From January 15–19, 2024, the CTLT Teaching Assistant (TA) Institute includes a collection of workshops designed to support TAs as their roles change. The week of professional development workshops are open to graduate students and undergraduate TAs.
This year, workshops in the TA institute are organized into 3 themes. If you complete all the workshops in a theme, and submit a theme completion form, you are eligible for a Letter of Completion that you can include in your Teaching Portfolio and CV. The Letter of Completion will include a brief description of the theme(s) that you completed, and how the work you did in the theme(s) support your development as a teacher.
These sessions are not necessarily designed to be completed in a particular sequence or as a whole cohort. You are able to take sessions without applying for a Letter of Completion. Please register for sessions individually as desired.
The TA Institute is open to undergraduate and graduate TAs, and all graduate students who are interested in teaching. This session is not open to staff, or faculty.
Eligibility Criteria:
During the Institute (January 15 to 19, 2024):
- Fully attend all sessions under each theme you want to complete (this means arriving on time and participating until the end of the session).
After the Institute (complete by January 24, 2024 at 11:59 PM):
- Submit a theme completion form (only complete this form once—make sure to indicate all themes and all sessions that you have completed).
TA Institute participants who meet the eligibility criteria for a Completion Letter will be receiving their letters by the end of March (see below for the eligibility criteria). If you meet the eligibility criteria and have any questions about the status of your letter after that date, please contact CTLT.TAInstitute@ubc.ca.
Social Class in our Classes: How can I Support Students as a TA
Monday, January 15, 2024 | 10:00 am – 12:00 pm | In-person (Irving K Barber Learning Centre, Seminar Room 2.22)
Theme:
Socioeconomic class is a real issue that helps shape patterns of injustice in the wider culture and at the university, from ideas about the role of university education in society at large, to the everyday experiences of students in the classroom, and yet it is seldom openly discussed. In this session we will explore meanings of “class” and how they might factor into the classroom experiences of students through access to resources, networks, information, and a sense of personal agency. We will then discuss how TAs can proactively and reactively address these class-based issues in their teaching, and how they can contribute to raising class-consciousness.
Facilitators:
- Itamar Manoff, PhD Candidate, Dept of Educational Studies
Cultivating an Effective Classroom Environment and Community: In-Person and Online Settings
Monday, January 15, 2024 | 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm | In-person (Irving K Barber Learning Centre, Seminar Room 2.22)
Theme:
- Exploring and Supporting Inclusivity, Equity, Accessibility and Wellness
- Experiential and Transformative Learning
Cultivating a sense of community is an important part of creating an effective learning environment, but it may be challenging when students have diverse learning experiences with both in-person and online settings. This session will provide TAs with an opportunity to establish guidelines for supportive classroom environments and develop strategies to achieve these goals in both in-person and online classrooms. In particular, we will focus on how having a supportive environment connects with how we facilitate active learning approaches. This session will also support TAs in identifying and addressing barriers for learners and how to design classroom strategies to create an inclusive community and safe space for learning.
Facilitators:
- Alysha L Deslippe, PhD Candidate, Human Nutrition
- Kayla Kenney, PhD Student, School of Social Work
Establishing a Positive TA Experience Working with Faculty Members: Dos and Don’ts
Monday, January 15, 2024 | 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm | Zoom
Theme:
More than ever, effective working relationships between TAs and instructors are key for students to feel supported in their learning. This workshop is intended for TAs who are thinking about how best navigate their interactions with faculty members in online course(s).
In this session, we will identify key elements of an effective working relationship, brainstorm strategies for addressing challenges when working with faculty members, and develop communication plans.
Facilitators:
- Shaya Golparian, Educational Developer – TA Development Programs
Accessibility-centred Design: Creating Inclusive Learning Environments
Tuesday, January 16, 2024 | 10:00 am – 12:00 pm | Zoom
Theme:
- Exploring and Supporting Inclusivity, Equity, Accessibility and Wellness
- Experiential and Transformative Learning
When designing our lessons and curriculum, we often think about the content and what objectives we would like students to take away from our courses. However, we should also keep in mind that our students have diverse learning needs and, as such, we should design our courses and teaching instruction with proactive and flexible inclusive measures.
While there is no one-size-fits-all solution for supporting inclusivity and accessibility in our classroom, in this session we will reflect on our own experiences and discuss different classroom scenarios to identify barriers to participation and develop strategies to mitigate these. Together we will examine the classroom environment and the student needs for inclusivity and accessibility.
Facilitators:
- Alexandra Jewell, PhD Candidate, Dept of Philosophy
Learn About Your Rights as a TA: Intro to TA Union
Tuesday, January 16, 2024 | 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm | Zoom
Theme:
Being a TA is hard work. We’re in between our students and our instructors. Sometimes this is a comfortable place to be; sometimes it’s uncomfortable. Fortunately, our Collective Agreement (work contract) provides us with ample tools to make our work environment safe and enjoyable. Welcome to Your Union is an introductory session to all things TA union. In this session, we will cover some important topics to help make your life as a TA easier. These topics include: –What even IS a union? –What’s a collective agreement and how is it made? –Building a good TA-Instructor working-relationship –Key elements of your contract (hours of work, vacation, etc.) We’ll give you a breakdown of the most important parts of your contract—the ones you’ll most likely engage with—and talk about strategies for handling tough scenarios with students and faculty. Already have questions? Great! Bring them with you. There will be ample time for questions and discussions.
