Teaching Assistant and Graduate Student Resources

 


Useful Books and Websites for TAs

Books on Teaching Skills and Strategies

1. Allen, R. R. & Rueter, T. (1990). Teaching assistant strategies: an introduction to college teaching. Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt.

Topics include identifying TA roles and styles; developing interpersonal relationships; planning for instruction; creating a supportive classroom environment; lecturing; leading class discussions; facilitating and assessing student learning; and getting evaluations from students, supervisors, and peers.

2. Curzan, A. & Damour, L. (2000). First day to final grade: a graduate student's guide to teaching. Ann Arbor: U of Michigan P.

Addresses all aspects of teaching a course from semester preparation to leading discussion to grading. Includes a section on balancing school with teaching. Appendices include sample course documents and suggestions for running class workshops.

3. Lambert, L. M., Tice S. L., and Featherstone, P.H. (1996). University teaching: a guide for graduate students. Syracuse: Syracuse UP.

Contains a series of short articles on teaching-related topics. Part one examines the different settings in which TAs teach (e.g. studios, labs, office hours). Part two considers ways to enhance learning and teaching through writing, assessment, awareness of difference in the classroom, etc.

4. McKeachie, W. J. (2002). Teaching tips: a guidebook for the beginning college teacher, (11th edition). Boston: Houghton Mifflin. [8th edition available in library.

5.  Tools for Teaching by Barbara Gross Davis  - LB2331.D371993 (available through DOCDEL in UBCO Library)

The classic work on how to be a TA. It begins with what you need to know before the first day of class and then provides advice on topics such as assigning grades, leading discussions, and constructing tests.


Websites on Teaching Skills and Strategies

http://www.grad.washington.edu/envision/phd/obtaining_phd/teaching.html
The University of Washington's Re-evisioning the Ph.D. website provides a list of discussion groups, articles, and websites that deal with preparing doctoral students to teach. The main website is also an excellent source of information related to other aspects of the Ph.D. and has an outstanding bibliography.

http://www.oic.id.ucsb.edu/
The University of California at Davis has a lot of great information for TAs on the Office of Instructional Consultation web page under "TA Development Program." The site includes a TA handbook with information on constructing tests, leading discussion and lab sections, planning courses, adapting to student learning styles, and more. The site also includes a section on TA teaching tips and suggestions for putting together a teaching portfolio.

http://ctl.unc.edu/tad.html
In addition to teaching tips similar to those found at other websites, the University of North Carolina's Center for Teaching and Learning publishes this handbook called TAs and Professors as a Teaching Team. This handbook offers suggestions for working with a supervising professor in ways that are productive for both you and the students in your class.


OMR (Optical Mark Reader)

The OMR scanner is located in ART180C and is available on a first come first serve basis. The scanner can be used to score multiple choice exams or to collect and analyze research survey data. Training is provided by the Centre for Teaching and Learning.

Download OMR Guide
Steps for Importing data from OMR Reoprts into WebCT Vista

to top

Last reviewed shim1/12/2012 1:13:49 PM

Contact

For more information, please contact:

John Parry, M.Ed, Coordinator
Graduate and Teaching Assistants Program
Centre for Teaching and Learning
Office:   SCI 259
Phone:  250.807.8657
E-mail:  john.parry@ubc.ca

Academic Resource Centre 

Leading Discussions 

a place of mind, The Univeristy of British Columbia