Teaching Assistants' Training Program

While PowerPoints and its alternatives may seem ubiquitous in higher education, how can we create accessible and effective visual aids for our learners? In this workshop, we will consider questions to ask ourselves before opening a PowerPoint template and explore key pedagogical frameworks that help evaluate the necessity and effectiveness of visual aids. Participants will […]

This 3-hour workshop will introduce you to the fundamentals of course design, from outcomes to assessments. We will outline the elements of effective outcomes and assessments, and we will address some of the logistical questions about course preparation (e.g. course readings) that affect decisions in course design. During the session, you will draft and receive […]

The TATP Course Design Day will provide you with an introduction to the principles and process of course design. Guided by experienced teachers, facilitators, and collaborators, you will learn how to design (or re-design) a course of your choosing in order to enhance students’ learning experiences. This institute is intended for graduate students preparing to […]

Online learning is becoming increasingly common in higher education, and, as a result, it is crucial to understand best practices for designing online courses. In this workshop, we apply the fundamentals of course design to online courses, and discuss the steps you can follow to design an engaging online course. We also consider what types […]

The teaching dossier is a comprehensive record of teaching activities and accomplishments that is now required in applications for permanent positions at the University of Toronto and at an increasing number of institutions across North America. In this session, we will review the elements of a successful teaching dossier and discuss how to use it […]

THIS SESSION HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO LOW ENROLMENT This session explores strategies for building a sense of community among your students in order to enhance their learning. Topics will include creating a learning environment conducive to community  building, using shared decision-making, modelling community-oriented behaviours, and facilitating interpersonal connections. Participants will leave with specific strategies for breaking the […]

We encourage participants from across the humanities, social sciences and STEM disciplines to join us and engage in intra- and inter- disciplinary conversations about the socio-political contexts of our teaching and research. The impact of research extends into our global community, impacting policies, perceptions and norms. How do we situate our research within this context […]

Land acknowledgements have become common in academic spaces, as well as outside of academia, in schools and at cultural, civic, and sporting events. You might have even seen them while waiting for a bus, or while walking on Ishpadinaa, or Spadina. However, as land acknowledgements have become more common, they risk losing meaning as a […]

Many of us are familiar with the dominant narratives around resiliency and “grit” that are currently circulating in public discourse – “You need to have grit to succeed,” or “you learn best through adversity.” This discourse has led scholars and educators to consider the central role that emotions play in teaching and learning. Emotional intelligence […]

The purpose of this session is to familiarize TAs with reflective practice in teaching and learning, as well as equip participants with open-ended and guided tools for building and maintaining a robust reflective practice. Reflective practice “carries multiple meanings that range from the idea of professionals engaging in solitary introspection to that of engaging in […]

This workshop will introduce participants to infographics and how to develop them as a teaching tool for their classrooms. Attendees will learn the basics of infographic making (e.g. making information concise, easy to read and follow), how to identify pertinent information to include in infographics, and resources they can use to create them for students. […]

This interactive workshop will highlight how integrating images, audio, video and immersive virtual environments can enhance the teaching and learning experience.  Through discussions and group activities, this session will:  Share evidence for the efficacy multimodal teaching and learning,Offer practical tips related to accessibility and recommended sources for mediaDemonstrate engaging use of media in the classroom […]

As scientists, we need to be skilled not only in our own discipline, but also in communicating our findings with the larger global community. Many cite the disconnect between the work in academia and the translation of that work to the general public as a contributing factor in the contemporary spread of misinformation. In education, […]

The statement of teaching philosophy (STP) is the foundation of any teaching dossier, is often requested as part of an academic job application, and is an important part of the tenure and promotion process. This short statement needs to effectively communicate your ideas, beliefs, and values about teaching in a condensed space. In writing your […]