1998 August Teaching Workshop - Teaching Assistant Program

Monday, August 31, 1998

8:45-9:10 Registration and Refreshments

9:15-9:30 Welcome
John T. Casteen III, President

9:40-11:10 For Teaching Assistants: Teaching the First Days of Class
Jennifer Chylack, Graduate Instructor (English)
Candace Cone, Graduate Instructor (French)
Margaret Gardiner, TRC (English)
Emile Lester, TRC (Government & Foreign Affairs)
Bill McAllister, Faculty Consultant, TRC (History)
Jenry Morsman, TRC (History)
Mark Salata, TRC (Biology/Education)
How to keep the butterflies under control. Multiple sessions are offered so that all TAs may be accommodated.

11:10- 11:25 Break with refreshments

11:30-1:00 Difficult Classroom Situations.
Jennifer Chylack, Graduate Instructor (English)
Candace Cone, Graduate Instructor (French)
Margaret Gardiner, TRC (English)
Jann Lacoss, Faculty Consultant, TRC (Slavics)
Emile Lester, TRC (Government & Foreign Affairs)
Jenry Morsman, TRC (History)
Mark Salata, TRC (Biology/Education)
What if your students . . . say a test is unfair? . . . talk during others' presentations? . . . question the grades on their papers? Discuss effective responses to scenarios of some teachers' nightmares before you face one.

1:00 For International TAs
Susan Muckle, Instructor, International TA Program, TRC
ITAs who will teach for the first time at U.Va. during the Fall 1998 semester should plan to attend this session to learn about training programs and other resources available for ITAs. Practical suggestions to help you through your first days as an international instructor in an American classroom will be included, along with information about the SPEAK test. A complimentary lunch will be provided for those who preregister.

Tuesday, September 1, 1998

8:30-8:55 Registration and Refreshments

9:00-9:10 Teaching at U.Va.
Jahan Ramazani, Past Chair, Faculty Senate; Professor (English)

9:15-10:45 CONCURRENT SESSIONS

Teaching Math to Majors, Non-Majors, Pre-Meds, Engineers
Mary Beck, Academic Lecturer (Engineering, Applied Math)

Teaching Lab Courses
Ed Lumadue, TA Supervisor (Biology)
Mark Salata, TRC (Biology/Education)
Teaching techniques to consider for a successful lab experience. Two sessions are offered so that TAs interested in this topic may be comfortably accommodated.

Teaching Problem-Solving Sessions
Tom Bensky, Lecturer (Physics)
If you'll be teaching a problem-solving section in Science or Engineering, get some tips on how to be successful.

Developing a Fair, Effective, Efficient Grading Policy
Jann Lacoss, Faculty Consultant, TRC (Slavics)
Learn how to make the least liked aspect of teaching more efficient and hassle-free by developing your grading philosophy and policies before you enter the classroom.

Making Your Presentations Count
Judith Reagan, Associate Director, TRC (Drama)
Brush up on your classroom "presence." Participate in exercises geared to reduce stage fright, increase concentration, and center and strengthen your voice.

Facilitating Classroom Discussions
Martha Maznevski, Assistant Professor (Commerce)
Bill McAllister, Faculty Consultant, TRC (History)
Michael Smith, Associate Professor (GFA)
Leaders will focus on practical advice about how to maximize both student participation and the amount of material covered in class. Three sessions are offered so that TAs interested in this topic may be comfortably accommodated.

10:55-11:30 How I Use(d) the TRC
Mike Millner, Graduate Instructor (English)
Natalie Milman, Graduate Instructor (Curry)
Experienced TAs talk about participating in various Teaching Resource Center programs and services and how that has affected their teaching.

11:30-11:45 Break with refreshments

11:45-1:00 CONCURRENT SESSIONS

Making It Work for Everyone: How to Teach All Your Students Effectively
Ishmail Conway, Director, Luther P. Jackson Cultural Center (Drama)
Marva Barnett, Director, TRC (French)
As one experienced U.Va. instructor has said about our diverse student population, "Sensitivity isn't enough; you need strategies." This workshop offers useful strategies for teaching the variety of students we meet, encourages sharing of successful techniques, and gives participants a chance to see something of what students experience their first year at U.Va.

Moving Beyond Learning Disabilities in Foreign Language Courses
Cheryl Krueger, Assistant Professor (French)
How to spot learning disabilities and accommodate students with them in your course.

Responding to Student Writing
Does the class or discussion section you teach require you to grade student writing? And piles of it? In this workshop, we'll discuss effective strategies for grading papers fairly and efficiently, for writing constructive comments and for preparing students better for their writing assignments. Two sections are offered, one for those in the Humanities, another for those in the Sciences, Mathematics, and Engineering.

Humanities:June Griffin, Director of the Writing Center (English)
Mathematics, Sciences Engineering:Jon D'Errico, Associate Director, Writing Program (English)

1:00 Lunch
The TRC and the Deans want to provide you with an opportunity to talk informally with each other. Workshop participants who have lunch tickets (which will be distributed at morning registration) can pick up their lunches in the Old Cabell Auditorium lobby.

1:00 For International TAs
Susan Muckle, Instructor, International TA Program, TRC
Learn more about cultural aspects of teaching at U.Va. from an international perspective. Training programs and other resources offered for ITAs will also be explained, and you will have an opportunity to ask questions about the SPEAK test.