Department Recommendations

This page identifies recommendations we have received from departments for workshops they would like their TAs to attend. If your department is not listed here, please contact the department directly to see if they have specific recommendations for you.

All TAs are encouraged to register for and attend:

• Opening Plenary: “Teaching at the UW: What You Can Look Forward To” (Session I)
• Plenary II: “Teaching at the UW: Policies and Professionalism” (Session III)

Department Index

Please select your department:

This page will be updated periodically as we receive information from departments. If your department is not listed here, please contact the department directly to see if they have specific recommendations for you.

Aeronautics and Astronautics

All new TAs must attend the TA conference; current TAs are encouraged to attend as well. TAs should plan to attend the opening and second plenary sessions. New International TAs are required to attend the two Monday workshops. Following are the A&A Department workshop recommendations, but TAs should select those they feel will be of most value to them:

Assessing Student Work:

• Grading Short-Answer Questions on Homework, Exams, or Lab Reports

Effective Teaching:

• Presenting Information Effectively

Professional Development:

• Balancing Graduate School Demands

Types of TA Assignments:

• Teaching One-to-One in Office Hours & Study Centers
• Teaching Math, Science & Engineering Quiz Sections: First Day and Beyond
• Teaching in Lab Settings: First Day and Beyond

Also Recommended

• Including All Students: Teaching in the Diverse Classroom
• Motivating Students to Learn: Linking Principles of Learning to Teaching
• Planning and Facilitating Discussions
• Dealing With Difficult Classroom Situations
• Gathering and Using Student Feedback to Improve Your Teaching

New International TAs are required to attend the two workshops on Monday September 21, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. in Smith Hall, Room 120:

• Getting to Know UW Students: Overview for International TAs
• Panel Discussion with Experienced International TAs

Anthropology

Anthropology department Teaching Assistants are expected to attend both plenary sessions, "Teaching at the UW: What You Can Look Forward To," "Teaching at the UW: Policies and Professionalism" and at least three (3) additional sessions of their choosing. Individuals are encouraged to attend additional sessions as they relate to their teaching goals or personal growth.

Some recommended session workshops include:

• Teaching Social Science and Humanities Quiz Sections: First Day and Beyond
• Responding to Longer Student Essays and Assigning Grades
• Grading Short-Answer Questions on Homework, Exams, or Lab Reports
• Including All Students: Teaching in the Diverse Classroom
• Activities to Engage Your Students in Learning
• Planning and Facilitating Discussions
• Presenting Information Effectively
• Balancing Graduate School Demands

Attendees should register for one (1) credit of GRDSCH 615: Teaching Assistant Preparation (section A: SLN 14254) to receive course credit.

New International TAs are required to attend the two workshops on Monday September 21, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. in Smith Hall, Room 120:

• Getting to Know UW Students: Overview for International TAs
• Panel Discussion with Experienced International TAs

Aquatic and Fishery Sciences

Required: Both Plenary Sessions

• Required (Choose One):
• Teaching Math, Science, and Engineering Quiz Sections: First Day and Beyond
  OR
  Teaching in Lab Setting: First Day and Beyond
• Required (Choose One):
• Teaching One-to-One in Office Hours and Study Centers
  OR
  Dealing with Difficult Classroom Situations
  OR
  Understanding Who Your Students Are
• Required (Choose One):
• Activities to Engage Your Students in Learning
  OR
  Motivating Students to Learn: Linking Principles of Learning to Teaching

New International TAs are required to attend the two workshops on Monday September 21, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. in Smith Hall, Room 120:

• Getting to Know UW Students: Overview for International TAs
• Panel Discussion with Experienced International TAs

Art

The School of Art requires that our TAs attend these CIDR TA Conference workshops:

• Assessing Student Work in the Fine Arts
• Dealing With Difficult Classroom Situations

New International TAs are required to attend the two workshops on Monday September 21, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. in Smith Hall, Room 120:

• Getting to Know UW Students: Overview for International TAs
• Panel Discussion with Experienced International TAs

Art History

Recommended:

