Faculty
Check Here!
How
can we help you?!
1.
Customized Support and Resources
The
TSS Graduate Student Program works collaboratively with other campus
support units (e.g., the Learning Commons) to provide
services and resources for TAs and Graduate Students interested in university teaching. If you are interested
in offering course specific (or department-based) training
or resources, we would be happy to work with you to tailor
something that meet your needs (e.g., marking essays and
lab reports, working with teams, facilitating discussion).
2.
Working Effectively with TAs: Starting
Off on the Right Foot
Recognizing
the diverse and important role(s) TAs play in supporting
students and undergraduate teaching, we have identified
a number of points about which TAs often have questions.
We have summarized them in this document as a starting
point for discussion and the sharing of course resources.
How
can you support TAs?
In
addition to any course specific TA training you may provide,
we recommend that you highlight the following resources and
professional development opportunities for TAs in support
of their teaching. Additional resources and training opportunities
are available from the TA website.
1.
Conference
Each
September, TSS coordinates
a conference for Graduate Students. This event provides
students with an opportunity to develop their teaching skills,
connect with their peers, and discuss strategies for dealing
with various instructional challenges. Lunch and a selection
of teaching materials, including the TA Survival Guide,
are provided. There is no registration fee for this event.Conference
information and a participant registration system is available
online.
2.
UTTP
(University Teaching: Theory and Practice)
Graduate
students who are interested in examining teaching and
learning on both a theoretical and practical level will
find UTTP, with its balance of hands-on learning and reflective
in-class discussion, of particular interest. The two-semester,
inter-disciplinary graduate course is available for
credit (pass/fail). Developing a teaching
philosophy statement, participating in a videotaped teaching
exercise, and preparing for and facilitating a “live
teaching experience” are examples of course learning
activities.
3.
International TA Support
The
Learning Commons offers two free, non-credit courses for
both International and ESL graduate students and TAs.
A selection of other supports are also available. Contact
Barbara Christian (ext. 6209 / email. bkchrist@uoguelph.ca)
or visit the Learning
Commons website for more information
4.
TA
Handbook
This
resource is available online (HTML file) and provides
TAs with instructional strategies and resources for addressing
common TA responsibilities (e.g., grading, facilitating
discussion, leading a seminar, running a lab, developing
rapport with students, making referrals, etc.).
5.
TA Survival Guide
This
Guide acts a quick reference tool and is designed specifically
for new TAs. It is updated yearly and is available online
from the TSS website. A bound copy is given to all conference
participants.
6.
Teaching Resource
Centre (TRC)
The
TRC hosts a lending library and a searchable database
of teaching and learning resources for faculty, graduate
students interested in teaching, and TAs. Visit our website
or drop by the Centre to browse, Day Hall, Rm. 125 (ext.
52468)
Hiring
a Teaching Assistant?
If
you are hiring (or thinking about hiring) a TA (graduate or
undergraduate) for a course you are teaching, there are a
number of guidelines and procedures in place that the University
and CUPE (union group) have agreed to as part of the Unit
One Collective Agreement (http://www.cupe3913.on.ca/). Your
department secretary will likely be familiar with these procedures
and can point you in the right direction. Human Resources
(http://www.uoguelph.ca/HR)
is another source of information and support for hiring TAs.
Contact:
For
more information about the Graduate Student Program,
contact:
Dr. Gavan Watson
Educational Developer, Teaching Support Services
Day Hall 206
gavan.watson [at] uoguelph.ca
x. 56856
GS
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