| Your development as a GTA does not end at orientation. The Trent Teaching Commons is pleased to provide GTAs with a wide range of in-person and online learning opportunities, many of which allow GTAs to earn a micro-credential. |
Speakers and Lunch-and-LearnsThe Trent Teaching Commons offers a variety of events and training sessions to support all instructors, GTAs included, in developing their teaching practice. Throughout the year, we host special lunch-and-learn events for GTAs (check out our GTA Events Page!). The Teaching Commons is also proud to host a series of Distinguished Visiting Teaching Scholars. These award-winning faculty, including Canadian Research Chairs and 3M national award winners, bridge research and practice in order to infuse new ideas and energy into teaching across the university. You can learn more about our speakers series on our Distinguished Visiting Teaching Scholars and Upcoming Events pages! |
Professional Learning Micro-CredentialsMicro-credentials offer official recognition of your achievement of a defined set of skills, knowledge, and/or competencies. Micro-credentials are different from more traditional learning experiences. A micro-credential may recognize learning obtained from a particular experience (workshop, module, on-the-job experience, volunteer work, formal education, etc.). They are designed to fit within busy schedules and adapt quickly to the changing needs in the workforce. When you earn a micro-credential, you receive a digital badge, which is portable and verifiable certification to add to your CV or teaching portfolio. Trent’s GTA micro-credentials are each designed to take between 8-10 hours. Participants engage with materials and complete a culminating assessment, which is assessed by Trent Teaching Commons’ staff during one of two assessment windows. As long as you submit a satisfactory assessment by the first day of the assessment window, you should receive your micro-credential within a month. Assessment Window 1: Submit by October 15 Assessment Window 2: Submit by April 1 All of the GTA micro-credentials are stackable with one another. GTAs who complete three mandatory and three elective micro-credentials will earn an Advanced GTA Studies in Teaching and Learning Badge! Our micro-credentials are offered in two formats. Some are asynchronous and online. GTAs can self-enroll in these anytime and complete them at their own pace (keep the assessment windows above in mind!). Others involve synchronous events or activities. These are offered at different times throughout the year, and you will receive emails about them when they are offered. For questions about micro-credentials, please see our FAQ page. |
Asynchronous Micro-Credentials (Available for self-enrollment on September 3rd, 2025)
For instructions on how to self-enroll in the following micro-credentials, please see our FAQs.
Accordion Title
Active Learning (Available September 3rd!)
This micro-credential shares research and experiences on the topic of active learning. Active learning is a transformative approach to teaching that emphasizes engagement, interaction, and deeper understanding of course material. Unlike traditional passive methods such as lectures, active learning invites students to participate directly in their learning journey by discussing, problem-solving, and applying concepts in meaningful ways. For Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs), understanding and employing active learning strategies can lead to more dynamic and effective classroom experiences. This micro-credential is self-paced, and GTAs can self-enroll at any time.
Accordion Title
Assessing Student Learning (Coming Soon!)
Grading is one of the most important responsibilities of a Teaching Assistant. Marking can also feel complex, subjective, and time-consuming. This micro-credential is designed to build GTAs’ confidence and competence as markers by introducing key concepts, tools, and strategies for assessing student work fairly, consistently, and efficiently. Throughout this program, GTAs will explore the foundations of assessment, learn how to interpret and apply grading criteria across disciplines, and practice giving feedback that supports student learning. They will also examine their role in promoting academic integrity, navigating the challenges of AI-generated content, and maintaining professional standards in communication and record-keeping. This micro-credential is self-paced, and GTAs can self-enroll at any time.
Accordion Title
Capstone Project in Teaching and Learning (Available September 3rd!)
This micro-credential is intended to be the final micro-credential in the Advanced GTA Studies in Teaching and Learning Badge as it allows GTAs to take the skills they have developed and refined through their work on many different micro-credentials and apply them to an area of interest. Specifically, through this micro-credential, GTAs will engage in a high-impact practical exercise and write a brief reflection of their experience completing it. Participants will choose to complete and reflect on one of the following projects:
- Creating a proposal for a Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) project
- Developing a teaching dossier
- Engaging in a collaborative teaching practice (e.g., designing a tool, assessment, or lecture)
Once they choose a project, participants will engage with instructional materials that guide them through the process of completing their project. They will then complete their projects independently and reflect on their experience. This micro-credential is self-paced, and GTAs can self-enroll at any time. NOTE: This micro-credential is mandatory for the Advanced GTA Studies in Teaching and Learning Badge.
Accordion Title
Engaging Educational Technology (Available September 3rd)
This micro-credential introduces key principles of digital pedagogy that will allow participants to create a more engaging, accessible, and visually appealing learning experience for students. Over the course of four modules, participants explore how to create user-friendly online environments, ensure that online materials meet accessibility standards, engage graphic design principles, and develop community within online courses. Each module blends theoretical knowledge with practical application, featuring authentic activities that allow participants to practice what they've learned. This micro-credential is self-paced, and GTAs can self-enroll at any time.
Accordion Title
How Students Learn (Available September 3rd)
This micro-credential shares research on the topic of how students learn and suggests ways to create an optimal learning environment for diverse learners. Central to GTAs’ roles is facilitating student learning by helping students to develop knowledge, skills, and attitudes that are crucial to our disciplines and professions. This micro-credential helps GTAs understand students’ learning processes and challenges, and what kinds of strategies they can use in order to learn. This micro-credential is self-paced, and GTAs can self-enroll at any time. NOTE: This micro-credential is mandatory for the Advanced GTA Studies in Teaching and Learning Badge.
Accordion Title
Trauma-Informed Pedagogy for GTAs (Available September 3rd)
This micro-credential will prioritize a focus on trauma as it relates specifically to higher education. It is designed to help GTAs understand trauma’s impact on learning and provide strategies to create a more considerate, supportive and equitable classroom environments. While trauma is often unacknowledged and under-reported, it significantly impacts the lives of many people. Identifying GTAs’ roles and contributions will assist all students to access and participate in the learning process to their greatest potential. This micro-credential is self-paced, and GTAs can self-enroll at any time.
Synchronous Micro-Credentials (Stay tuned for annual offerings!)
This micro-credential combines asynchronous and synchronous activities to ease new GTAs’ transition to their roles as teachers. Participants will first engage with asynchronous GTA Training Units, which introduce GTAs to their roles and responsibilities, and provide a foundational understanding of key principles of instruction, assessment, and professionalism. They then attend a synchronous GTA orientation and reflect on their experience. Please note that all incoming GTAs will be enrolled in the Introduction to Graduate Teaching Micro-Credential and GTA Training Units in Blackboard site in late August. Synchronous Orientations are then held each September and January. NOTE: This micro-credential is mandatory for the Advanced GTA Studies in Teaching and Learning Badge.
This micro-credential offers GTAs a unique opportunity to develop their ability to respond to challenging classroom situations. Through the innovative use of drama-based pedagogy, we introduce GTAs to best practices in conflict management and provide them with opportunities to apply these principles to common classroom situations. Participants will develop a cheat sheet containing language that they can use to respond to a wide variety of challenging classroom situations. This micro-credential is offered in-person every September and January.
This micro-credential offers GTAs the chance to engage in micro-teaching, an established training technique designed to strengthen an instructor’s teaching skills, including planning, developing, and delivering a lesson. Micro-teaching sessions mimic a classroom and allow the participant to gain practical teaching experience. Participants have the opportunity to develop the lesson, deliver the lesson to a small group of fellow participants, and gain useful feedback from peers and the facilitator. This micro-credential is offered in-person every spring.