• Responding to Longer Student Essays and Assigning Grades
• Activities to Engage Your Students in Learning
• Planning and Facilitating Discussions
• Teaching Social Science and Humanities Quiz Sections: First Day and Beyond

Useful:

• Motivating Students to Learn: Linking Principles of Learning to Teaching
• Presenting Information Effectively
• Dealing With Difficult Classroom Situations
• Balancing Graduate School Demands

New International TAs are required to attend the two workshops on Monday September 21, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. in Smith Hall, Room 120:

• Getting to Know UW Students: Overview for International TAs
• Panel Discussion with Experienced International TAs

Atmospheric Sciences

Here are some recommended TA Conference sessions for Atmospheric Sciences students:

• Grading Short-Answer Questions on Homework, Exams, or Lab Reports
• Motivating Students to Learn: Linking Principles of Learning to Teaching
• Planning and Facilitating Discussions
• Presenting Information Effectively
• Understanding Who Your Students Are
• Balancing Graduate School Demands
• Teaching Math, Science & Engineering Quiz Sections: First Day and Beyond
• Teaching One-to-One in Office Hours & Study Centers

New International TAs are required to attend the two workshops on Monday September 21, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. in Smith Hall, Room 120:

• Getting to Know UW Students: Overview for International TAs
• Panel Discussion with Experienced International TAs

Bioengineering

Bioengineering recommends the following workshop topics:

• Grading Short-Answer Questions on Homework, Exams, or Lab Reports
• Including All Students: Teaching in the Diverse Classroom
• Motivating Students to Learn: Linking Principles of Learning to Teaching
• Planning and Facilitating Discussions
• Presenting Information Effectively
• Gathering and Using Student Feedback to Improve Teaching
• Teaching One-To-One in Office Hours and Study Centers
• Teaching Math, Science and Engineering Quiz Sections: First Day and Beyond
• Teaching in Lab Settings: First Day and Beyond

New International TAs are required to attend the two workshops on Monday September 21, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. in Smith Hall, Room 120:

• Getting to Know UW Students: Overview for International TAs
• Panel Discussion with Experienced International TAs

Biology

Biology encourages all new, and any interested continuing graduate students, to attend the TA Conference. We recommend that new students attend the plenary sessions and at least 3 of the following workshops:

• Grading Short-Answer Questions on Homework, Exams, or Lab Reports
• Responding to Longer Student Essays and Assigning Grades
• Activities to Engage Your Students in Learning
• Dealing with Difficult Classroom Situations
• Including All Students: Teaching in the Diverse Classroom
• Motivating Students to Learn: Linking Principles of Learning to Teaching
• Planning and Facilitating Discussions
• Presenting Information Effectively
• Teaching Math, Science and Engineering Quiz Sections: First Day and Beyond
• Teaching in Lab Settings: First Day and Beyond

New International TAs are required to attend the two workshops on Monday September 21, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. in Smith Hall, Room 120:

• Getting to Know UW Students: Overview for International TAs
• Panel Discussion with Experienced International TAs

Business

The Foster School expects that TAs will register for and attend the TA Conference on September 22.

Please register for both of the Plenary Sessions, and choose three from the following list of workshops:

• Activities to Engage Your Students in Learning
• Balancing Graduate School Demands
• Motivating Students to learn: Applying principles of Learning to Teaching
• Presenting Information Effectively
• Understanding Who Your Students Are
• Dealing with Difficult Classroom Situations
• Including All Students: Teaching in the Diverse Classroom
• Gathering and Using Student Feedback to Improve Your Teaching
• Teaching One-to-One in Office Hours and Study Centers

New International TAs are required to attend the two workshops on Monday September 21, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. in Smith Hall, Room 120:

• Getting to Know UW Students: Overview for International TAs
• Panel Discussion with Experienced International TAs

Chemical Engineering

All TAs must attend the following:

• The two plenary sessions
• At least three of the optional (concurrent) sessions

The following optional sessions are most likely to be helpful. Each TA may choose a set of at least three based on previous experience, perceived needs, and special interests:

