Fall 2011 TA Training Schedule
Thank you for your participation in the September 2011 workshops.
We have an additional four workshops scheduled for
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Please note that this training date takes place during the fall reading break, where undergraduate classes have been suspended for a one week period.
10:00—10:50 am
Interdisciplinary
GCS 117
|
Supporting students of all abilities
Supporting the different learning needs of all students in your seminars can initially appear to be a daunting task. There is 1 of you and X of them. Understanding the characteristics of students with learning disabilities and applying principles of universal design to your classroom interactions can support you in this way. Understanding “Best Practice” is something you likely already do partially — this workshop will show you how to expand it exponentially. This workshop will be led by Robyne Shedden, Coordinator, Office of Human Rights, Equity and Accessibility. |
11:00—11:50 am
Interdisciplinary
GCS 117
NEW |
Referring students to counselling services
At times our instincts tell us that a particular student may be experiencing difficulties that
require more specific guidance or therapy. We may need to remind ourselves, despite our caring intentions and natural helping skills, that we are the TA, not the parent, friend or counsellor. Some students may see us as authority figures and this perception may make it difficult for us to be helpful. Other students will see us as friends which may compromise our role as instructor. TAs must remain aware of limits and boundaries, and know when to refer for professional services. This workshop will be led by Stewart Engelberg, Director of the Wellness Centre. |
1:00—2:50 pm
Interdisciplinary
GCS 117 |
10 common grammatical mistakes in student writing
Writing clear and correct prose is an essential life skill, a skill that you can help students to develop by marking their papers for grammar and style. This workshop will explore different methods of reading for, marking, and commenting on grammar in students' papers. It will then review the most common grammar mistakes in undergraduate papers and provide guidance on how to identify and correct these mistakes. This workshop will be led by Mary Ann Armstrong of the Academic Skills Centre. |
| 3:00—3:50 pm
Interdisciplinary
GCS 117
NEW
(This is an adaptation of the Promoting Critical Thinking workshop.) |
Mid-term check-in: How are your seminars going?
This workshop is offered as a mid-term check-in, providing TAs the opportunity to discuss the successes and challenges they have faced in their seminars, and providing them with an opportunity to hear about some additional suggestions on how to elevate the level of dialogue by promoting critical thinking. The discussion will focus on ways to encourage independent thought and ways to negotiate challenges to students' (and our own) previous assumptions productively. Although this workshop is approached from a humanities perspective, participants from all disciplines are welcomed. This workshop will be led by Professor Byron Stoyles of the Department of Philosophy. |
Online Workshop that can be completed at any time:
Online Workshop on the Prevention of Sexual Harassment
NOTE: This workshop is a self-study, online format. Upon successful completion of the online test, a certificate is produced by the University of Ottawa. Since Trent is not notified by the University of Ottawa when a Trent student completes this online workshop, Angie Best relies on receiving a copy of the certificates from the graduate students themselves. In order to receive the one-hour credit for completing this training, you will need to send a copy of the University of Ottawa certificate to Angie Best in Bata Library room 206.
The University of Ottawa 's Sexual Harassment Office has granted Trent University the permission to use their online workshop, the Prevention of Sexual Harassment, as a one-hour credit toward Trent 's TA Training Certificate Program. This online workshop was developed by the University of Ottawa's Sexual Harassment Office in conjunction with the University of Ottawa's Centre for E-learning. It is an excellent training resource and is highly recommended. It provides an interactive online experience that outlines how to recognize, respond to and prevent sexual harassment; what the law says; and what your responsibility is as a member of the University community. Although it is written from the institutional perspective of the University of Ottawa , the laws governing sexual harassment and the concepts illustrated in the training program are universal.
Questions?
If you have any questions about the above information, please contact Angie Best of the Instructional Development Centre.
