Welcome to the CTL
Upcoming Events
CTL's Teaching Events for Instructors
• UT Scarborough Teaching Awards - deadline Thursday May 17, 2012, 4:00 pm
• 2012 Faculty Summer Institute on Service-Learning, Wed. May 16, St. George Campus
TA/Grad Student Events
• TATP WInter Workshop Series, CTSI, St. George Campus
• 2012 TATP Teaching Excellence Award
Centre for Teaching Support and Innovation, St. George Campus
• Fundamentals of University Teaching
DOCUMENTS
• Guidelines and Best Practices for Conducting Exams (Office of the Dean)
• "Foundation Skills for Scientists - An Evolving Program" - Canadian Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, Vol. 1, Issue 1, 2010.
• "Inclusive Teaching: Perspectives of Students with Disbilities" - Nancy Johnston and Tina Doyle, Open Words: Access and English Studies, Spring 2011.
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• Centre for Teaching Support and Innovation, St. George Campus
Faculty Resources
TA / Grad Student Resources
TA Services at the University of Toronto Scarborough is dedicated to helping teaching assistants and grad students develop their teaching skills and professionalism.
If you are a grad student or TA in a UTSC course (whether teaching a lab, tutorial, or marking assignments) you are welcome to take advantage of any of our services.
NEWS AND EVENTS - WINTER 2012
• Register now for these Teaching Assistant Training Program (TATP) workshops, offered on the UTSC campus. Sessions count towards the TATP Certificate Program!
• Graduate Student and TA info and events - Centre for Teaching Support and Innovation, St. George Campus
• 2012 TATP Teaching Excellence Awards
• Educational Technology Events - Winter 2012
TEACHING ASSISTANTS
Teaching Assistants Training Program - including information on Departmental Training and Paid Training
TATP Certificate Programs - Attendance at CTL workshops and events may count towards the TATP Certificate
TEACHING RESOURCES
GRAD STUDENTS
GSAS (Graduate Students Assocation @ Scarborough)
Graduate Professional Skills Program
Teaching in Higher Education (THE) 500
Communication Strategies for International Graduate Students - This guide is free for U of T users, but you must register to access it.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the TA Certificate Program?
How do I apply to become a TA?
Who do I contact to become a TA?
Can I do the TA Certificate at the University of Toronto Scarborough?
Can I have my teaching evaluated?
How can I design a feedback form or have my students evaluate my teaching?
What are the benefits of a microteaching session?
Where can I find information on equity issues and teaching?
What is the TA Certificate Program?
The TATP offers two (2) certificates for University of Toronto graduate students. The Teaching Fundamentals (TF) certificate takes 1 year to complete and involves participating in 6 workshops. The Advanced University Teaching Preparation Certificate (AUTP) is more involved. It requires attending 10 workshops, completing one of our practicum components and submitting a teaching dossier and written reflection. The AUTP must be completed within a two-year period
How do I apply to become a TA?
TA Services doesn’t give out TAships. Your department coordinates hiring of TAs each year. Candidates need a resume to demonstrate suitability for a posted position: student experience in discipline or specific courses teaching or related experience, and references.
Who do I contact to become a TA?
To find out about job postings and deadlines, contact your department’s adminstrative assistant. Here is a list of contacts by department:
Psychology - Cindy Tse
ctse@utsc.utoronto.ca
Biological Sciences - Lucy Pickering
lucy@utsc.utoronto.ca
Physical and Environmental Science - Janet Blakely
blakely@utsc.utoronto.ca
Humanities - Milene Neves
neves@utsc.utoronto.ca
Management - Audrey Quirion
quirion@utsc.utoronto.ca
Social Studies - Janet Roopnarinesingh
janetr@utsc.utoronto.ca
Math and Computer Science - Kelly Squier
squier@utsc.utoronto.ca
Social Sciences- Audrey Glasbergen
glasbergen@utsc.utoronto.ca
Can I do the TA Certificate at the University of Toronto Scarborough?
Yes. This program is offered in collaboration with the TA Training Program (TATP) at the St. George campus. TAs may complete this program at the University of Toronto Scarborough campus. You may also combine workshops from both campuses.
Can I have my teaching evaluated?
We can offer you an in-class evaluation for a teaching portfolio or as part of the TA Certificate. The coordinator of TA Services is available to set up confidential in-class evaluations and follow-up consultations. TAs working at the St George campus downtown may consult TATP for this service. Please contact TA Services well in advance to arrange a session.
How can I design a feedback form or have my students evaluate my teaching?
TAs can request, but are not required, to use the U of T teaching evaluation form in your classroom. Consult your course instructor early in the term to arrange for its distribution. You may want to develop a variety of feedback form to use in your courses. Sample feedback questions and formats are available at the TLS website. TAs are welcome to consult with TA Services for advice on questions and other issues.
A microteaching session is a controlled, focused practice teaching session. A group of TAs and an instructor get together in a classroom. Each TA presents a short (5-7 minutes) lesson on a topic he or she has taught or will be teaching, and the lesson may be videotaped. After each lesson, the instructor and other TAs offer constructive feedback.
What are the benefits of a microteaching session?
Microteaching allows TAs to practice their teaching in a low-risk situation and to receive immediate feedback on their teaching from a single mentor and from colleagues. It also promotes reflection on teaching for everyone involved. TA Services organizes microteaching sessions.
Where can I find information on equity issues and teaching?
The Centre for Teaching and Learning has several recent publications on diversity and accessibility issues in teaching. These publications are available online. We are also available to discuss any issue with TAs and can redirect questions to support services on campus.
For more information about TA Services or the TATP program at The University of Toronto Scarborough, please contact taservices@utsc.utoronto.ca, or Janice Patterson at janicecp@utsc.utoronto.ca.
Student Resources
Writing Centre - This free service provides support for teaching and learning through writing for all University of Toronto Scarborough students.
English Language Development - Sign up for the Communication Cafe and many other programs, and enhance your communication skills.
Math and Statistics Learning Centre - Free seminars, workshops, virtual tutoring, individual appointments, and small-group consultations can improve students' proficiency in mathematics and statistics.
Science Engagement/Service Learning - Through service learning, students enhance their knowledge and concepts gained in the classroom.
Research Skills Instruction - Research skills instruction provides students with individual research assistance in person, by phone, by email, and by chat.
Facilitated Study Groups - In these weekly study groups for selected UTSC courses, students compare notes, discuss important concepts, and develop study strategies.
Summer Learning Institutes - Once you're accepted to the University of Toronto Scarborough, these programs can help you make the transition from High School to University. **Registration for Summer 2012 sessions starts on June 4, 2012.**
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Teaching Awards (for instructors and teaching assistants)
Assignment Calculator - getting help with planning the different stages of your academic work