Fall 2022 Teaching Tips & Techniques for NEW TAs
Are you a new teaching assistant at UMaine? Excited but nervous about your role as a TA? Eager to learn more about life as a teaching assistant and meet others on campus in the same role? We are now accepting applications for our Teaching Tips & Techniques (TTT) for Graduate Teaching Assistants!
The TTT first and foremost is a community of peers. At each meeting, we will explore real classroom experiences TAs might encounter, discuss and practice strategies, and learn about current trends in teaching through the lens of graduate student experiences.
This program is aimed at those who are new to teaching at UMaine; new TAs will be prioritized.
Register Here
When does the TTT meet?
Our core meetings will be every other Friday from 12:00-1:30 pm, starting September 2nd (lunch included)
We will meet throughout the semester, so by applying for the TTT, you are committed to attending every meeting to the best of your ability (of course life happens and conflict arises!).
*Note* We also have an optional kick-off workshop for new TAs, Friday, August 26th from 8-10 am. If you register for the TTT, you will be invited to attend this optional meeting as well.
All workshops will be held in 102 Fernald Hall (workshops can be attended virtually on request).
Who would benefit from the TTT?
The TTT is designed with first-time teaching assistants in mind. It is strongly encouraged that participants be teaching assistants or graduate instructors of record during the fall semester. Because this is a community, participants are asked to attend 5 of the 8 meeting topics below, but are encouraged to attend all of them! Enrollment is open only to graduate students.
Participants in the semester-long community will receive:
- Foundational knowledge about current topics related to teaching and learning
- Increased confidence in your role as a TA
- Tools and strategies to use in your classroom
- Help troubleshoot and brainstorm any issues you encounter
- A network of peers
- Catered lunches*
*food availability will be determined by COVID-19 safety guidelines.
Meetings and Potential Topics:
8/26 @ 8:00 am How We Learn – Leveraging how learning works to teach and learn better (This pre-semester workshop will be open to all graduate students; note the time for this workshop is 8-10 am; breakfast included)
9/02 @ 12:00 pm You Do Belong At The Front Of That Classroom – Imposter Phenomena & Difficult Conversations
9/16@ 12:00 pm You Are Welcome Here – How to Cultivate an Inclusive Learning Space
9/30@ 12:00 pm You Got This! – Understanding Growth Mindset & Capacity Building
10/14@ 12:00 pm Who Do You Have In The Room: Knowing Your Students & Equitable Skill Building
10/28@ 12:00 pm How Do We Know When They Know? Learning Vs. Grades
11/04@ 12:00 pm Thanks For The Feedback – Understanding The Feedback Process (*One week early because Nov. 11 is a holiday.)
12/02@ 12:00 pm Where Do We Go From Here? – Reflecting on Your Learning and Teaching
Register Here
How is this different from the Graduate Teaching Academy?
The GTA is designed for graduate students later in their careers who are starting to prepare for potential academic jobs, and who may or may not have had experience as a TA (though most participants do). The TTT is tailored for first-time teaching assistants and is designed to support you as you progress through your first semester. It is a natural prerequisite for the GTA in terms of your professional development.