TA

LFS TA Orientation Day

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You are invited to the LFS TA Training Orientation! This event is for new and returning TAs for both Term 1 and Term 2.

If you will be TAing in LFS in any capacity in the 2014/2015 year, the Faculty STRONGLY encourages your attendance. The Orientation Day will also include an informational session run by the TA Union, CUPE 2278, which is mandatory for all UBC teaching assistants.

At the orientation, you will become familiar with:

  • Resources on campus that can be used to build your teaching skills
  • Key people and policies relevant to the TA role
  • The expectations of you as a TA and what you can expect in your position
  • How to best manage or respond to potential challenging classroom situations
  • Strategies for working in a multidisciplinary courses that are group work focused

Date: Tuesday September 9th
Sign-In and Coffee: 9:30 am
Sessions: 10am – 3:30pm
Where: AGORA CAFE, MacMillan Building (2357 Main Mall)

**Free morning coffee, lunch, and midafternoon refreshments provided.

Register here before Tuesday September 2nd at midnight, for planning and catering purposes.

If you have any questions or are unable to attend, please email schrod10@mail.ubc.ca.

New UBC Publication in T.A. Development

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A new paper examining the effectiveness of traditional methods of TA training and development has been published in the Kwantlen teaching and learning e-journal, Transformative Dialogues.

Title: Teaching Assistants Thrive in a Collaborative Team: A TA Development Case Study

Authors: Alice Cassidy, Jaclyn Dee, Vivienne KY Lam, Ashley Welsh, Joanne Fox, University of British Columbia

Abstract: It is time to critically examine how Teaching Assistants (TAs) learn to teach and how they develop as educators. This exploration informs the design of courses to effectively foster TA professional development and deliver the best possible quality of instruction for undergraduates. Here we describe how the collaborative and multi-disciplinary First-year Seminar in Science (SCIE 113) educational team at the University of British Columbia (UBC), composed of graduate students and faculty members who teach the course, and a staff member who coordinates and supports the course, learn from and with each other. Our team approach creates a unique environment for TAs to grow and develop as educators, a higher level than the more common TA training. We describe multiple unique roles that TAs play in this course, showing that as contributing members of a team, they learn about teaching, curriculum development, mentorship, and leadership through observation, practice, collaboration, and reflection. The result of this approach is TAs who are well-prepared for the immediate demands of the classroom, have experienced and contributed to curricular design, have the opportunity to create and reflect on their own teaching philosophies and to apply the skills, knowledge and attitudes honed in SCIE 113 to other teaching endeavours.

(Link to full document)

Graduate Student Instructional Skills Workshop

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For Registered UBC Graduate Students Only

Our three day Instructional Skills Workshops (ISWs) are designed for graduate students interested in developing and enhancing their instructional skills. It caters to individuals new at teaching as well as those who wish to refresh and enhance their skills. Due to the interactive nature of this workshop, participants must be comfortable communicating verbally in English. Participants benefit from practicing skills and sharing ideas in a cooperative environment.

You will work closely with peers and trained facilitators (who are themselves UBC graduate students and teaching assistants from across campus). In this supportive atmosphere you will have a chance to begin to develop new teaching skills, to enhance existing skills, and/or to try new and challenging ideas. The workshop consists of teaching practice, theory application, and topical sessions specifically relevant to Teaching Assistants and Graduate Students at UBC. We take a learner-centered approach that may have you looking at your students in a whole new light!

During the workshop you will teach 3 short lessons and receive feedback from your peers. After completing this workshop you will be awarded a Certificate of Completion, and you will receive a “pass” standing in INDS 501 as an entry on your transcript indicating that you have participated in the ISW.  All ISWs run for 3 days, from 8:15am-5:00pm each day.  ISWs require a $60 deposit to confirm your registration. This deposit is refundable only upon completion of the workshop. If you have to cancel before the workshop starts or if you are otherwise unable to complete the workshop once it has started, the deposit cannot be refunded. The deposit cannot be transferred to other dates.

