EDC Training Schedule – Fall 2015
Training Outside of Carleton Central
The following types of training do not require registration in Carleton Central but should be kept in mind as they are often better suited for the development of particular skills. Individuals interested in participating in these forms of training should consult with their TA Mentor, their department, or the EDC.
- Peer Feedback: After the reviewer and reviewer have completed the necessary steps and made arrangements, a peer attends an in-class teaching session to observe and provide feedback on areas of strength and areas for growth.
- NOTE: anyone wishing to conduct an observation for Peer Feedback must first complete the 1-hour online workshop “Conducting Peer Feedback.” No credit for hours is given until both the online and live components have been completed.
- Read the full description of this training option here.
- Peer Mentor: New teaching assistants are matched with experienced teaching assistants to help advise them in their new roles, as well acclimatize them to the university. (Only available in participating departments; max. 3 hours of paid training credit per year.)
- Read the full description of this training option here.
- TA Articles: Teaching assistants research and submit a brief 1–2-page article on a teaching methodology from their faculty or department, or a piece of wisdom they wish to share with other teaching assistants at the university. Max. 2 per academic year.
- NOTE: The final day to submit a TA Article is February 12th, 2016.
- Read the full description of this training option here.
- Microteaching: This inclusive environment format of training seeks to improve the teaching and presentation skills of teaching assistants and graduate students. Sessions are 3 hours long, max., and can accommodate 4 (min.) to 6 (max.) individuals.
- NOTE: Before a live microteaching session, participants must first form a microteaching group, settle on a timeline for completion (include your host), and then complete the online “Participating in a Microteach” session. No credit for hours is given until both the online and live components have been completed.
- Live Sessions: Live microteaching sessions are scheduled on demand. If you are hoping to have the EDC host the session, be sure to contact well in advance. TAs are credited hours for the time it takes to run the live microteach. Usually, it takes approximately 30 minutes to go through the cycle with each participant.
- Read the full description of this training option here.
Workshops
The following sessions are traditional workshops ranging in length from 1–2 hours that involve a limited amount of presentation and a variety of activities, including discussion, presentations, games, worksheets, etc.
Registration: Teaching assistants register for these sessions in Carleton Central.
1. Improving Your Teaching through Feedback (1.5 hrs)
Dr. Morgan Rooney, Educational Development Centre
Teacher-scholars recognize the fundamental importance of timely, constructive feedback in helping their students progress and in developing their own scholarship, and yet they often overlook taking advantage of feedback for improving their teaching. In this workshop, we will explore some common misperceptions toward student and peer feedback, its many tangible benefits for both students and teachers, and the various means you can use to solicit it.
Skills/Knowledge Developed: Managing a classroom, soliciting and incorporating feedback
EDC Credit?:Yes.
Restrictions/Limitations:All TAs, max.enrolment of 20
Scheduling:
●Tuesday, September 8th, 1-2:30pm
●Location: 422 DT
2. First Impressions: Standards, Attitudes, and Guidance (1.5 hrs)
Dr. Samah Sabra, Educational Development Centre
Engaging with students in the classroom can be a challenging experience. This session will explore four tips for nurturing and motivating students, as well as creating an inspiring learning environment. Sample discussion will include addressing attitudes to learning, and exploring the reception of course material.
Skills/Knowledge Developed: Managing a classroom, engaging students
EDC Credit?:Yes.
Restrictions/Limitations: New TAs, max.enrolment of 25
Scheduling:
●Wednesday, September 9th, 9:30-11am
●Location: 422 DT
3. Developing a Framework for Teaching (1.5 hrs)
Dr. Anthony Marini, Educational Development Centre
This session presents participants with a framework to help design their presentations. The model assists the instructor in identifying key learning objectives, enhancing student participation, and exploring strategies for embedding assessment techniques in their presentations designed to inform both the instructor and the student as to the impact of the instruction. The benefits of the model to focus instruction and help instructors become more efficient in their teaching preparation will also be highlighted.
Skills/Knowledge Developed: Engaging students, planning lessons
EDC Credit?:Yes.