• Teaching Math, Science and Engineering Quiz Sections
• Teaching in Lab Settings: First Day and Beyond
• Teaching One-to-One in Office Hours and Study Centers
• Activities to Engage Your Students in Learning
• Dealing with Difficult Classroom Situations
• Responding to Longer Student Essays and Assigning Grades
• Grading Short Answer Questions on Homework, Exams or Lab Reports
• Planning and Facilitating Discussions
• Balancing Graduate School Demands
• Gathering and Using Student Feedback to Improve Your Teaching

New International TAs are required to attend the two workshops on Monday September 21, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. in Smith Hall, Room 120:

• Getting to Know UW Students: Overview for International TAs
• Panel Discussion with Experienced International TAs

Chemistry

Departmental orientation activities are scheduled all week therefore you must attend only the session times and days listed below. More information about this will be coming to you from the department.

The following topics/workshop sessions are REQUIRED for Chemistry TAs (International TA Requirements below):

• 9:00 - 10:20 - Session I: Opening Plenary
• 10:45 - 11:45 - Teaching One-to-One in Office Hours & Study Centers
• 1:00 - 2:00 - Session III: Second Plenary
• 2:15 - 3:15 - Teaching in Lab Settings: First Day and Beyond
• 3:30 - 4:30 - Teaching Math, Science & Engineering Quiz Sections: First Day and Beyond

International Chemistry TAs (according to guidelines) must register for and attend the following workshops in addition to the workshops on Tuesday:

Monday:

• 1:00 - 1:15 - Sign in and pick up your TA Conference schedule - Smith Hall, Room 120
• 1:15 - 2:30 - Getting to Know UW Students: Overview for International TAs - Smith Hall, Room 120
• 2:45 - 4:00 - Panel Discussion with Experienced International TAs - Smith Hall, Room 120

Civil and Environmental Engineering

All Civil and Environmental Engineering Teaching Assistants (new or first-time) are expected to attend the Plenary Session II: "Teaching at the UW: Policies and Professionalism" (1:00 - 2:00, Kane Hall, Room 130).

The following workshops are recommended by the department:

• Teaching in Lab Settings: First Day and Beyond (10:45 - 11:45)
• Grading Short-Answer Questions on Homework, Exams or Lab Reports (2:15 - 3:15)
• Teaching Math, Science, and Engineering Quiz Sections: First Day and Beyond (3:30 – 4:30)

In order to attend all three workshops, you would need to check in between 8:15 - 11:00 AM, Kane Hall Lobby.

Classics

All New TAs:

• Plenary Session (I): Teaching at the UW: What You Can Look Forward To
• Plenary Session (III): Teaching at the UW: Policies and Professionalism
• Activities to Engage Your Students in Learning
• Understanding Who Your Students Are
• Balancing Graduate School Demands
• Presenting Information Effectively
• Dealing with Difficult Classroom Situations

TAs beyond the first year:

• Plenary Session (III): Teaching at the UW: Policies and Professionalism
• Including All Students: Teaching in the Diverse Classroom
• Dealing with Difficult Classroom Situations
• Gathering and Using Student Feedback to Improve Your Teaching
• Teaching Social Sciences and Humanities Quiz Sections: First Day and Beyond

Classics 101/205 and First Year Latin/Greek TAs

• Activities to Engage Your Students in Learning
• Understanding Who Your Students Are
• Presenting Information Effectively
• Dealing with Difficult Classroom Situations

Classics 210 TAs

• Teaching Social Science and Humanities Quiz Sections: First Day and Beyond
• Planning and Facilitating Discussions

TAs Teaching upper-level courses in translation (other than 210)

• Responding to Longer Student Essays and Assigning Grades

Communications

Communication TAs should attend all sessions (plenary sessions and workshops). We will cover a number of the conference topics in our 596 sessions, so this list is meant to augment what we already discuss. Please select workshops from the following recommendations:

10:45 - 11:45 – Session II: Concurrent Workshops

• Activities to Engage Your Students in Learning
• Teaching Social Science and Humanities Quiz Sections: First Day and Beyond
• Understanding Who Your Students Are

