Instructor Trainers

Instructor Trainers (‘Trainers’) are certified to teach at all authorized Carpentries Instructor Training workshops, onboarding new Instructors who may in turn become certified to teach Data Carpentry, Library Carpentry, and Software Carpentry workshops. Trainers also play a role in the Instructor ‘checkout’ process, evaluating trainees’ teaching demonstrations. The Trainer community plays a leading role in The Carpentries, maintaining our flagship Instructor Training Curriculum, contributing to relevant policies, and bringing instructional practices to bear in leadership roles across our local and global communities.

Trainers benefit from being part of a global community of pedagogically trained professionals with a shared interest in promoting robust teaching practices and propagating data skills worldwide. Trainers continually build on their own pedagogical and communication skills through co-instruction and monthly community discussions about Instructor training. Trainers have opportunities to influence what we teach, through curriculum maintenance, and to steer the progress of this community, through leadership roles. Trainers often play leadership roles in their home communities, mentoring local Instructors, and modeling best practices.

Certification Renewal Process

Version 1.0.0 – Approved 16 February, 2022

NOTE: This documentation replaces the prior Trainer Agreement. Membership documents that referred to the Trainer Agreement should continue to follow its specifications. Complete language for the Trainer Agreement version 2.0.0 may be found in the repository for this site.

Trainer Certification will expire and be renewed annually in March. New Trainers who have not yet been certified for a full year in March will be automatically renewed for another year.

Certification may be renewed by:
A) (automatic) participating in curriculum and community activities during the prior year, as described below OR
B) (within 1 year of expiration) meeting with the Director of Instructor Training (DIT) to discuss curriculum and community as well as plans for participation in the coming year OR
C) (>1 year post expiration) re-activation as currently detailed in Handbook (review Trainer Training curriculum, observe part of an Instructor Training workshop, and meet with Director of Instructor Training to catch up and discuss plans, including re-introduction to the Trainer community via meetings or other arrangements.)

In the case of A, above, certification will be automatically renewed when activities are self-reported and approved by Trainers Leadership.

Participation Requirements

Participation requirements for automatic renewal are at least:

  • teaching 1 Instructor Training event, and

  • hosting 2 teaching demos, and

  • attending 4 Trainer community meetings
    OR

  • equivalent engagement with curriculum, trainees, or the Trainer community, as approved by the Trainers Leadership

Trainer Alumni Status

Active Trainers may elect to become inactive by requesting Trainer Alumni status at any time by contacting instructor-training@carpentries.org. Alumni may also submit re-activation requests to the same address.

Trainer Alumni will not be permitted to:

  • teach Carpentries Instructor Training workshops

  • host teaching demonstrations

  • vote in Trainer community elections
    Exceptions may be made at the discretion of The Carpentries Core Team. To request permission to teach or host a demo, contact team@carpentries.org.

Trainer Alumni may select to:

  • continue to receive Topicbox Instructor Training emails & participate in conversations

  • continue to participate in the Slack private Trainers channel

  • receive an annual newsletter during agreement renewal with community updates and details on how to return to Active status.

A Trainer who wishes to return to Active status will have a different path depending on the amount of time they’ve been inactive:

  • 0-12 months: meet with Director of Instructor Training to catch up on latest news & discuss plans for re-activating

  • more than 12 months: review Trainer Training curriculum, observe part of an Instructor Training workshop, and meet with Director of Instructor Training to catch up and discuss plans, including re-introduction to the Trainer community via meetings or other arrangements