TAing as a Learning Experience

Section Contents If You Are TAing for the First Time Other TAs: The Best Resource Around Evaluating Your Teaching Asking for Feedback Developing a Teaching Dossier Seven Principles for Good Practice in Undergraduate Education Twelve Principles of Effective Teaching and Learning Improving Your Teaching

"Teaching is a learned skill, not something people are born with, so TAs can work on it." Undergraduate Student, University of Guelph When University of Guelph graduate teaching assistants were asked what impacted their overall level of teaching effectiveness, the top two responses were knowledge of course content and experience in teaching. About 66% of the respondents indicated they had some sort of teaching experience, whether in other TA positions, teaching positions at a variety of educational levels, or non-academic teaching positions such as coaching. With each of these types of teaching comes the opportunity to develop and refine critical skills. These skills can include but are not limited to: The ability to communicate ideas effectively. Time management skills. The ability to work with groups. The ability to motivate others. The ability to support others in a variety of situations. The development of each of these skills is not only relevant to teaching but to a multitude of other careers students might be interested in after graduation. This section of the handbook will look at strategies that may help you develop your skills as much as possible during your TA experience. Previous Section | Next Section