The Gwenna Moss Centre for Teaching and Learning offers a selection of sessions and experiences focused on developing specific skills and knowledge relevant to roles as a Teaching Assistant (TA).

You can select and be recognized for the sessions and experiences that are most relevant to you, including experiences on marking effectively; lesson planning; facilitating labs, problem-set tutorials, or seminars; and more.

As part of the TA Success Series (described below), we offer the TA Success Day - a half-day of sessions focused on developing specific skills and knowledge relevant to working as a Teaching Assistant (TA). Topics include: marking effectively; lesson planning; and facilitating labs, problem-set tutorials, and seminars. Attendance is recognized on the co-curricular record when you attend three or more sessions.

TA Success Day regularly takes place in early September and early January. Registration opens approximately one month in advance.

September 6, 2019 TA Success Day Schedule

	Murray 102	Murray G3	Murray 50.12 (GMCTL Classroom)
9:00-9:40	Grading Written Papers and Projects Register	Facilitating Practical Labs Register	Panopto video tools for TAs  Register
15 Minutes Transition Time
9:55-10:35	Facilitating seminars and discussion tutorials Register	Professional relationships as a TA Register	Blackboard tools for TAs Register
10 Minutes Transition Time
10:45-11:25	Introduction to Lesson Planning Register	Grading Problem Sets and Labs Register	Copyright in the classroom Register
15 Minutes Transition Time
11:40-12:20	Introduction to Lesson Planning Register	Facilitating Problem Set Tutorials Register	Understanding Your Collective Agreement Register
10 Minutes Transition Time
12:30-1:10	Grading Written Papers and Projects Register

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You can select and be recognized for the sessions and experiences that are most relevant to you, including experiences on marking effectively; lesson planning; facilitating labs, problem-set tutorials, or seminars; and more.

How to take part: If you are interested in taking part and being recognized for participating in the complete TA Success Series, register by emailing ryan.banow@usask.ca. Please include your NSID.
Upon registration, you will be registered in a Blackboard Learn course called “GMCTL TA Success Series”.
Registration is ongoing.

Recognition: Your attendance, participation, and completion of each element will be recognized on your Co-Curricular Record.

Timeline: All activities should be completed within approximately one academic year. The activities are able to be completed in as little as 2 months.

Activities

1. Workshops & Reflection

• Attend 5 GMCTL workshops and then write a reflective paper
  • Find the “Workshop Reflection Guidelines” on Blackboard Learn
• Attendance at sessions will be tracked by the GMCTL
• Submit your reflection on Blackboard Learn in the TA Success Series course
• Workshops Available:
  • Fall Fortnight for Teaching and Learning - A series of sessions for anyone involved with teaching at the University of Saskatchewan.
  • September TA Success Day (September 6) - A day of sessions focused on developing specific skills and knowledge relevant to teaching as a TA.
  • January TA Success Day (January - date tbd) - A day of sessions focused on developing specific skills and knowledge relevant to teaching as a TA.
  • Standalone GMCTL workshops scheduled throughout the year.

2. Observation and Conversation with an instructor or experienced TA

• Arrange to meet with and/or observe an instructor or experienced TA in a role similar to yours
• Discuss and/or analyze their approach and process for completing their work
  • Examine choices in teaching strategies, how to interact with students, assessment strategies, tips, tricks, challenges, etc.
• Complete the “Conversation or Observation Record Template” and submit on Blackboard Learn

3. Microteaching Experience

• Offered in September, October, and January
  • Space is limited. Sign up early. Dates and details available in Blackboard Learn
• This experience includes a number of steps. You will need to be able to attend two 90 minute sessions.
  The steps include:
  1. Participating in a 90-minute workshop on microteaching lesson planning
  2. Writing, submitting, and revising a lesson plan on a chosen topic of interest
  3. Delivering a micro-lesson to a group of peers and a GMCTL Educational Developer during a second 90-minute workshop
  4. Writing and submitting a reflection on your micro-lesson
• Submit your Lesson Plan and Reflection on Blackboard Learn in the TA Success Series course

4. Deliver a Guest Lecture or a TA Success Day session

• Organize and present a guest lecture in a suitable course or present a TA Success Day session.
  • GMCTL staff may provide suggestions with planning the guest lecture, but does not arrange guest lecture opportunities.
• As part of the lecture, request feedback from the instructor using the “Lecture Instructor Feedback Template”
• Write a Reflection on your experience by answering the questions on “Guest Lecture Reflection Template”
• Submit your completed feedback from the instructor and reflection on Blackboard Learn in the TA Success Series course