2018 TA Institute Events

After the ISW: Embedding Reflection into Your Teaching Practice

Want to get more out of your successes and failures in teaching? Reflection can be a useful process for both learners and instructors, but how can you go about doing this routinely and effectively? In this workshop, we will collaboratively: a) identify opportunities to integrate reflection in your teaching practice to benefit your learners; b) generate concrete strategies to embed reflection in your teaching routine; and c) appreciate the value and insights gained through effective reflection.

Facilitators: Mabel Ho and Austin Taylor

Classroom Assessment Techniques: Know Why and How to Assess

Classroom assessment is a valuable component of a lesson. However, many graduate students have not considered how to apply assessment in their own teaching. In this workshop, participants will have the opportunity to explore a variety of classroom assessment techniques and begin to discover how to include them in their lessons. Specifically, the learning objectives include: a) evaluate the benefits and challenges of classroom assessment techniques; b) consider different classroom assessment techniques and develop steps for their implementation; and c) plan a lesson including at least two classroom assessment techniques.

Facilitators: Andrea Johnson and Emily Scribner

Design and Facilitation of Small Group Activities

Want to promote collaborative and peer-to-peer learning among your learners?  Join us in this workshop where we discuss cognitive, behavioral, and social benefits of cooperative learning.  In this interactive session, we would explore steps to design group activities, techniques to prevent potential challenges, and strategies to implement successful group activities.

Facilitator: Jennifer Brown

Growth Mindset in TAing: Developing a Pathway

In this session, we will explore how promoting growth mindsets in the classroom can positively impact student learning. Moreover, we will emphasize the benefits for personal TA development, both in the classroom and beyond. In the process, we will bust a few educational myths. By the end of this workshop, you will be able to: a) describe how growth vs fixed mindsets impact student learning; b) apply growth-mindset tactics in giving and receiving feedback to your students; and c) start including mindsets in your own reflective practice and professional development.

Facilitators: Matt Coles and Jens Vent-Schmidt

Introduction to Developing a Teaching Philosophy and Teaching Portfolio

Have you considered how to document and highlight your teaching contributions, student impact, and mentorship? This interactive workshop is designed to build the foundation needed for professionals to start their teaching portfolio (a collection of documents that communicates your teaching philosophy, teaching activity, and evaluates teaching effectiveness, highlights student mentorship and commitment to professional development). Roll up your sleeves and join us in this hands-on workshop where you will: Identify teaching activities of relevance to a teaching portfolio, describe the purpose of a teaching philosophy, and develop the central theme(s) of your teaching philosophy.

Facilitators: Colin Dring and Linda Horianopoulos

TAing in a Culturally Diverse Classroom

Students and instructors including TA’s seem to be overwhelmed by challenges of being in a culturally diverse classroom context. Have you wondered why and how students from different cultural backgrounds than you seem to perceive things differently? Do you know that you can maximize the benefits your diverse learners bring and navigate the possible challenges of TAing is such environment?  This very interactive session will explore these and similar questions you may have and help you: (1) identify the benefits and challenges of TAing in culturally diverse classrooms; and, (2) generate pedagogical practices for empowering your students to navigate possible challenges starting from lesson planning to actual instructional delivery and supporting their active learning.

Facilitator: Aloy Anyichie

TAing in Large Classrooms: What to Expect, How to Excel

Teaching large classes can be intimidating, but it is often a necessity. Many instructors end up lecturing because they aren’t sure how to engage students in active learning when class sizes are large. In this session we will discuss challenges in teaching large classes and develop techniques to engage with them.  By the end of this workshop, you will be able to: a) identify challenges in using active learning in large classes; b) explain 3 reasons active learning is important for large classes; and c) develop techniques for using active learning in large classes.

Facilitator: Janel Fergusson

Value Your Work as Graduate Students

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you were unsure of: What skills you have? What benefits a TA-ship brings to you beyond the classroom? What you can contribute in your role as a TA beyond your described duties? If you answered any of the questions above with yes, this workshop is for you. In this interactive session, we will explore what values you bring and also gain in your work as a graduate student and TA.  By the end of the workshop, you will have started to discover and apply your known and unknown values to your work as a TA and graduate student, reflect and articulate why and how your skills can bring benefits to an organization such as the university, and develop and appreciate negotiation tactics from different perspectives.

Facilitators: Arnab Ray and Katharina Rothe