Career & Tools
Check out Instructional Development's Fall 2017 workshop series for graduate student Teaching Assistants and Teaching Associates. The first workshop is on Friday, September 29. Please RSVP as soon as possible to reserve your space.
UCSB's Instructional Development is pleased to announce their Fall 2017 workshop series for graduate student Teaching Assistants and Teaching Associates. The workshops are limited to 10 participants, and all sessions are held in Kerr Hall 1128. Please RSVP here as soon as possible to reserve your space.
Creating a Section Syllabus
Friday, September 29, 10-11 a.m.
Facilitator: Jenna Santy, TA Pedagogical Advisor
Students Some TAs find it helpful to create a syllabus specifically covering discussion section goals, expectations and procedures, particularly if these are not covered at length in the larger course syllabus. In this workshop, we'll discuss what would go in a section syllabus and why it might be useful to have one.
Teaching Quantitative Concepts
Tuesday, October 10, 4-5 p.m.
Facilitator: Dr. Lisa Berry, Instructional Development
Students often find quantitative concepts difficult to understand and may respond by disengaging in the course. In this workshop, we will explore barriers to quantitative thinking and learn strategies that can be used to help students overcome those challenges.
Common Concerns of First-Time TAs
Wednesday, October 11, 3-4 p.m.
Facilitator: Heather Macias, TA Pedagogical Advisor
Is Fall Quarter your first TA-ship? Then this workshop is for you. Discussion activities will focus on concerns of particular interest to the participants who attend this session. Topics could include such issues as classroom management, trials and tribulations of being an authority figure, quick but effective ways to prepare for section, faculty-TA relations, getting discussion started, teaching labs, and grading.
Supporting UCSB's International Students
Tuesday, October 19, 2-3 p.m.
Facilitator: Dr. Mindy Colin, Instructional Development
With the recent influx of international students, many TAs-new and experienced-may find themselves thinking of ways to adapt their sections to accommodate students with different cultural backgrounds and expectations. In this workshop, we will explore strategies to help international students engage in our classes, as well as consider methods to support these students with respect to written assignments, papers, exams, etc.
Giving Effective Feedback on Written Work
Monday, October 23, 4-5 p.m.
Facilitator: Rachel Rys, TA Pedagogical Advisor
As many TAs spend much time grading students' work, this session addresses strategies for making our work more efficient and consistent, as well as ways to encourage students' improvement. Issues we will discuss include providing written feedback, encouraging student self-reflection, using grading rubrics, and anticipating potential grade disputes. Bring to this workshop: a. the prompts or instructions for a specific assignment, project, and/or paper; b. a sample student written assignment; c. (optional) any grading rubrics or grading checklists you use.
Preparing Your CCUT Portfolio
Thursday, October 26, 1â-2 p.m.
Facilitator: Dr. Lisa Berry, Instructional Development
The session will provide tips on writing the CCUT teaching portfolio, including ways of presenting teaching materials, documenting student ratings, meeting the technology requirement, tone of the portfolio narration, and more. Participants need to have completed at least two of the CCUT requirements. Please note that if you are completing your doctorate degree in Winter Quarter, the final date that you may submit your CCUT portfolio is Friday Dec 9th.
Crafting your Teaching Philosophy Statement
Tuesday, October 31, 10-11 a.m.
Facilitator: Dr. Lisa Berry, Instructional Development
Writing a Teaching Philosophy Statement can be a challenge, and is required for most teaching positions. At the same time, examining and articulating your teaching philosophy can help you to become a more effective instructor. As a participant in this workshop, you will work through a series of exercises to help you reflect on your teaching, and by workshop end you will have a draft outline of your teaching philosophy statement.
Effective Use of Mobile Technology during Section
Friday, November 3, 2-3 p.m.
Facilitator: Dr. Mindy Colin, Instructional Development
Come learn the many different ways you can engage students by having them use their smart phones, tablets, and laptops during section! Not only will we look at some great classroom games and apps, we will also cover how to manage student behavior regarding mobile technology use during class.
International TAs: Communicating and Interacting with UCSB Students
Tuesday, November 14, 2â-3 p.m.
Facilitator: Dr. Mindy Colin, Instructional Development
In this workshop UCSB's international TAs will have the opportunity to discuss their successes and concerns about TAing at UCSB. We will also discuss particular classroom practices and teaching approaches that might be challenging to TAs from other countries when facilitating labs and discussion sections, and determine appropriate ways to deal with those challenges. We will then experiment with teaching strategies that support appropriate communication and interaction with UCSB students during class.