TA training/CoP meetings/May 8, 2015
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New and Returning TAs
Facilitator: Steve Mattucci from Engineering
This page gathers notes and thoughts about this meeting.
Facilitated activities:
Brainstorming activity
What needs do returning TA’s have?
- Reminders (rules and regulations)
- Appreciation, recognition and validation (course design; get together)
- Responding to feedback (do as group - in session)
- Update on course changes (both sides)
- Motivation
- Community/networking/support
- Integrating/building and developing based on experience
- Returning Tas --> Mentors
- responsibility
- sharing
- opportunities for growth
How/when do you best investigate what needs returning TA’s have?
- Online needs assessment (tech support)
- needs at the beginning, middle and end of the term (the survey can be distributed in (TA Training) sessions
- as feedback is received
- Note that the phrasing is important
- Formative feedback (it will affect other workshops)
- Head TA writes reports (as a group or one on one)
- Recommendations and reflections
- Faculty feedback
- Faculty meetings
- Reminder to faculty members of benefits of TA Training
Design a returning TA program
What would the program look like? How would it function? Logistics of getting it started. Program A: Goals of the program:
- Engagement
- Growth/development (reminders)
- Support/community
Components:
- 1-1 check-in: TA Mentor
- Formative
- 1) TA's ideas (dossier)
- 2) Processing feedback
- Reg. Orientation (Mentoring)
- gather expectations informally by doing an activity on hopes/fears
- Targeted content-session for returning
- Lots of mentoring opportunities
Notes: Resources: TA mentor; Union; Faculty & TA advisor
Program B: Developing Educational Leader: 1) Peer Mentors in place (use training hours to mentor) 2) Ongoing teaching portfolio/reflection 3) Multiple refresher sessions during term (in smaller groups)
- new modules, same time as new TAs
4) Workshops led by senior TAs (leverage their experience)
Consider the following:
- consider buy-in - reward with greater opportunities (career)
- smaller groups with large number of TAs
- work with CTLT (cross departmental recognition)
How to get buy-in from TAs
- Recognition/accreditation/CV (phrasing/framing --> teaching development --> prep for jobs)
- Compulsory
- Clarity of expectations (structure, schedule, goals, commitment)
- Community (food; booze (shhhhh ...!); support)
- Targeted Invitations (from a particular person i.e.: supervisor)/Professional opportunities (reputation)
- TAs want to know: "How will this make my life easier?", make sure to address this
- appeal to them as experts
- Blurring research/teaching line
- Buy-in from all sides