Fall 2024 Teaching Assistant Workshops and Opportunities
Registration Now Open!
Are you a new Teaching Assistant (TA) at the University of Guelph? Are you an experienced TA looking to enhance your skills in teaching and grading?
Join us in September for a series of virtual workshops for undergraduate and graduate Teaching Assistants to help prepare you with the teaching-related skills, knowledge, and tools you’ll need to be successful in your TA roles. Sessions are designed to be interactive, and will include activities, discussion, and opportunities for sharing ideas and experiences. We will be recording the parts of the workshop where the facilitators are presenting, and these recordings will be shared with all registrants after the event.
Individuals who attend 3 or more workshops can receive a Letter of Participation, detailing the workshops attended. Please email gtc@uoguelph.ca with your name and which 3 or more workshops you have attended, and we will send you a record of your participation in TA development.
Please note that you will need a Zoom account with your @uoguelph.ca or @guelphhumber.ca email address to register. If you don’t already have a Zoom account with your Guelph email, sign up for a free Zoom account before registering for TA Workshops sessions.
| Date | Session |
| Thursday, September 05, 2024 | Communication, Professionalism and Starting the Semester Strong |
| Monday, September 09, 2024 | Effective Lesson Planning for Labs and Seminars |
| Monday, September 09, 2024 | Leading and Facilitating Discussions |
| Wednesday, September 11, 2024 | Effective and Efficient Grading and Feedback Practices |
| Friday, September 13, 2024 | Incorporating Active Learning Strategies into your Teaching |
Communication, Professionalism and Starting the Semester Strong
Date: Thursday, September 05, 2024 | 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Facilitators: Brandon Sabourin & Dr. Megan De Roover
Description: Join us for a dynamic workshop on communication and professionalism within your role as a TA. In this workshop, we will explore strategies and tools around effective communication and professionalism with your students, including email etiquette, meeting and interacting with students, and communication with the course instructor. We will also discuss strategies to start the semester strong, including what you can do in the first few weeks of the semester to introduce yourself to students, get to know your students, and create a supportive, positive, and inclusive classroom environment.
Learning Outcomes: By the end of this workshop, successful participants should be able to:
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Use effective professional communication skills during interactions with students and course instructors, including email communications and in-person or virtual meetings
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Apply practical strategies to build rapport and create a supportive and inclusive learning environment.
Effective Lesson Planning for Labs and Seminars
Date: Monday, September 09, 2024 | 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Facilitators: Janet Wolstenholme
Description: In this workshop, we’ll explore the essential skills and strategies to develop and deliver an organized and effective lesson to your students. In this workshop, we will describe and apply the BOPPPS lesson planning model, which aligns learning outcomes with assessments and classroom activities. You will have an opportunity to begin planning a future lesson using this framework, exploring how to use class time effectively to enhance student engagement and learning.
Learning Outcomes: By the end of this workshop, successful participants should be able to:
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Describe constructive alignment, through the application of aligning learning outcomes with classroom activities and assessments.
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Identify the six aspects of the BOPPPS lesson planning model.
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Prepare a lesson plan to implement in labs or seminars.
Leading and Facilitating Discussions
Date: Monday, September 09, 2024 | 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Facilitators: Janet Wolstenholme & Sophie Brown
Description: Join us for an enriching workshop designed to empower graduate students with essential tools and approaches for facilitating effective class discussions with undergraduate students. We will discuss how to create effective questions and follow-up questions that encourage reflection, participation, and meaningful discussion, strategies to open and close discussions to encourage reflection, and methods to encourage student engagement in the discussion. We will also discuss effective approaches to manage conflicts that may arise during class discussions.
Learning Outcomes: By the end of this workshop, successful participants should be able to:
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Identify and implement questioning techniques to foster productive and engaging classroom discussions.
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Explore discussion strategies that encourage reflection, participation, and student engagement in the discussion.
