Teaching Assistants' Training Program

Mike Kasprzak, TATP Curriculum Developer
Mariana Jardim, Faculty Liaison, Teaching, Learning and Technology

Social media technologies have become an essential extension of our personal or business life and a way that we communicate, connect, and collaborate. But can we use these technologies to facilitate and enhance our teaching as well as promote active learning of and engagement with our students? What if you asked your students to reflect on course materials in a public blog or on Twitter? How can you use these edtech tools in an educationally relevant and effective ways? Clickers, blogs and Twitter allow users to easily create content and interact with each other. In this workshop, we will explore three specific tools for teaching in higher education environments—clickers, blogs and Twitter—keeping in mind the benefits and challenges to both instructors and students. You will learn and apply practical strategies you can use in your teaching, such as: designing quick, formative assessments; creating engaging activities for your students; effectively setting up a class blog; and more.