About

As part of the TA Success Series, we offer TA Success Days. These short sessions are typically scheduled over 2-3 days and this event is usually offered bi-annually in early September and January. 

When you attend three or more sessions during an event, your attendance is recorded on your Co-Curricular Record, which recognizes students for their involvement in the campus community outside of the classroom.

The fall event was held Sept 12-14. Check back for updates in November for our Winter term TA Success Days. 

Check out the types of sessions to build TA teaching skills and knowledge that we typically offer listed below. Reach out to us if you would like support for TAs in your department or for your course.

TA Success Days Orientation & Info Session on GPS-986: Teaching Prep Certificate

Welcome to TA Success Days! This orientation is designed to provide you with an overview of the next 2 days of sessions and give you the opportunity to meet other Teaching Assistants in a facilitated "quick intro" activity. You will also have an opoprtunity to learn about and register for the Teaching Preparation Certificate (TPC), a non-credit and competency-based certificate, designed for graduate students and post docs who have prior experience teaching or as a teaching assistant, or training in teaching skills.

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Facilitating Practical Labs for First Time TAs

This session is for first time TAs. Learn practical ideas for facilitating practical laboratory sessions and encouraging student engagement.

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Grading Essays & Projects more easily and effectively for First Time TAs

This session is for first time TAs. In this session on grading written papers and projects, you’ll learn tips for giving good feedback, being more consistent in grading, and managing your time. Come expecting to practice grading and share your ideas.

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Introduction for Lesson Planning

Are you planning your own lab, tutorial, seminar or guest lecture? Join this session to become familiar with the BOPPPS lesson planning model so you can apply it to your own lessons.

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Introduction to Career Goals

Join this interactive session to identify career skills you want to build and set goals to help you get there.

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Clarifying Academic Integrity expectation for your students

Students encounter many different kinds of rules for completing assessments and it can get confusing for them. Join this session to think through how to clarify your role for Academic Integrity and how to clarify expectations for students.

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USask TA Handbook: Tips for a Successful TA Experience

Our new handbook is filled with practical advice on being a TA - for TAs and your supervisor! This session gives the opportunity to discuss highlighted sections with your supervisor/mentor and clarify roles and communication strategies through a guided activity.

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Facilitating Practical Labs for Experienced TAs

This session is for TAs who have previous experience in facilitating pracitcal labs. Come expecting to tips for facilitating labs from your peers, discuss strategies, and share solutions to common challenges.

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Grading Essays and Projects more Easily and Effectively for Experienced TAs

This session is for TAs who have previous experience in grading essays or projects. In this session you will learn tips for giving good feedback, being more consistent in grading, and managing your time. Come expecting to practice grading and share your ideas.

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Facilitation tips for Tutorials & Seminars

So you're asked to TA a tutorial or seminar. Should you 1) just sit at the front of the room while students sit with their friends and don't do anything or 2) structure the time just enough so that students feel supported and prepared for class. Come for this face-to-face session where you will practice simple strategies for running tutorials and seminars. Leave with facilitation skills.

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Grading Problem Sets, Labs and Exams faster and more effectively

In this session, you'll explore and share strategies for grading to improve consistency and efficiency and you'll leave with concrete plans for what to do before you start grading, while you're grading, and after you wrap up. You'll also explore tips on how to ensure that the feedback you provide to students can improve their learning.

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First Nation, Métis and Inuit Ways of Knowing, Being and Doing

Come and learn some things you may not know about First Nation, Métis and Inuit ways of knowing, being, and doing. This session will answer some common questions and also give you an opportunity to ask questions you have not been sure how to ask.

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Professional Relationships as a TA

Learn about your roles, responsibilities, and rights related to interactions with students, supervisors, professors, and each other through this interactive session.

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Navigating Canvas

This session explores navigation of the Canvas Dashboard, connecting with students in Canvas, and using Speedgrader's various functions.

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What you need to know about Copyright

Learn the what is copyright, why copyright laws exist, how do you know what can be distrubted to students, and who you can go to for help or with copyright questions about teaching.

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Challenging Conversations

In this session, participants will be introduced to concepts to assist them deal with challenging conversations they may face with students and supervisors in their role as a TA. They will also gain a clearer understanding of engaging professionally and respectfully with students, supervisors, and their peers.

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Managing Discussion Boards Effectively

This session offers strategies for moderating discussion boards. We look at two challenging scenarios and problem-solve strategies together.

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