See www.events.ctlt.ubc.ca/series/view/5 for a full schedule of upcoming workshops.

Term 2 TA Orientation

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The LFS TA Training Program is kicking off the new term with a TA Orientation session for new and returning TAs who did not attend the Orientation in September 2013.

When: 4-6pm on January 16th, 2014
Where: MCML 350

This is a great opportunity for TAs to become familiar with resources, contact people, and policies that they can use to build their teaching/marking skills. If you will be working with any TAs who are new to TA’ing in LFS this term, you can help them prepare for their TA-ship by encouraging them to attend this event.

TAs must register here before January 15th at midnight to secure their spot in the orientation. Questions, feedback? Please e-mail bryannathiel@gmail.com.

Important Dates in September

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Tuesday, September 3rd – LFS TA Training Orientation

9:30 – 3:00 pm MCML 160, MacMillan Building (2357 Main Mall)

The LFS Graduate Student Council is hosting an LFS TA Training Orientation. This event is for new and returning TA’s for both Term 1 and Term 2. The Faculty strongly encourages any student appointed as a TA for LFS, in any capacity in the 2013/2014 year, to attend. The Orientation Day will also include an informational session run by the TA Union, CUPE 2278, which is mandatory for all UBC teaching assistants. The Orientation will have multiple facilitators, with the sessions run by TA Training graduate student coordinators (Bryanna Thiel and Dru Yates), CTLT facilitators, LFS instructors, and TA union representatives.

At the orientation, TA’s will become familiar with:

  • Resources on campus that can be used to build teaching skills
  • Key people and policies relevant to the TA role
  • The expectations of a TA and what can be expected in the position
  • How to best manage or respond to potential challenging classroom situations
  • Strategies for working in multidisciplinary courses that are group work focused

Sign-In and Coffee: 9:30 am
Sessions: 10am – 3pm

**Morning coffee, lunch, and mid-afternoon refreshments provided.

Register here before Tuesday August 27th at midnight, for planning and catering purposes. If you have any questions or are unable to attend, please email bryannathiel@gmail.com

Wednesday, September 4th – LFS New Student Orientation & Pizza Lunch

12:00 – 1:30 pm AGORA (lower level, MacMillan Building, 2357 Mail Mall)
RSVP to Lia by August 30, 2013: lfs.gradapp@ubc.ca

An informal opportunity to “put a face to all the names”, meet the new LFS graduate students and enjoy some lunch! There will also be two short information sessions.

  • The Dean’s Welcome – Murray Isman
  • Associate Dean, Graduate Programs – Dan Weary / Nina von Keyserlingk
  • Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies – Jacqui Brinkman
  • LFS Graduate Student Council – George Furey
  • The Learning Centre – Cyprien Lomas (not confirmed)
  • The UBC Farm – Veronik Campbell

Tuesday, September 17, 2013 – LFS Grad Students Welcome Back BBQ

2:00 – 4:00 pm AGORA (lower level, MacMillan Building, 2357 Mail Mall)
RSVP to Lia by September 9, 2013: lia.maria@ubc.ca

Meet our new & incoming graduate students, award donors, Graduate Advisors, faculty, colleagues, and the Faculty of Graduate Studies Staff!
Enjoy vegetarian and non-vegetarian food!

Orientation for New Graduate Students

Graduate Student Orientation is a joint offer by UBC Faculty of Graduate Studies, the Graduate Student Society (GSS), International Student Development and and the Office of the Vice President, Students and is highly recommended for all new graduate students as they provide an opportunity to meet your fellow new graduate students and learn important campus and academic information.

Orientations take place 2-3 times per year. The largest Orientation event happens just prior to the Labour Day weekend and is a week full of activities and events welcoming both local, national and international students to UBC and Vancouver. Winter orientation is an afternoon session offered each January for all students. International student development host an orientation specific to international students in August/September, January and May.

Please visit the event website orientation.grad.ubc.ca to view a schedule of events, location maps, pictures of previous events and much more.