Resources, Handbook & Online Space

Facilitators: Silvia Bartolic; Shaya Golparian

This page gathers notes and thoughts about this meeting.

Facilitated activities:

Important Resources for TAs

• For All TAs (New/Returning/Grad and Undergrad)

Defining roles and responsibilities of all TAs
Teaching Skills
TA-Instructor responsibility agreement / Task agreement/ Allocation of hours
Student Support Services
CUPE/TA Union/Contrat info (when and why to contact them)
TA Coordinator/Faculty contact info
Critical situations/Challenging situations relevant to their role
How to develop a rubric
Next level resources (i.e: ISW; teaching resources, etc)

• For New (Grad and Undergrad TAs)

Imposter Syndrome
Technology training
Grading policies

• For New Undergrad TAs

Professionalism
Plagiarism
Grading peers
Teaching to a students who are not much younger than you

• For Returning (Grad and Undergrad TAs)

PD resources
Teaching related (for those new to teaching in their role as TAs)
Facilitation advice/support
Awards
Coaching teams
Developing a Teaching Portfolio
Sample TA/guest lecture feedback/evaluation forms
team dynamics

Online Space

Advantages/Challenges with Online Space

Advantages:

Train those who miss F2F sessions
Pre-work to F2F session
Online platform for for discussion
Flexibility

Challenges

Lack of social aspect/support
Lack of/less participation (do a quiz to address this)
Are they really learning?
Create content – keeping the content updated
Accessibility – No access to internet

Solution for the disadvantages of online space

• Participation

certificate of attendance
discussion boards (eg: pre-ISW)
Blend (ensure in person components)
Check-in / Completion monitoring system

• Mentorship +/- Community of Practice w/ Other TAs

(could be organized through an online chatroom)

• Recruiting returning/senior TAs to facilitate/create content
• Reflection Activities
• Reminder that training = paid hours

What should/shouldn’t go online? What would it look like?

What should go online:

• TA/Instructor first meeting

→ checklist of questions

• Link to resources/references
• CUPE, Role/responsibilities of TAs
• How to develop a rubric + template + practice creating rubrics for assignments, etc.
• Practical Info (Photocopy; log-into computer; TA Office info; Contact info)
• Upcoming events
• Suggestion box
• Online module based learning
• Diversity training + in person case studies
• Professionalism

What shouldn’tgo online:

• Critical Incidences role-play
• Marking → Participatory Module
• Sessions that are more impact with Active Learning

Experiential Learning
Discussion based Learning

Strategies for getting TAs to review online resources and participate in online activities

• Making sessions mandatory – payment
• Incentivizing

User Friendly
Valuable/relevant
Food Vouchers
Certificate of Attendance

• Discussion board

FAQ

• Returning TAs lead next year’s session (in person or online)
• Conduct needs assessment → Look into what TAs want to learn? → matching these goals with online content