Teaching Assistants' Training Program

Description

The global pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on many facets of the university, including the mental and physical wellness of students and teachers, and the design and delivery of courses themselves. As a result, teaching assistants have the difficult task of performing their duties and supporting students at a time when illness-related absences are high, requests for accommodations are rising, and assignment deadlines are increasingly fluid. This workshop will explore resilient tutorial design strategies that can help TAs balance equitable assessment, accessible learning, and self-care. Topics will include: alternative strategies for assessing student participation; techniques for managing flexible grading policies and assignment submission schedules; ways to manage expectations and TA workloads; and sources of support for students and TAs. This session will also emphasize discussion and collaboration: participants are encouraged to bring concerns and challenges that emerge from their own teaching; there will be opportunities to discuss and troubleshoot with peers.