Restrictions/Limitations: New TAs, max.enrolment of 20
Scheduling:
●Wednesday, September 9th, 2-3:30pm
●Location: 422 DT
4. Art of Conversation: Facilitating a Discussion Group (1.5 hrs)
Dr. Chris Brown, Department of Political Science
This interactive workshop will focus on facilitating live, in-person discussion groups.Why hold discussion groups in the first place?How should you prepare for them?What are some common problems encountered?What are some strategies for addressing these problems?The workshop is intended for TAs who are currently leading in-person discussion groups, especially those who are relatively new to the role.
Skills/Knowledge Developed: Facilitating a discussion, managing a classroom
EDC Credit?:Yes.
Restrictions/Limitations: New FASS & FPA TAs, max.enrolment of 20
Scheduling:
●Thursday, September 10th, 10-11:30am
●Location: 422 DT
5. Motivating Students in Online and Blended Learning Environments (1.0hr)
MaristelaPetrovic-Dzerdz, Educational Development Centre
What do students report as main obstacles for success in online and blended learning environments? What can we do to improve student motivation in these new modes of learning? What is the role TA can play in this effort and how can it, in return, help TAs in their teaching assignments? In this interactive workshop, we will explore the basic motivational states and strategies for improving students’ level of confidence and satisfaction, which are the essential factors of success in learning.
Skills/Knowledge Developed: Engaging students, teaching online
EDC Credit?:Yes.
Restrictions/Limitations: All TAs, max.enrolmentof 20
Scheduling:
●Friday, September 11th, 10-11am
●Location: 422 DT
6. Curiosity is… (1 hr)
Claudia Buttera, Department of Biology
An interactive discussion and exercise session aimed at identifying the role curiosity plays in learning, the importance of exercising it in the undergraduate environment, the obstacles to exercising it, and how as individuals playing an active role we can reignite intrinsic curiosity in our students, even about the most ‘boring’ of subjects.
Skills/Knowledge Developed: Engaging students
EDC Credit?:Yes.
Restrictions/Limitations: All TAs, max.enrolment of 20
Scheduling:
●Friday, September 11th, 1:30-2:30pm
●Location: 422 DT
7. Giving Effective Presentations: The Experience of ½ of Two Nerds (1.5 hrs)
Matt Sorley, Department of Psychology
We all end up giving presentations, but these do not have to be bad nor do they have to cause us undue anxiety. This interactive workshop will examine good and bad presentation techniques in a variety of contexts, and will offer guidance for making this a rewarding experience for both theclass or audience as well as the presenter.
Skills/Knowledge Developed: Giving presentations
EDC Credit?:Yes.
Restrictions/Limitations:All TAs, max.enrolment of 20
Scheduling:
●Tuesday, September 15th, 10-11:30am
●Location: 422 DT
8. Facilitating Online Discussions (1.5 hrs)
Dr. Morgan Rooney, Educational Development Centre
Creating a safe, engaging, productive classroom environment is already a big challenge for live teaching, so how do you do it if you’re asked to teach in an online environment where online discussion forums are often your main point of contact with students? In this session, we’ll discuss strategies for facilitating online discussions and consider just how much overlap there is between best practices for live and online teaching.
Skills/Knowledge Developed: Engaging students, teaching online
EDC Credit?:Yes.
Restrictions/Limitations:All TAs, max.enrolment of 25
Scheduling:
●Tuesday, September 15th, 1-2:30pm
●Location: 422 DT
9. An Introduction to cuLearn (1.0 hr)
Kirk Davies, Educational Development Centre
cuLearn is Carleton’s learning management system (LMS) where students can access course content, interact with other members of the class, and submit work for assessment. This training session will introduce teaching assistants to the basics of using the system from a TAs perspective. The main tasks to be covered are communicating with other participants, grading assignments, and inputting grades.
Skills/Knowledge Developed:Using your learning management system
EDC Credit?:No.
Restrictions/Limitations:All TAs, max.enrolment of 25
Scheduling:
●Tuesday, September 15th, 3-4pm
●Location: 422 DT
11. Meaningful Communication for Professional Development (2.0 hrs)
Janna Klostermann, Department of Sociology and Anthropology
This session will explore techniques to improve participants’ meaningful communication skills. Instead of using jargon, buzz words, or specialized language to obscure meaning, participants will develop a toolkit for contributing valuable and comprehensible work to their fields. The session will introduce participants to strategies and hands-on activities that can be used at the outlining, drafting, and copy-editing stages of the writing process. Participants will gain a more nuanced understanding of communication and professional writing strategies while strengthening their classroom and workplace communication skills.