Effective and Efficient Grading and Feedback Practices
Dates: Wednesday, September 11, 2024 | 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Facilitators: Dr. Aron Fazekas and Janet Wolstenholme
Description: In this workshop, we will explore strategies to effectively and efficiently manage your grading workload, while striving towards consistency and fairness in grading. We will share various grading approaches and tools that can increase grading efficiency. We will also discuss how to give effective feedback to students on their learning to encourage improvement, including appropriate types of feedback, timing of feedback, amount of feedback, and appropriate language and tone.
Learning Outcomes: By the end of this workshop, successful participants should be able to:
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Explore practical strategies and tools to manage your grading workload.
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Identify the role of feedback in student learning.
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Discuss techniques for giving appropriate and constructive feedback that is clear, actionable, and supportive, and encourages student improvement.
Incorporating Active Learning Strategies into your Teaching
Date: Friday, September 13, 2024 | 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Facilitators: Shehroze Saharan
Description: Are you interested in discovering active learning practices and approaches that increase student engagement and learning? This workshop explores and demonstrates different active teaching strategies that you can adopt or adapt to use in your own teaching practice. Join us to discover innovative techniques that will not only make your teaching more effective but also more enjoyable for you and your students. Elevate your teaching skills and make a lasting impact in the classroom.
Learning Outcomes: By the end of this workshop, successful participants should be able to:
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Identify evidence-based active learning strategies that would be appropriate to use in their own teaching context.
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Discuss the effectiveness of active learning and why these techniques increase student engagement.
Previous Workshops
International Teaching Assistant Workshop
This event will take place on Thursday, February 8, 2024, between 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM. The workshop will run virtually as well as in person on the ground floor of McLaughlin Library in Room 103 (Here’s a map!).
Navigating graduate life can be a challenge, especially as an international student: a new country, new customs, new studies, and a whole host of re-orientation and navigation to get used to. This workshop is designed to foreground International Teaching Assistants’ experiences, offer guidance on strategies to prioritize their time and energies, and share important resources and learning amongst international TA peers.
We will cover health and wellness at UoG, your rights as an employee of the university, and offer a chance to reflect on your desires and goal-setting as a new or returning International Teaching Assistant. This is an opportunity to connect with fellow international TAs, share resources, and forge a path towards success in your academic journey. Elevate your experience as a new or returning International Teaching Assistant with our empowering and enriching session.
Inclusive Teaching 101 Workshop
This event will take place on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, between 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM. The workshop will run virtually as well as in person on the ground floor of McLaughlin Library in Room 103 (Here’s a map!).
Calling all passionate teaching assistants!
Are you ready to embark on a transformative journey towards creating inclusive and welcoming classroom environments? Join - "Inclusive Teaching 101” a dynamic workshop that delves into the heart of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) principles in education!
In this session, we will explore the essential tools and strategies to make your classroom a haven of acceptance and understanding. From fostering a culture of respect to embracing diverse perspectives, we'll equip you with the knowledge and skills to champion inclusivity at every turn.
Connect with fellow teaching assistants, share experiences, and leave with a renewed sense of purpose to champion inclusivity throughout your educational journey.
Highlights of the Workshop:
- Unpacking the core concepts of EDI in teaching
- Exploring practical strategies for creating an inclusive classroom
- Navigating diversity with empathy and cultural sensitivity
- Interactive discussions and collaborative problem-solving
Save the date for a workshop that not only promises insights, but actionable steps towards transforming your teaching approach. Let's build a future where every learner feels a sense of belonging!
Teaching Assistant Check-in
This event will take place virtually on Microsoft Teams on Friday, March 8, 2024, between 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM.
Calling all passionate teaching assistants! How’s your semester going?
Dealing with grading fatigue, wondering how to approach upcoming seminars, or just need to let off some mid-semester steam? Join a peer-to-peer online drop-in session to ask questions, share strategies, and problem-solve with other TAs from across UoG. Whether a seasoned TA or new to the role, we’re here to offer advice, support, solutions, and resources to help you navigate the rest of the semester.
