Every Fall semester, I teach a one credit Professional Development Course for graduate students – Master’s and PhD – based on my book – Navigating Graduate School and Beyond.
Beginning 2020, because of the pandemic, there was a huge push on all campuses across the United States to have the option of teaching courses online. I went through the Quality Education Process (QEPO) certification at my University so I could prepare classes for an online format. I spent a lot of time picking out the correct format, technology and invested in a microphone and I recorded a lot of lectures.
The first course I placed in an online format was my 14 week 1 credit Professional Development course. While I thoroughly enjoy classroom interaction with students I had no other option but teach this course in a asynchronous online format. More discussion here at this Link.
In Fall 2020 I ‘taught’ this course for the first time in an online format. All lectures were recorded and assignments were placed on a online management system. All of the material was released to the students at the beginning of the semester so students can work at their own pace. They had to manage their time to complete all the required material on time.
In Fall 2021 I fine tuned the course and students read the book and watched a video on each on of the chapters. They discussed a topic every other week online but with minimal interaction though. They wrote a SWOT paper, wrote a five page proposal, reviewed a 20 page proposal and looked for a job and wrote a cover letter, reference letter and matched their SWOTs to that of the job. For a one credit course it may appear that it is a lot of work but based on their comments it was useful. I had about 25 students in my class and here is a summary of the reviews.
- All students without exception liked the asynchronous format where they could work at their own pace. Comments ranged from ‘it fits well into most schedules‘, ‘can work at my own pace to finish the course‘, ‘students with unconventional schedules (such as those with full-time jobs or parenting responsibilities) have the flexibility to watch course content at any time is a major advantage‘.
- Interestingly, the advantage of the online course appears to be a disadvantage. Most students note that ‘they miss that in-person connection and discussion with other students and the professor‘, ‘you lose the in-person meaningful discussion on these topics with peers‘.
- Most students wanted to keep the topics the same but wanted some additions such as ‘How to cope with burn out’, ‘How to recognize and avoid bias’, ‘Can this course address mental health challenges?’.
Some students wanted Master’s level advice because they were not continuing towards a PhD. I have already begun to add material relevant to Master’s level students. That’s how serious I am about this course!
The class seems to be working well in a asynchronous, online format. I will have to figure out methods to make the students interact on some of these topics ‘outside’ the classroom!
About Sundar Christopher
Dr. Sundar A. Christopher is an esteemed professor in the department of Atmospheric and Earth Science at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Throughout his distinguished career, he has held various leadership positions, including serving as the Associate Director of the Earth System Science Center (2007-2014), Chairman of the Department of Atmospheric Science (2010-2014), and Dean of the College of Science (2014-2019). Currently, he serves as the co-director for the Laboratory of Applied Sciences.
With a PhD in Atmospheric Sciences from Colorado State University, Dr. Christopher also holds a Master's degree in Meteorology from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, as well as a Master's degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from the University of Alabama in Huntsville.
Dr. Christopher's research interests lie in the field of satellite remote sensing of clouds and aerosols, with a focus on their impact on air quality, environment, health, and global and regional climate. He extensively works with diverse satellite data sets from polar orbiting and geostationary satellites, ground-based instruments, and aircraft data to gain insights into the complex earth-atmosphere system.
Passionate about teaching, Dr. Christopher has actively contributed to the design and development of undergraduate and graduate level courses, placing particular emphasis on hands-on training using satellite data. Additionally, he has designed a professional development course for graduate students. His book, "Navigating Graduate School and Beyond: A Career Guide for Graduate Students and a Must-Read for Every Adviser," is widely regarded as an essential resource for training graduate students. Furthermore, his book "Navigating Tenure and Beyond" serves as a valuable mentorship tool for early career faculty.
Dr. Christopher's impactful contributions extend beyond academia, as evidenced by his publication of over 125 peer-reviewed papers in esteemed national and international journals. He has been invited to speak at major scientific conferences worldwide, highlighting the recognition of his expertise. Furthermore, his exceptional leadership has secured several million dollars in grants and contracts from prestigious organizations such as NASA, NOAA, and other federal agencies, supporting his extensive research on earth-atmosphere processes.
As a transformative leader, Dr. Christopher has excelled in navigating complex organizational roles, spearheading strategic initiatives, and successfully implementing them within evolving academic environments. He is highly regarded as an effective mentor, providing guidance and support to students, faculty, and staff, while fostering career development within an inclusive and collaborative framework. Known for his methodical and efficient approach, Dr. Christopher's problem-solving skills have been applied not only in technical realms but also in his administrative roles. He has demonstrated exceptional business acumen by skillfully managing budgets and information resources.
Dr. Christopher's expertise has been sought after on numerous occasions, leading to invitations to speak at esteemed venues such as the World Federation of Scientists (Erice, Sicily), the United Nations Symposium (Graz, Austria), the American Association for Aerosol Research, the Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society (AMOS), and the American Geophysical Union, among others. He has also been invited to share his insights at various national and international universities, including the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India; University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; Purdue University; Texas A&M; University of Nebraska; University of Wisconsin; Goddard Space Flight Center; Colorado State University, and more.
Dr. Christopher's exceptional contributions have been recognized through several prestigious awards, including the University Award for Research and Creative Achievement in 2006 and the NASA New Investigator Award. His expertise is further acknowledged through his involvement as an expert reviewer for the Climate Change Science Program (CCSP).
In addition, Dr. Christopher proudly holds the citizenship of the United States of America.
Navigating Graduate School and Beyond 