2:15 - 3:15 – Session IV: Concurrent Workshops

• Activities to Engage Your Students in Learning
• Dealing with Difficult Classroom Situations
• Including All Students: Teaching in the Diverse Classroom
• Understanding Who Your Students Are

3:30 - 4:30 – Session V: Concurrent Workshops

• Balancing Graduate School Demands
• Dealing With Difficult Classroom Situations
• Including All Students: Teaching in the Diverse Classroom

Comparative Literature

For the concurrent workshop sessions, please select from the following recommended sessions:

• Grading Short-Answer Questions on Homework, Exams, or Lab Reports
• Planning and Facilitating Discussions
• Balancing Graduate School Demands
• Teaching Social Science and Humanities Quiz Sections: First Day and Beyond
• Motivating Students to Learn: Linking Principles of Learning to Teaching

International TAs are required to attend the two International TA Workshop Sessions on Monday, Sept. 21st.

Computer Science and Engineering

For the Computer Science and Engineering TAs, the following workshops are recommended:

• Teaching Math, Science, and Engineering Quiz Sections: First Day and Beyond
• Grading Short-Answer Questions on Homework, Exams, Lab Reports
• Presenting Information Effectively
• Planning and Facilitating Discussions
• Balancing Graduate School Demands

New International TAs are required to attend the two workshops on Monday September 21, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. in Smith Hall, Room 120:

• Getting to Know UW Students: Overview for International TAs
• Panel Discussion with Experienced International TAs

Dance

Dance Program Recommendations:

• Assessing Student Work
• Responding to Longer Student Essays
• Dealing with Difficult Classroom Situations
• Including All Students - Teaching Diversity
• Planning and Facilitating Discussions
• Balancing Graduate School Demands
• Gathering and Using Student Feedback
• Teaching One-to-One in Office Hours

Earth and Space Sciences

The Department of Earth and Space Sciences expects new and continuing students who will be teaching assistants during any quarter of the 2009-2010 academic year to attend the TA Conference. We recommend the workshops listed below, however, students are encouraged to attend any or all workshops of interest to them.

Recommended Plenary Sessions:

• Teaching at the UW: What You Can Look Forward To
• Teaching at the UW: Policies and Professionalism

Recommended Workshops:

• Balancing Graduate School Demands
• Dealing With Difficult Classroom Situations
• Grading Short-Answer Questions on Homework, Exams, or Lab Reports
• Motivating Students to Learn: Applying Principles of Learning to Teaching
• Teaching in Lab Settings: First Day and Beyond
• Teaching Math, Science, and Engineering Quiz Sections: First Day and Beyond
• Teaching One-to-One in Office Hours and Study Centers
• Understanding Who Your Students Are

New International TAs are required to attend the two workshops on Monday September 21, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. in Smith Hall, Room 120:

• Getting to Know UW Students: Overview for International TAs
• Panel Discussion with Experienced International TAs

Economics

Economics asks all of our incoming TAs, and any others who are contemplating being a TA during their tenure as graduate students, to attend the TA Conference this fall. You may choose to participate in any of the TA Conference Sessions offered on Sept. 22, and we recommend that you plan to attend both the plenary sessions (Session I and Session III). International graduate students who will be TAs for the first time during 2009/10 are required to attend the two afternoon sessions for International TAs on Monday, September 21.

Required:

• Dealing with Difficult Classroom Situations

Strongly recommended (any two of the following):

• Motivating Students to Learn
• Presenting Information Effectively
• Including All Students
• Teaching Social Science and Humanities Quiz Sections

New International TAs are required to attend the two workshops on Monday September 21, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. in Smith Hall, Room 120:

• Getting to Know UW Students: Overview for International TAs
• Panel Discussion with Experienced International TAs

Electrical Engineering

The following workshops are recommended for consideration by Electrical Engineering TAs:

