Teaching Development

As TAs and Graduate Students, we are often quite familiar with the steps needed to achieve excellence in our discipline – but how can we translate that to our teaching?  These workshops explore how we can approach our teaching strategically and effectively in order to elevate our teaching development.

In order to complete the theme, you must register for and complete each of the sessions listed below. In addition, you must complete the pre-session module before the institute begins, and the post session module after the final session in the theme. If you complete the whole theme, you will be eligible for a signed letter of completion to be placed in your Teaching Portfolio.

Please note – In order to qualify for the letter of completion for this theme:

  1. You must attend and complete all three of the sessions listed below
  2. The Pre-Session Module must be completed before 8:00 am on Monday, January 15, 2018.
  3. The Post-Session Module must be completed between 5:30 pm on January 18 and 5:30 pm on January 25, 2018.

The sessions in this theme are as follows.

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

Introduction to Developing Teaching Philosophy and Teaching Portfolio

If possible, please bring a laptop computer to this session. Paper and pens will otherwise be available.

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

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