University of Virginia Teaching Resource Center

2012 Graduate Teaching Assistant Program
Wednesday and Thursday, August 22-23
Sponsored by the Teaching Resource Center with additional support from the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, the School of Engineering and Applied Science and the Office of the Assistant Vice President for Graduate Studies

All graduate students and postdoctoral fellows new to teaching at UVa are invited.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

8:15-8:50	Check-In/Registration & Refreshments Nau Hall, 1st Floor Lobby
9:00-10:00	Welcome & Interactive Plenary: What Do the Best College Teachers Do? Nau Hall, Room 101 We all have assumptions about what it means to be a good (or a bad) teacher. Some of those assumptions are rooted in our own experience, others are informed by prevalent cultural images. Whether you aspire to teach like Albus Dumbledore or Delores Umbridge (Harry Potter), it will be worthwhile to consider research on what the best college teachers do and why.
1:00-10:15	Break
10:15-11:15	Teaching the First Days of Class Get practical advice about how to keep the butterflies under control and get your class off to a good start.
11:15-11:30	Break
11:30-1:00	Troubleshooting Teaching Challenges What if your students say a test is unfair?…talk during others' presentations?…question the grades on their papers? By discussing difficult classroom situations, you enhance your chances of avoiding any yourself.

Thursday, August 23, 2012

8:15-8:50	Check-In/Registration & Refreshments
9:00-10:00	"Presence" when Presenting Brush up on oral communication. Whether you give short lectures at the beginning of lab or discussion or present your work at a conference, this interactive session will help you approach the task with more confidence and less anxiety. We’ll engage in exercises geared to reduce stage fright, increase concentration, and center and strengthen your voice.
10:00-10:15	Break
10:15-11:45	Workshops: Teaching Methods
	Teaching Through Discussion Discuss ways to effectively facilitate classroom discussions, including maximizing student preparation and participation, guiding discussion without stifling students' creativity, and asking compelling questions.
	Teaching Problem-Solving Get tips on how to be successful teaching problem-solving in review sessions or office hours for science, social science, or engineering courses..
	Teaching Math Explore innovative pedagogical techniques to create an effective learning environment whether teaching majors, non-majors, pre-meds, or engineers.
	Teaching Successful Science Lab Sections Learn ways to make laboratory courses a successful setting in which to pursue scientific inquiry and enhance scientific understanding.
11:45-12:00	Break
12:00-1:30	Workshops: Assessing Student Work
	Tips and Techniques for Grading Student Work Discuss strategies for assessing and evaluating student work quickly, fairly, and effectively. Sessions are targeted to the following disciplinary clusters:
	Science and Engineering - Scientific writing, including essays, lab reports, short answer exams.
	Humanities and Social Science - A focus on essays, short answer and essay exams.
	Assessing Student Learning in Quantitative Courses
	Assessing & Responding to Student Learning Difficulties in Foreign Languages How to spot learning disabilities and accommodate students with them in your course.
1:45-3:00	Lunch Panel Discussion: Balancing Teaching and Life as a Graduate Student The TRC and your Dean want to provide you with an opportunity to talk with experienced TAs about strategies for finding balance as you incorporate teaching into your graduate career. Sessions are divided into disciplinary clusters. Funding for lunch generously provided by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the Graduate Office of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and the Office of the Assistant Vice President of Graduate Studies