2003 August Teaching Workshop - Teaching Assistant Program

Especially for beginning teaching assistants; all who teach are invited

Wednesday, August 20, 2003

8:15-8:55 Check-in or Registration & Refreshments.

9:00-9:20 Welcome to Teaching at U.Va.
President John T. Casteen III

9:30-11:00 Teaching the First Days of Class
Dorothe Bach, TRC Faculty Consultant (German)
Amanda Hege, TRC Graduate Associate (Psychology)
Bill Murad, TRC TTSP (Classics)
Chris Jackson, TRC Graduate Associate (English)
Elizabeth Dunn, Graduate TA (Psychology)
Kelly Erickson, Graduate TA (Politics)
Liz Wittner, ITA Program Administrator (ESL)
(Ms. Wittner's section is recommended to all International TAs)
How to keep the butterflies under control and get off to a good start.

11:00- 11:10 Break with refreshments.

11:15-12:45 CONCURRENT SESSIONS

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

Successful Teaching Techniques To Use in the Lab
Kristen Curran, Lecturer (Biology)
Teaching methods to consider for a successful lab experience.

Teaching Math to Majors, Non-Majors, Pre-Meds, and Engineers
Jeffrey Holt, Assistant Dean (Statistics)
Approaches to consider in teaching math in various settings.

Teaching Problem-Solving Sessions
Sarah Simmons, Graduate TA (Economics)
Janna Levin, TRC Graduate Associate (Environmental Sciences)
If you'll be teaching a problem-solving section in science, social science or engineering, get some tips on how to be successful.

Facilitating Classroom Discussions
Mitchell Green, Associate Professor (Philosophy)
James Sofka, Assistant Dean (Politics)
Practical advice about how to maximize both student participation and the amount of material covered in class.

1:00 For International TAs
International Teaching Assistants who will teach for the first time at U.Va. during the Fall 2003 semester should plan to attend this session to learn about training programs and other available resources. 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 pre-register.

Thursday, August 21, 2003

8:15-8:55 Check-in or Registration & Refreshments

9:00-9:20 Welcome to Teaching at U.Va
Penny Rue, Dean of Students

9:30-11:00 Difficult Classroom Situations
Kelly Erickson, Graduate TA (Politics)
Bill Murad, TRC TTSP (Classics)
Chris Jackson, TRC Graduate Associate (English)
Amanda Hege, TRC Graduate Associate (Psychology)
Janna Levin, TRC Graduate Associate (Environmental Sciences)
Dustin Kidd, Graduate TA (Sociology)
Liz Wittner, ITA Program Administrator (ESL)
What if your students . . . say a test is unfair? . . . talk during others' presentations? . . . question the grades on their papers? By discussing scenarios of some teachers nightmares, you enhance your chances of avoiding any yourself.

11:00-11:10 Break with refreshments

11:15-12:45 CONCURRENT SESSIONS

Making It Work for Everyone: How to Teach All Your Students Effectively
Ishmail Conway, Assistant Professor (Education)
Dorothe Bach, TRC Faculty Consultant (German)
As one skilled U.Va. instructor has said about our diverse student population, "Sensitivity isn't enough; you need strategies." This workshop gives insights into what identity means and offers useful strategies for teaching the variety of students at U.Va. Participants share successful techniques.

Moving Beyond Learning Disabilities in Foreign Language Courses
Emily Scida, Associate Professor (Spanish)
How to spot learning disabilities and accommodate those students who have them in your course.

Responding to Student Writing
Jon D'Errico, Associate Director, Writing Programs (English)
Marianne Montgomery, Graduate TA (English)
John Murphy, Graduate TA (English)
Sigrid Anderson Cordell, Graduate TA (English)
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 will be offered: one for science, math, and engineering; the other for humanities and social sciences

Sessions for TAs in Science, Math ,Engineering
Sessions for TAs in Humanities, Social Sciences

12:50-1:20 TAs & the Honor System
Carey Migerney, Honor Committee Chair
What should you do if you see students cheating? What can you do to promote academic integrity? Led by members of the Honor Committee, this session will cover how to include the Honor System in your syllabus, what to do if you suspect cheating, and what your options and responsibilities are as an instructor. There will be time at the end of the presentation for your questions.

1:30 Lunch
The TRC and your Dean want to provide you with an opportunity to talk informally with each other. Workshop participants who have lunch tickets (which will be distributed at Registration or Check-in) can pick up their lunches.

1:30 For International TAs
Learn more about cultural aspects of teaching at U.Va. from an international perspective. Training programs and other resources offered for ITAs will be explained.