The purpose of this design case was to document rigorously the process and decisions made during the development of a five-day, pre-semester virtual orientation for International Graduation Teaching Assistants (IGTAs) and their domestic counterparts, teaching in an English as a Second Language Composition (ESLC) Program of a large land-grant…

We discuss an educational development approach to embedding academic literacies instruction within disciplinary curricula. This developmental, embedded approach contrasts with the generic, extra-curricular, study-skills approach adopted in many universities. Learning Commons partners at York University, including librarians, writing instructors,…

Designing and implementing assessment instruments are ongoing challenges for physical educators. The initial design phase includes asking the question, "What do I want the students to know and/or be able to do?" Seemingly, the question is direct and should lead to a concrete answer. In addition to designing assessment instruments, one of the most…

This article describes the design and implementation of a workshop on teaching and learning for graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) in a Faculty of Science at a major Canadian research-intensive university. The approach borrows heavily from an existing successful workshop for faculty but is tailored specifically to the needs of GTAs in science in…

Describes the general principles that guide the University of Iowa's professional development program for teaching assistants in the freshman rhetoric program. Focuses on the organization of the three-day preregistration workshop and the weekly seminar meetings during the fall semester. (RL)

Analyzes the organization and components of the teaching assistant apprenticeship program at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Explains the administrative route that was travelled in developing the program for English teaching assistants and the reasons why administrative support is essential to the success of such a training…

The design of a training program for Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) at the University of Washington and its current implementation are described. Departmental training for GTAs is administered through the Center for Instructional Development and Research (CIDR). Training support provided by CIDR is based on a Train-the-Trainer model, which…

Describes a training program for teaching assistants designed by the Department of Germanic Languages of the University of Texas (Austin) and consisting of four interrelated phases: orientation, theoretical training, practicum and evaluation. The term "Teaching Assistants" refers to graduate students who have not earned the M.A. or lack…

This report describes the use of the natural approach to second language instruction to improve the teacher training program at Purdue University (Indiana). First, the report discusses the establishment of a permanent, non-tenure-track position of Assistant Director for Beginning Levels of Spanish. Second, focus is on the improvement of the…

To prepare new international graduate students for assignments as teaching assistants, the University of Washington chemistry department worked with specialists in language, pedagogy, and chemistry to design a discipline-specific training program. The program's structure, participants, benefits and limitations, and effectiveness in its first year…

A week-long formal training institute preparing teaching assistants in French for classroom and other responsibilities is outlined. The program features course and student management techniques as well as instructional methods. (MSE)

Conceptualization and implementation of a program to train university teaching assistants at McGill University (Quebec) are described. The systematic approach to program development included needs assessment, planning and implementation, and evaluation. The relationship between various levels of the institution and the way in which they have…

In the University of California (Davis) Program in College Teaching, graduate teaching assistants develop and fulfill contractual agreements for faculty-guided investigations into their disciplines, with supporting individualized activities about practices and issues of college teaching. Aspects of the program's development and effectiveness are…

To help international teaching assistants balance their roles as teacher and graduate student, the University of Cincinnati developed a program in classroom communication skills for this population. It begins with naming and social identity but focuses primarily on communication for participative learning. Interacting with academic advisors is…