• Teaching Math, Science, and Engineering Quiz Sections: First Day and Beyond
• Grading Short-Answer Questions on Homework, Exams, Lab Reports
• Presenting Information Effectively
• Planning and Facilitating Discussions
• Balancing Graduate School Demands
• Gathering and Using Student Feedback to Improve Your Teaching
• Teaching in Lab Settings: First Day and Beyond
• Teaching One-to-One in Office Hours and Study Centers

New International TAs are required to attend the two workshops on Monday September 21, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. in Smith Hall, Room 120:

• Getting to Know UW Students: Overview for International TAs
• Panel Discussion with Experienced International TAs

English

Each year, the Graduate School and the Center for Instructional Development and Research (CIDR) present a university-wide conference on teaching. The conference covers general pedagogical principles and best practices geared toward TAs in all departments, especially those departments that do not have TA orientations of their own. Although we do our own orientation, we have reserved time during our orientation for you to attend part of the conference on Tuesday, September 22nd, from 2:15 to 4:30*.

For the 2:15 to 3:15 period, English TAs are expected to register for: Session IV - Responding to Longer Student Essays and Assigning Grades

From 3:30 to 4:30, there will be many sessions offered, so we have identified a list of suggested sessions here. We recommend that you choose from the following:

• Balancing Graduate School Demands
• Dealing with Difficult Classroom Situations
• Gathering and Using Student Feedback to Improve Your Teaching
• Including All Students: Teaching in the Diverse Classroom
• Presenting Information Effectively

*Please note that International TAs are required to attend the session entitled Panel Discussion With Experienced International TAs on Monday, Sept. 21st, 2:45-4:00.

English Language Programs

English Language Programs (ELP) expects all of its first-year TAs to attend the UW TA Conference on Teaching and Learning on September 22, 2009.

Keep in mind that you will also have a five-day ELP TA Orientation from Wednesday, September 23 through Tuesday, September 29.

Besides the two plenary sessions, the ELP recommends that you choose from among the sessions below at the UW TA Conference on September 22. However, because you are also enrolled in an MAT training program and because you ultimately know yourself, your interests and your needs best, please choose any of session offerings as you see fit; these below are recommendations based on what past TAs have found useful and interesting.

• Activities to Engage Your Students in Learning
• Motivating Students to Learn: Applying Principles of Learning to Teaching
• Gathering and Using Student Feedback to Improve Your Teaching
• Teaching Modern Languages: First Day and Beyond

Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences

Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences' 2009 workshop recommendations:

All students must attend the two plenary sessions:

• Teaching at the UW: What You Can Look Forward To
• Teaching at the UW: Policies and Professionalism

All students must attend these two workshops:

• Teaching One on One in Office Hours and Study Centers
• Responding to Longer Student Essays and Assigning Grades

Students who will TA a lab course must attend:

• Teaching in Lab Settings: First Day and Beyond

Students who will TA a non-lab course must attend this workshop:

• Planning and Facilitating Discussions

These sessions are required for all international TAs in their first year of teaching:

• Getting to Know UW Students: Overview for International TAs
• Panel Discussion with Experienced International TAs

If time permits (which it may not) one of these workshops may be helpful:

• Presenting Information Effectively
• Motivating Students to Learn: Linking Principles of Learning to Teaching
• Dealing With Difficult Classroom Situations

Students can be exempted from a required workshop or can substitute a different workshop, depending on past experience, anticipated needs, or schedule conflicts. Exemptions or substitutions must be approved in advance by Marilyn Roberts, the Graduate Program Coordinator - marilynr@u.washington.edu ).

Forest Resources

The School of Forest Resources strongly encourages that students who intend to teach or might teach during the 2009-2010 academic year to attend the CIDR TA training. In addition to the two Plenary sessions, please attend:

• Dealing with Difficult Classroom Situations

Please attend one of the following sessions, whichever is most relevant:

• Teaching in Lab Settings: First Day and Beyond
• Responding to Student Writing and Assigning Grades

We recommend that you choose from the following list for a third workshop:

• Activities to Engage Your Students in Learning
• Including All Students: Teaching in the Diverse Classroom
• Motivating Students to Learn: Linking Principles of Learning to Teaching
• Presenting Information Effectively
• Understanding Who Your Students Are
• Teaching One on One in Office Hours and Study Centers

