TA Training & Development Workshop

Co-designed with Faisal Hamman at the University of Maryland.

Teaching assistants (TAs) serve as a bridge between students and professors, enabling them to form a lasting impression when teaching. New TAs often develop teaching methods through trial and error, an unsystematic approach that might result in fragmented or unfounded beliefs about what makes a teaching method effective. The aim of this workshop is to provide TAs with the pedagogical knowledge required to be outstanding teachers within the classroom. I will outline four key dimensions of effective teaching that exemplary teachers excel in: lesson organization, lesson clarity, lesson interest, and classroom climate. We will go over numerous techniques utilized by these instructors to assist TAs in enhancing students' learning experiences. The workshop participants are encouraged to share their ideas, experiences, and pedagogical knowledge. By initiating a conversation on "what makes a teacher exemplary?" I hope to help TAs develop effective teaching strategies that can be implemented in the classroom.

Presented on October 26, 2022