wait to choose your perfect course program at ProLehre!