New International TAs are required to attend the two workshops on Monday September 21, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. in Smith Hall, Room 120:

• Getting to Know UW Students: Overview for International TAs
• Panel Discussion with Experienced International TAs

French and Italian Studies

For international TAs:

• Teaching Modern Languages: First Day and Beyond
• Getting to Know UW Students: Overview for International TAs
• Panel Discussion With Experienced International TAs

For non-international TAs:

• Teaching Modern Languages: First Day and Beyond

and any of the following:


• Dealing With Difficult Classroom Situations
• Including All Students: Teaching in the Diverse Classroom
• Understanding Who Your Students Are
• Balancing Graduate School Demands

Geography

In addition to the two Plenary sessions, Geography requires all new TAs to attend any three of the following September 22 sessions:

• Teaching Social Science and Humanities Quiz Sections: First Day and Beyond
• Planning and Facilitating Discussions
• Activities to Engage Your Students in Learning
• Motivating Students to Learn: Linking Principles of Learning to Teaching
• Presenting Information Effectively
• Understanding Who Your Students Are

New International TAs are required to attend the two workshops on Monday September 21, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. in Smith Hall, Room 120:

• Getting to Know UW Students: Overview for International TAs
• Panel Discussion with Experienced International TAs

In addition, Geography TAs should register for Geog 599, Effective Teaching In Geography (sln 14192), which meets 5 Thursdays from 5:30-6:20 during Autumn Quarter.

Germanics

Germanics TAs are required to attend the following:

• Session I: Opening Plenary
• Session II: Teaching Modern Languages: First Day and Beyond
• Session III: Second Plenary: “Teaching at the UW: Policies and Professionalism”
• Session IV: Understanding Who Your Students Are
• Session V: Teaching One-to-One in Office Hours and Study Centers

New International TAs are required to attend the two workshops on Monday September 21, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. in Smith Hall, Room 120:

• Getting to Know UW Students: Overview for International TAs
• Panel Discussion with Experienced International TAs

History

All History Department TAs (new and continuing) are expected to participate in the History Department's TA Conference in September 2009.

All new History Department Teaching Assistants are required to attend CIDR's TA Conference on Teaching and Learning on September 22, 2009. In addition to the two plenary sessions, new TAs are asked to attend two or three workshop sessions of their choice.

Continuing TAs may voluntarily attend sessions of the CIDR TA Conference if they wish, and they are encouraged to volunteer to participate in sessions as panelists or facilitators.

In addition to attending CIDR’s TA Conference (on September 22) and the History Department’s TA Conference, new international TAs must also attend the two CIDR TA Conference workshops for international TAs on the afternoon of September 21.

New TAs register for two credits of GRDSCH 615: Teaching Assistant Preparation (section A: SLN 14254) and receive credit for both the CIDR and History Department's TA training.

Continuing TAs register for one credit of GRDSCH 615: Teaching Assistant Preparation (section A: SLN 14254) and receive credit for participating in the Department's TA training.

New TAs and continuing TAs also register for HIST 570: Topics in Teaching History (three credits, graded CR/NC) in Autumn 2009 or Autumn 2010, if they have not taken the class previously. HIST 570 meets on Fridays, 1:30-3:20 pm. Entry codes for HIST 570 are available from the History Graduate Office.

Human Centered Design and Engineering

The HCDE Department recommends that TAs select workshops from the following (only 3 are possible).

