Support and Development Opportunities for Graduate Teaching Assistants
- Welcome
- GTA Orientation Program and Micro-Credential
- Graduate Teaching Certificate
Welcome!
As a Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA), you play a vital role in teaching and learning at Trent! But, like many graduate students, you may be coming into your role as a teaching assistant without any formal training or teaching experience. You may be wondering how to translate the skills you have gained as a student and a professional to university instruction. The Centre for Teaching and Learning offers guidance and resources to help all GTAs develop teaching skills and expand their pedagogical knowledge. Our programming includes online materials and synchronous orientation activities to help you get comfortable with your roles and responsibilities. GTAs who complete our orientation program can be recognized through an Introduction of Graduate Teaching micro-credential. And, for those who wish to delve further into higher education pedagogy, the CTL offers a Graduate Teaching Certificate program.
Graduate Teaching Assistant Orientation Program and Micro-Credential
The Centre for Teaching and Learning welcomes graduate students to their teaching roles with asynchronous and synchronous training opportunities designed to ease the transition to becoming a GTA. Those who complete the entire orientation program will receive a micro-credential in Introduction to Graduate Teaching. Learn more about the new “Introduction to Graduate Teaching Micro-Credential.” The orientation program contains three requirements:
Part I: "Introduction to Graduate Teaching Micro-Credential and GTA Training Module” Blackboard Site
This Blackboard site module introduces GTAs to their roles and responsibilities and provides a foundational understanding of key principles of instruction, assessment, and professionalism. All new GTAs will be automatically enrolled in the site in late August, and they should complete it before attending the synchronous orientation sessions. It is estimated that completing the module will take 2 hours.
Part II: Teaching Assistant Orientation Day
Join the CTL in person or on Zoom for a day of interactive workshops focused on common challenges GTAs face as well as strategies for success. Workshops will include:
- Understanding the Art and Science of Teaching
- Indigenizing the Academy
- Dealing with Challenging Situations in the Classroom
- The Life and Times of a Trent GTA: A Panel Discussion with Experienced GTAs
- Lab and tutorial simulations
For Fall 2023, GTAs may choose to attend ONE of the following orientation sessions:
A) In-Person GTA Orientation:
September 6, 2023
9am-3pm (snacks and lunch will be provided)
Traill College
Registration required by August 25: https://2023-Trent-GTA-Orientation.eventbrite.ca
B) Online (Synchronous) GTA Orientation via Zoom:
Friday, September 8, 2023
9am-1pm
Registration required: https://2023-Trent-GTA-Orientation.eventbrite.ca
WINTER 2024 Session
Online (Synchronous) GTA Orientation via Zoom.
Friday, January 4, 2024
9am-1pm
Registration is required.
Join the CTL on Zoom for an engaging day of interactive workshops focused on common challenges GTAs face as well as strategies for success.
Topics of discussion will include the following:
- Understanding the Art and Science of Teaching
- Indigenizing the Academy
- Responding to Challenging Classroom Situations
- A Discussion with Experienced GTAs
For more information on supports for GTAs, please visit the Centre for Teaching and Learning website. Should you have questions about the events above, please email us at teaching@trentu.ca. We look forward to welcoming your new role as a GTA!
Important Information
Whether you register to attend the in-person or the online version of the Orientation Day, you are asked to complete the "GTA Training Module” in the "Introduction to Graduate Teaching Micro-Credential and GTA Training Module” Blackboard Site before the event.
This Blackboard site module introduces GTAs to their roles and responsibilities and provides a foundational understanding of key principles of instruction, assessment, and professionalism. The module will be available for enrollment by August 21st and should be completed before attending the synchronous orientation sessions. It is estimated that completing the module will take 2 hours. GTA's will be given automatic access to the module.
Part III: GTA Orientation Reflection (2 hours):
Following the synchronous orientation, GTAs write a short reflection on what they learned and outline a teaching goal for the next month, semester, and year.
Graduate Teaching Certificate
The Graduate Teaching Certificate (GTC) was designed for GTAs who want to further their understanding and practice of university teaching and learning. The development of the GTC program was informed by the Framework for Teaching Assistance Competency Development, created by the Teaching Assistant Graduate Student Advancement (TAGSA) group of the Society of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (STLHE) (Korpan, Le-May Sheffield, & Verwoord, 2015). This framework has identified competencies that articulate what being a capable TA looks like in terms of skills, performance, and responsibilities. Learn more about the Graduate Teaching Certificate.