Skills/Knowledge Developed: Communicating effectively, developing effective writing strategies
EDC Credit?:No.
Restrictions/Limitations:All ITAs, max. enrolment of 20
Scheduling:
●Wednesday, September 16th, 9:00-11:00am
●Location: 422 DT
11. A Picture’s Worth a Thousand Words: Using and Reading Nonverbal Behaviour in the Classroom (1.0 hr)
Josh Romancio, School for Linguistics and Language Studies
This session will develop participant awareness of the powerful effect that nonverbal forms of communication can have in the classroom, on impression formation, and subsequently on teaching evaluations. Participants will be introduced to some of the silent tools that may be used to help them read audiences, manage and encourage positive learning, and instil confidence.
Skills/Knowledge Developed:Engaging students, managing a classroom
EDC Credit?:Yes
Restrictions/Limitations:All TAs, max.enrolment of 20
Scheduling:
●Wednesday, September 16th, 1-2pm
●Location: 422 DT
12. Sexual Assault: Impacts and Implications for Your Classroom (1.5 hrs)
Carrolyn Johnston, Equity Services
This workshop will discuss the individual impacts of sexual assault as well as its implications for students’ academic success and how you can assist and support them in classroom. The workshop will be interactive and feature many opportunities for discussion.
Skills/Knowledge Developed: Managing a classroom, creating an inclusive classroom
EDC Credit: Yes.
Restrictions/Limitations: All TAs, max.enrolment of 25
Scheduling:
●Monday, September 21st, 10-11:30am
●Location: 422 DT
13. In the Know and on the Go: Identifying Academic Support Services for Students (1.5 hrs)
LakinDagg, Learning Support Services
Feeling overwhelmed by the academic demands of your students? Know that you are not alone! This workshop will provide detailed information regarding the academic resources that are available to TAs at Carleton helping you to address the concerns and obstacles that many of your students face. Participants of this workshop will engage in an interactive overview of the academic support services that are offered through Student Academic Support Services.
Skills/Knowledge Developed: Managing a classroom, institutional standards/procedures
EDC Credit: No.
Restrictions/Limitations:New TAs, max.enrolment of 25
Scheduling:
●Monday, September 21st, 1-2:30pm
●Location: 422 DT
14. Kinàmàgawin: Aboriginal Issues in the Classroom (1.5 hrs)
Mallory Whiteduck & Naomi Sarazin, Centre for Aboriginal Culture and Education
How do you talk about Aboriginal issues in your class? Oftentimes, discussions surrounding Indigenous issues can leave students and TAs feeling uncomfortable, angry, and/or alienated. In this workshop, we will explore some of the difficulties that can arise when discussing these issues in the classroom. Through interactive activities and discussions, you will learn techniques to enhance your facilitation skills that will enable an inclusive, safe, productive, and professional classroom environment.
Skills/Knowledge Developed: Managing a classroom, creating an inclusive learning environment
EDC Credit: Yes.
Restrictions/Limitations:All FASS and FPA TAs, max. enrolment of 25
Scheduling:
●Tuesday, September 22nd, 1-2:30pm
●Location: 422 DT
15. Preparing a Teaching Philosophy Statement (1.5 hrs)
Dr. Samah Sabra, Educational Development Centre
Teaching philosophy statements are central elements of your teaching dossier andthe first introductionperspective employersmay have to yourteaching style.Theyplayimportant rolesin an academic’s career advancement, and most faculty will revisit and editthese statements throughout their careers.Writinga teaching philosophy offers an excellent opportunity to reflect on your pedagogical commitments and practices. This workshop will introduce you to this unique piece of academic writing and give you the opportunity to begin developing your teaching philosophy statement.
Skills/Knowledge Developed: Compiling a dossier, developing your professional portfolio
EDC Credit?:Yes.
Restrictions/Limitations:Continuing PhDs, max. enrolment of 20
Scheduling:
●Wednesday, September 23rd, 9:30-11am
●Location: 422 DT
16. Fostering Student Engagement Online (1.5hrs)
Kirk Davies, Educational Development Centre
Communicating online and developing online learning communities is a growing area of teaching and learning, concerned primarily with improving the interactions that the student will experience during the course. This session will cover some of the main principles for encouraging online interaction that will lead to the formation of a stronger learning community in your course.