Facilitators:
- Drew Hall, CUPE 2278 VP
Effective Use of the UBC Early Alert System
Tuesday, January 16, 2024 | 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm | Zoom
Theme:
Brian Barth, the Manager of Student Support Services at the VP Students Office, will be presenting how utilizing the Early Alert (EA) system can be used to support students. The Early Alert Program allows for teaching assistants, student advisors, faculty, and support staff to gain a comprehensive understanding of student concerns and facilitates the efficient coordination of outreach efforts.
Facilitators:
- Brian Barth, Manager – Student Support Services, VP Students Office
Using the Experiential Learning Cycle to Create Impactful Learning
Wednesday, January 17, 2024 | 10:00 am – 12:00 pm | Zoom
Theme:
As a learner and a teacher, you have likely found that learning is more impactful when it happens through experience. In this session, you will become familiar with a model of experiential learning used extensively in higher education, known as the Experiential Learning Cycle, and apply it to lessons that you expect to teach as a TA. This model is particularly valuable for understanding the function of active learning in helping learners construct abstract concepts from concrete experiences and transfer those concepts into new contexts. This session will give you an opportunity to incorporate this model into your own unique way of supporting your students’ learning as a TA.
Facilitators:
- Lesley Wong, PhD Candidate, Faculty of Education
- Hans Ghezzi, PhD Candidate, Dept of Microbiology and Immunology
Lecturing and Presentation Skills
Wednesday, January 17, 2024 | 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm | Zoom
Theme:
Attend this session to expand your skills in designing lectures and presentations! This workshop aims to be useful for those looking to advance their teaching and oral presentation skills.
Facilitators:
- Meaghan Efford, PhD Candidate, Institute for Oceans & Fisheries
- Holly Bergeron-Dumaine, PhD Student, School of Music/Faculty of Arts
AI In the Classroom
Wednesday, January 17, 2024 | 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm | Zoom
Theme:
Note: Participants should bring a laptop or electronic device to use in the session. The utilization of diverse Artificial Intelligence forms, including tools like ChatGPT, has become a prominent topic in recent discussions. As educators, it is essential for us to reflect on our involvement with AI and its potential impact on learning experiences—whether it serves to enhance or diminish them. Throughout this session, we will explore the progress in AI, examining both its potential drawbacks in a classroom setting and the possibilities for integrating it to augment certain lessons.
Facilitators:
- Tala Maragha, PhD Candidate at UBC Dentistry’s Department of Oral Health Sciences
Marking, Assessment, and Feedback
Thursday, January 18, 2024 | 10:00 am – 12:00 pm | Zoom
Theme:
One of the most daunting tasks TAs have is marking, assessing, and giving feedback on exams, assignments, final papers, etc. A big challenge when doing this is ensuring fairness to all students and providing them support to help them perform better next time. In this workshop, we will come together to discuss the importance of rubrics, marking calibration, exam reviews, and develop ways to effectively guide students through their coursework. We will also think about ways TAs can minimize burnout (e.g. effective marking practices, exam viewing options, chunking marking, balancing work-school, marking parties, etc.) We hope participants leave this session feeling equipped to effectively support students and themselves through this process.
Facilitators:
- Kabir Bhalla, PhD Candidate, Dept of Microbiology and Immunology
- Kelsey Wilson, PhD Candidate, Dept of English Language & Literatures
Time Management Skills for Graduate Students and TAs
Thursday, January 18, 2024 | 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm | Zoom
Theme:
Are you struggling to balance the many tasks of being a Graduate Student and a Teaching Assistant? Has working online changed your workflow? Are you a procrastinator or someone just looking to learn and test out some new time management skills? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then this session is for you! Through reflection and collaboration, we will develop strategies to mitigate distractions, prioritize tasks, and set goals around time management for the new semester and those yet to come.
Facilitators:
- Joey Manaligod, PhD Student, Dept of Psychology
- Kenny Chiu, PhD Student, Dept of Statistics
Leading Discussions: Tutorials, Labs, & Lectures
Thursday, January 18, 2024 | 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm | Zoom
Theme:
What can engaging discussions provide in a lesson? How may they benefit your learners and yourself as the instructor? In this workshop, we will explore the fundamental strategies of leading discussions in a variety of formats (tutorials, labs, and lectures of various sizes, both in-person and online). We will also invite you to share your concerns (based on real experiences or hypothetical situations) about challenging classroom situations that may arise, and how to address them.
Facilitators:
- Brooke Hoppstock-Mattson, PhD Candidate, Dept of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences
Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion in TAing at UBC: A Workshop
Friday, January 19, 2024 | 10:00 am – 12:00 pm | Zoom
Theme:
As a TA, you are an important resource for both students and instructors. You can help build a more equitable learning environment in how you set expectations, manage online and in-person classroom interactions, and in how you approach evaluating student work. Equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) is not just about the content that you teach; it is about how the class is set-up and conducted. In this workshop you will learn about power and privilege within the learning environment, the policies and guidelines that frame your work, and how best to support students as you navigate ethical dilemmas and potential conflicts.
Facilitators:
- Adam Arca, Graduate Student Facilitator, CCEI TA Project (CTLT & EIO)
- Daniel Gallardo, Graduate Student Facilitator, CCEI TA Project (CTLT & EIO)