TA Orientation

Teaching at Stanford: An Orientation for Teaching Assistants

Winter TA Orientation
Thursday, January 12, 2012
1:15-4:05 pm
Cypress Rooms, Tresidder Union
No pre-registration required.

We recommend that TAs attend the orientation closest to the onset of their teaching responsibilities, so if you will start teaching next year, you may be better served by the Autumn Orientation in September 2012.

Topics

• Welcome to Teaching
• What is Effective Teaching?
• CTL Resources for TAs
• The Context of Teaching at Stanford: University Policies that Impact TAs

How to Get Started
Being a Successful TA

Starting anything new is a challenge. Being successful at a new endeavor requires a combination of skills, knowledge, and the right attitude, as well as access to supportive resources. This set of handouts will arm you with some of the best tools we know of for more effective teaching. Once you’ve digested this, please take advantage of Stanford’s and CTL’s many other resources for improving your teaching: the more detailed Teaching at Stanford: An Introductory Handbook, other CTL publications and orientations, the CTL website (http://ctl.stanford.edu/), and offerings of your department.

We hope that teaching will be a rewarding and enjoyable experience for you!

• Your Students [PDF]
• Before the Course Begins: Preparing for TAing [PDF]
• The First Day [PDF]
• Conducting Successful Lab Sections [PDF]
• Holding Office Hours, Tutoring, and Review Sessions [PDF]
• Teaching Handouts (on leading discussion, testing and grading, how to get your students talking in class, etc.)
• Working with Faculty (CTL Newsletter on Faculty/TA Teaching Teams) [PDF]

CTL Resources & Services

• Information about Mid-Quarter Feedback Options (e.g., Small Group Evaluations)
• Quarterly Workshop and Event Schedule
• Teaching Portfolio Handout
• Speaking of Teaching Newsletters
• Teaching Handbook
• Oral Communications Program
• CTL Courses on Teaching, Course Design, and Oral Communication
• CTL Tutoring Services for Your Students

Campus-Wide Resources

Stanford Policies

• Judicial Affairs Office. Fundamental Standard and Honor Code. Tips for faculty and TAs.
• Environmental Health and Safety - Emergency Preparedness Program
• Office of Accessible Education (OAE)
• Sexual Harrassment Policy Office

Resources for Students

• The Bridge Peer Counseling
• Vaden Health Service's Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS)
• English for Foreign Students (EFS)
• Haas Center for Public Service
• School of Engineering's Technical Communications Program
• Undergraduate Advising and Research
• Stanford Writing Center