Meeting ID: 298 768 951 085
Passcode: wEaxoo
Hybrid Teaching Strategies Workshop
This event will take place on Friday, March 22, 2024, between 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM. The workshop will run virtually only via Microsoft Teams.
Navigating the landscape of hybrid teaching requires a unique set of strategies, and this workshop is your compass! Discover innovative ways to adapt your teaching style to online platforms, ensuring a fluid and effective learning experience for all.
Dive into practical demonstrations, collaborative discussions, and real-world scenarios that will empower you to confidently navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by hybrid teaching.
Connect with fellow teaching assistants facing similar challenges, share success stories, and leave with a toolkit of hybrid teaching strategies that will elevate your impact in and outside the classroom.
Workshop Highlights:
- Learning more about blending traditional and digital methods
- Tech-savvy tools for interactive and engaging online classes
- Strategies to maintain student focus and participation in virtual environments
- Creating dynamic content that transcends physical and digital boundaries
Whether you're a seasoned educator or just starting your journey, this workshop will help you begin your journey of hybrid teaching. Let's revolutionize education together by creating engaging and immersive learning experiences in every setting!
Teaching Assistant Check-in
This event will take place on Friday, April 5th, 2024, between 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM. The workshop will run virtually only via Microsoft Teams.
Calling all passionate teaching assistants! How’s your semester going?
Dealing with grading fatigue, wondering how to approach upcoming seminars, or just need to let off some mid-semester steam? Join a peer-to-peer online drop-in session to ask questions, share strategies, and problem-solve with other TAs from across UoG. Whether a seasoned TA or new to the role, we’re here to offer advice, support, solutions, and resources to help you navigate the rest of the semester.
Teaching Philosophy Statements and Dossiers Workshop
This event will take place on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, between 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM. The workshop will run virtually only via Microsoft Teams.
Compiling your teaching dossier and drafting a teaching philosophy statement might seem daunting at first, but they can provide opportunities for reflection, and developing structure and direction during your teaching journey – however far along the path you are. This end-of-term session will offer tools to reflect on your teaching experiences and impact on learners and identify your teaching-related transferable skills - essentials in future job searches in academic and non-academic fields.
New and returning TAs are welcome to a collaborative workshop that will enhance their teaching visions, teaching statements, and teaching dossiers.
Outcomes for the workshop include:
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Summarising how teaching dossiers are used in job applications
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Describing components and best practices of a teaching dossier; in particular, the statement of teaching philosophy
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Reflecting on teaching approaches and learning impacts
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Beginning to draft a statement of teaching philosophy and dossier sections.
Journal Club April 2024
This event will take place on Thursday, April 11, 2024, between 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM. The Journal Club will run virtually only via Microsoft Teams.
Graduate students and colleagues from across campus are invited to an intellectually stimulating Journal Club where we’ll delve into the latest research in teaching and learning. Whether you're a seasoned graduate, an emerging researcher, or just passionate about staying up to date with the latest developments, Journal Club is an excellent opportunity to learn and discuss important ideas in a collaborative learning environment. For this April’s session, our discussion will revolve around a research paper exploring nuanced understandings of students of colour's resistance to critical race pedagogy. Come be a part of the dialogue that will help shape your pedagogical approaches and outlooks, daily practices, future teaching, and research.
This Month’s Article:
- Access the Article Here: 'It doesn’t speak to me’: understanding student of color resistance to critical race pedagogy
- APA Citation: Alemán, S. M., & Gaytán, S. (2016). ‘it doesn’t speak to me’: Understanding student of color resistance to critical race pedagogy. International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education, 30(2), 128–146. https://doi.org/10.1080/09518398.2016.1242801
- KEYWORDS:
- Critical race pedagogy
- Critical race theory
- Resisting decolonization
- Students of colour resistance
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