Teaching Assistants' Training Program

Joel Rodgers, TATP Course Instructor Coordinator

As a Teaching Assistant, you may play a variety of roles in a course, and so it is important that you and the Course Instructor maintain clear lines of communication regarding course and student issues. Establishing and maintaining an effective and positive relationship with a CI involves several considerations. The TA-CI relationship can be further complicated when the CI is your supervisor, member of your Ph.D. committee, or a senior member of the department. This workshop will explore the various considerations around the power dynamics in a TA-CI relationship as they relate to setting course objectives, discussing teaching styles, roles, allocation of hours for responsibilities and expectations. This workshop will also delve into specific strategies and mechanisms on how to respond and mitigate different challenges and optimize on opportunities in communicating effectively in a teaching team and coming together for collaborative learning and teaching, professional development and skills building.