Teaching Assistant Foundational Training
The Centre for Teaching and Learning collaborates with various academic units to develop and deliver a centralized Teaching Assistant (TA) training program at UBC Okanagan. The program consists of 10 hours of paid training outside of the standard TA contract and is offered to all new-to-UBC undergraduate and graduate TAs. The training is broken into a number of asynchronous and synchronous components in the form of modules (see details below). Of the 12 modules developed, 6 are required to be completed. TAs then select and complete a minimum of 2 elective modules. If desired, TAs may complete all modules. All TAs will have access to the full suite of modules for ongoing learning and resources throughout the term.
The training is offered on an annual basis at two time points: August 1 through September 30, 2023 for those TAing in Term 1 and December 1, 2023 through January 31, 2024 for those TAing in Term 2.
For any questions related to the TA program or registration, please email riley.petillion@ubc.ca.
Registration for the Winter 2023 Term 1 TA Foundational Training Program is open! The in-person training will take place on campus, Saturday, September 9th, from 9:00 am – 3:30 pm. After you have received your Offer of Employment, you may register here. Registration closes September 1st, 2023.
Overview of PROGRAM AND Module Learning Outcomes
- Understand and identify the UBC policies, services, and systems that inform and support your role as a teaching assistant.
- Understand UBC’s expectations of being a teaching assistant.
- Recognize and navigate factors that contribute to classroom climate and student engagement with learning.
- Develop learner-centered facilitation and feedback strategies.
Format: Asynchronous Online
Learning Outcomes:
- Understand the structure and requirements of your TA training;
- Recognize common challenges facing undergraduate learners;
- Define Metacognition and identify study skills and strategies that support student learning; and
- Discover resources for referral that can support students’ learning, engagement, and wellbeing.
Format: Synchronous In-Person
Learning Outcomes:
- Identify equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) considerations in the classroom;
- Identify 3 strategies for addressing EDI concerns; and
- Identify frameworks and policies that shape inclusive practice at UBC.
Format: Synchronous In-Person
Learning Outcomes:
- Understand how ethics, professionalism, and boundaries impact your role as a TA;
- Identify what informs your ethics, values, and boundaries;
- Identify and anticipate approaches to navigating situations involving boundaries and ethical, professional conduct; and
- Consider professionally appropriate ways to communicate with your students.
Format: Asynchronous Online
Learning Outcomes:
- Explore mental health literacy;
- Understand/recognize signs of mental health concerns in your students;
- Learn where to refer students for support; and
- Learn about, reflect on, and identify your own emotional boundaries as a TA.
Format: Asynchronous Online
Learning Outcomes:
- Consider expectations/criteria for assessment
- Recognize various ways students can demonstrate understanding
- Differentiate between assessment for/of/as learning
- Identify what constitutes good practice in marking
- Develop strategies for giving feedback.
Format: Asynchronous Online
Learning Outcomes:
- Use a framework to understand some of the motivation that can lead learners to engage in academic misconduct
- Identify ways in which your role as a TA can support a culture of academic integrity
- Explain your role in flagging incidences of academic misconduct as per policy
- Using case studies, practice communicating suspected incidences of academic misconduct to your course instructor.
Format: Asynchronous Online
Learning Outcomes:
- Discover the various functions of Zoom
- Understand how these functions can enhance the online learning environment
- Experiment with various functions of the online platform
- Submit a record of the functions practiced
Format: Asynchronous Online
Learning Outcomes:
- Review what we know about our learners;
- Examine principles of good teaching; and
- Consider a plan for your first day of class.
Format: Asynchronous Online
Learning Outcomes:
- Review what we know about our learners;
- Analyze why students are reluctant to engage;
- Explore strategies to increase student engagement; and
- Consider three strategies that you would use to increase engagement in your sessions.
Format: Asynchronous Online
Learning Outcomes:
- Reflect on EDI (equity, diversity, and inclusion) and classroom climate considerations important to lesson planning;
- Identify the purpose of Backward Design and its relation to your role as a TA;
- Define the BOPPPS model and distinguish its various components; and
- Create a mock lesson/facilitation plan using a BOPPPS template.
Format: Synchronous In-Person
Learning Outcomes:
- Discover the basics of Canvas – UBC’s Learning Management System
- Identify the Canvas functions associated with TA work
- Practice Canvas functions TA’s frequently work with
Format: Synchronous In-Person
Learning Outcomes:
- Understand the context of UBC’s relationship with the Okanagan Nation.
- Gain awareness and acknowledgement of traditional territory of the syilx (Okanagan) People.
- Reflect on the role of knowledge, community, relationships, and partnerships.