Tutorials are typically highly participatory spaces where students have an opportunity to voice their own knowledge and opinions about course content. Facilitating discussions, though, can be intimidating. What do we do if no one raises their hand to speak? How do we make sure it’s not the same students speaking every week? How do we […]
Strengthen your capacity to foster equitable classrooms. Central in fostering a teaching/learning community in the classroom is student dialogue and critical engagement with course materials. What if students’ express views that are discriminatory or oppressive? How do you, as the TA, address dynamics of classism, sexism, racism, ableism, and heteronormativity within your tutorial, lab or […]
Together we will define what we each mean by “conflict” and explore a working definition for this workshop. We will share potential sources or situations in which conflict may arise in the classroom, such as sensitive course content, most stressful times for students during the semester (perhaps centred around assessments and grades) etc. The focus […]
Are you ever faced with blank stares from your students or concerned that your students really aren’t getting what you are trying to teach them? Perhaps they are preoccupied with other things or just don’t want to participate. In this workshop, we will explore the factors that affect student engagement and participation. This will lead […]
Together we will define what we each mean by “conflict” and explore a working definition for this workshop. We will share potential sources or situations in which conflict may arise in the classroom, such as sensitive course content, most stressful times for students during the semester (perhaps centred around assessments and grades) etc. The focus […]
With astronomically inflated housing and food costs, students of all levels are facing more barriers to staying in classes. The barriers to education are multiplied for marginalized students such as disabled students. Taking an intersectional perspective, this workshop will rethink disability accommodations and apply universal and inclusive design into classroom construction. By utilizing multimodal strategies […]
When teaching in an on-line environment, TAs may face a number of challenges including the development of a student learning community and providing sufficient instructions online. This workshop will highlight and provide practical strategies for teaching online. We will further engage in discussions and activities about online learning environments, including social media and other technology […]
Establishing a meaningful relationship with our students early in studios, tutorials or lab sessions is crucial for us as teaching assistants since we are often the first point of contact in courses and we can share our passion for course material in ways lecturers can’t. In this workshop, we will first explore basic but essential […]
One of York's priorities is ensuring that all students have a successful first year experience that continues through their upper years. The process of transitioning to university is a life-changing event for students, which extends beyond academic adjustments. Knowing our first year students and the particular challenges they experience (such as being the first in […]
This informative workshop will address the issues of lab specific challenges for Teaching Assistants (TAs). We hope the workshop will help you prepare pre-lab talks and demonstrations, as well as augment the interest of undergraduate students in the lab. Also, this workshop will provide practical tips, strategies and resources to effectively engage students during the […]