Skills/Knowledge Developed: Engaging students, using your learning management system
EDC Credit?:Yes.
Restrictions/Limitations: All TAs, max.enrolment of 25
Scheduling:
●Wednesday, September 23rd, 1-2:30pm
●Location: 422 DT
17. Providing Feedback to Enhance Student Learning and Engagement(1.5 hrs)
Dr. Anthony Marini, Educational Development Centre
A critical step in the assessment process involves providing students with effective feedback that both enhances their understanding and guides their learning. The workshop will examine the various techniques for providing timely and constructive feedback across a number of assessment formats and disciplines. Techniques will focus on the “language” of effective feedback and will explore how assessment tools can address the time demands involved.
Skills/Knowledge Developed: Providing effective feedback
EDC Credit?:Yes.
Restrictions: New TAs, max.enrolment of 20
Scheduling:
●Wednesday, September 23rd, 3-4:30pm
●Location: 422 DT
18. Incorporating Activities in Discussion Groups (1.5 hrs)
Dr. Morgan Rooney, Educational Development Centre
After a while, even the most lively discussion group can become stagnant. At this point, it’s time to get creative! This workshop will demonstrate a number of different teaching techniques that can be customized to your discussion group, including small group activities, games, and worksheets.
Skills/Knowledge Developed: Managing a classroom, facilitating a discussion, incorporating and managing activities
EDC Credit?:Yes.
Restrictions/Limitations:All FASS and FPA TAs, max. enrolment of 20
Scheduling:
●Friday, September 25th, 10-11:30am
●Location: 422 DT
19. Art of Conversation: Facilitating a Discussion Group (1.5 hrs)
Dr. Chris Brown, Department of Political Science
This interactive workshop will focus on facilitating live, in-person discussion groups.Why hold discussion groups in the first place?How should you prepare for them?What are some common problems encountered?What are some strategies for addressing these problems?The workshop is intended for TAs who are currently leading in-person discussion groups, especially those who are relatively new to the role.
Skills/Knowledge Developed: Facilitating a discussion, managing a classroom
EDC Credit?:Yes.
Restrictions/Limitations: All New FASS & FPA TAs, max.enrolment of 20
Scheduling:
●Thursday, October 1st, 10-11:30am
●Location: 422 DT
20. Grading in cuLearn (1.0 hr)
Kirk Davies, Educational Development Centre
Grading in cuLearn can take on many forms. In this hands-on interactive session, we will explore some of the primary forms of evaluation from the perspective of a student and TA in order to understand the assessment procedures more fully. We will explore assignments, quizzes, and the gradebook. Please bring your own laptop or device in order to fully participate. There will be a limited number of laptops made available during the session should you require one.
Skills/Knowledge Developed:Using your learning management system, teaching online
EDC Credit?:No.
Restrictions/Limitations:All TAs, max.enrolment of 25
Scheduling:
●Friday, October 2nd, 12-1pm
●Location: 422 DT
21. Engineering TAs and Writing: Strategies for Helping Your Student with Their Writing-Related Issues (1.5 hrs)
Samantha Shortt, Writing Tutorial Service; BurakGunay, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and TA Mentor; & Alex Craig, Department of Systems and Computer Engineering and TA Mentor
Jointly offered by two Engineering TAs and a TA working as a writing tutor with the Writing Tutorial Service, this workshop provides TAs with an overview of the writing process and common errors students make, as well as the technical aspects of writing within the discipline of engineering. TAs will learn what to look for when grading engineering papers and other writing assignments as well as better assist their students with writing-related questions.
Skills/Knowledge Developed: Teaching and marking writing
EDC Credit?:Yes.
Restrictions/Limitations: Engineering TAs only, max. enrolment of 25
Scheduling:
● Friday, October 2nd, 1:30pm-3pm
●Location: 422 DT
22.Supporting and Accommodating Students with Disabilities (1.5 hrs)
Boris Vukovic, Paul Menton Centre for Students with Disabilities
This workshop will provide an overview of the services available through the Paul Menton Centre (PMC) for Students with Disabilities at Carleton. PMC coordinators will cover the basics of the accommodation process, including a background on relevant legislations, disability statistics, documentation standards and requirements, accommodation procedures, and available resources. The second part of the workshop will be open for discussion of issues specific to the work of TAs, and you will be invited to present cases, questions, or scenarios to the PMC coordinators for feedback and advice.