Fall TA Programming is now open at the CTL!

The Teaching Assistant (TA) Programs team is excited to announce our suite of Fall programming. Registration is now open for a wide variety of programming to develop the teaching skills of graduate students and postdoctoral scholars. You do not need a TA or Instructor position to participate.

Registration is open for the following programs through Western Connect:

For International & New Resident Students and Postdocs

Teaching in the Canadian Classroom (TCC)
September 28th  to October 28th

This program for international and new resident graduate students or postdocs explores lesson design, classroom teaching strategies and more through a socio-cultural lens. Participants will complete some asynchronous online work and attend in-person sessions, including the chance to design, deliver, and receive feedback on their own original 10-minute lessons. For participants completing the Western Certificate in University Teaching and Learning, completion of this program fulfills the microteaching requirement.

For more information, click here to visit the TCC webpage.

Exploring and Interviewing for Careers in Teaching (EICT)*
November 7th to November 25th

In collaboration with Career Education, EICT prepares you to confidently interview for positions within the education sector and navigate cultural differences during the recruitment process. Through a combination of workshops, mock interviews and asynchronous online work, you will learn how to manage non-verbal cues, what to include in an application, and how to best articulate your strengths.  You will also create and share feedback on a resumé and mini teaching portfolio.

*This program has a prerequisite. For more information, click here to visit the EICT webpage.

For All Graduate Students and Postdocs

Teaching Mentor Program (TMP)
October 3rd to December 18th

In this hands-on learning experience, participants work in groups of 4 to 5 to observe and offer feedback on one another’s teaching. Participants will visit one another’s classrooms or act as students in one another’s teaching demonstrations. At the end of the program, participants will have letters of recommendation from their colleagues as proof of completion. For participants completing the Western Certificate in University Teaching and Learning, completion of this program fulfills the Teaching Mentor requirement.

For more information, click here to visit the TMP webpage.

Future Prof Series Workshops
Multiple Dates: October 11th to October 20th

The Future Prof Series is a collection of interactive 90-minute workshops designed to equip grad students and postdocs with the teaching skills they will need in their future careers both within the professoriate and beyond. For participants completing the Western Certificate in University Teaching and Learning, attending one workshop and completing the associated Future Prof Assignment counts as one Future Prof Credit. Registration is now open for the following workshops in the Future Prof Series:

  • Creating a Critical Thinking Reference Guide for Your Classroom – in person, October 11th from 10:00am to 11:30am
  • Leadership in Wellness Part 1: Cultivating student mental health* – in person, October 11th from 1:00pm to 2:30pm
  • Leadership in Wellness Part 2: Initiating mental health conversations with your students* - in person, October 11th from 2:45pm to 4:15pm      
  • Decolonizing the Academy: Finding Your Role – in person, October 13th from 10:00am to 11:30am
  • What is Reflective Writing and How Do I Use It? - in person, October 14th from 10:00am to 11:30am
  • Building a Community of Trust with International and New Resident Students – in person, October 14th from 1:00pm to 2:30pm
  • Inclusive Design by Default in the Classroom and Beyond – in person, October 20th from 2:00pm to 3:30pm

*This session has a pre-requisite. For more information, including full workshop descriptions,  click here to visit the Future Prof Series webpage.

TA eLearning Series
Participants in the TA eLearning Series receive access to nine asynchronous TA Training Modules designed to equip participants with strategies for teaching in online spaces. Modules are designed to take approximately one hour and can be completed at any time. Participants will retain access to the modules for 1 month. For those completing the Western Certificate in Teaching and Learning, completion of 2 modules can be counted as 1 Future Prof Credit.

The next offering (October 17th to November 14th) is open. For more information, including module descriptions and registration instructions, click here to visit the TA eLearning Series webpage.

Save the Dates for more upcoming TA programming!

Advanced Teaching Program (ATP)
November 7th to December 5th

Designed for those with some teaching experience, this four-week program uses a combination of asynchronous online learning and weekly in-person sessions to guide participants through topics such as course design, active learning, and assessment strategies. Participants will gain practical experience through microteaching sessions and will have designed their own original syllabus by the end of the program. For participants completing the Western Certificate in University Teaching and Learning, completion of this program fulfills the microteaching requirement.

In person sessions, including microteaching, will run on Tuesdays from 9:00am to 12:00pm

Registration for ATP will be opening shortly. Click here to sign up for our mailing list to stay informed.