• Planning and Facilitation Discussions
• Presenting Information Effectively
• Motivating Students to Learn: Applying Principles of Learning to Teaching
• Dealing with Difficult Classroom Situations

New International TAs are required to attend the two workshops on Monday September 21, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. in Smith Hall, Room 120:

• Getting to Know UW Students: Overview for International TAs
• Panel Discussion with Experienced International TAs

Immunology

Required for Immunology TAs:

• Plenary I
• Plenary II
• Teaching Math, Science & Engineering Quiz Sections
• Teaching One-to-One in Office Hours and Study Centers
• Dealing with Difficult Classroom Situations

Industrial Engineering

Industrial Engineering especially recommends the following workshops for our TAs:

• Dealing with Difficult Classroom Situations
• Motivating Students to Learn: Linking Principles of Learning to Teaching
• Balancing Graduate School Demands
• Gathering and Using Student Feedback to Improve Your Teaching
• Math, Science, and Engineering Quiz Sections: First Day and Beyond

New International TAs are required to attend the two workshops on Monday September 21, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. in Smith Hall, Room 120:

• Getting to Know UW Students: Overview for International TAs
• Panel Discussion with Experienced International TAs

Information School

The Information School strongly encourages students to attend any or all of the conference on Sept. 22 that is of interest. In addition to recommending you attend the two Plenary sessions, we expect that students will choose three workshops from the following list:

• Grading Short-Answer Questions on Homework, Exams or Lab Reports
• Responding to Longer Student Essays and Assigning Grades
• Activities to Engage Your Students in Learning
• Dealing With Difficult Classroom Situations
• Understanding Who Your Students Are
• Gathering and Using Student Feedback to Improve Teaching
• Teaching Your Own Class: First Day and Beyond

New International TAs are required to attend the two workshops on Monday September 21, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. in Smith Hall, Room 120:

• Getting to Know UW Students: Overview for International TAs
• Panel Discussion with Experienced International TAs

Linguistics

Linguistics recommends the following workshops:

• Teaching Social Science and Humanities Quiz Sections: First Day and Beyond
• Activities to Engage Your Students in Learning
• Including All Students: Teaching in the Diverse Classroom
• Balancing Graduate School Demands
• Gathering and Using Student Feedback to Improve your Teaching

Marine Affairs

Required: Both Plenary Sessions

• Required (Choose One):
• Teaching Math, Science, and Engineering Quiz Sections: First Day and Beyond
  OR
  Teaching in Lab Setting: First Day and Beyond
• Required (Choose One):
• Teaching One-to-One in Office Hours and Study Centers
  OR
  Dealing with Difficult Classroom Situations
  OR
  Understanding Who Your Students Are
• Required (Choose One):
• Activities to Engage Your Students in Learning
  OR
  Motivating Students to Learn: Linking Principles of Learning to Teaching

New International TAs are required to attend the two workshops on Monday September 21, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. in Smith Hall, Room 120:

• Getting to Know UW Students: Overview for International TAs
• Panel Discussion with Experienced International TAs

Materials Science and Engineering

Recommendations for Materials Science and Engineering graduate students are:

• Session I and III - Plenary Sessions
• Workshops as follows:
• Teaching Math, Science, and Engineering Quiz Sections: First Day and Beyond
• Teaching in Lab Setting: First Day and Beyond
• Grading Short-Answer Questions on Homework, Exams, or Lab Reports

Mathematics

The department encourages you to review the Conference schedule and participate in any sessions that are of interest to you. Here are some recommended sessions for Mathematics students:

• Teaching Math, Science and Engineering Quiz Sections: First Day and Beyond
• Grading Short-Answer Questions on Homework, Exams, or Lab Reports
• Teaching One-to-One in Office Hours and Study Centers
• Activities to Engage Your Students in Learning
• Dealing with Difficult Classroom Situations
• Understanding who Your Students Are
• Balancing Graduate School Demands

New International TAs are required to attend the two workshops on Monday September 21, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. in Smith Hall, Room 120:

• Getting to Know UW Students: Overview for International TAs
• Panel Discussion with Experienced International TAs

Mechanical Engineering

The Mechanical Engineering Department expects all who are on TA appointments for autumn quarter or who plan to teach in the coming year to attend the conference on Sept. 22.

All attendees should register for the following sessions:

• Teaching at the UW: What You Can Look Forward To
• Teaching at the UW: Policies and Professionalism
• Teaching Math, Science and Engineering Quiz Sections: First Day and Beyond
• Teaching in Lab Settings: First Day and Beyond
• Teaching One-to-One in Office Hours and Study Centers

Microbiology

Microbiology requires new students to register for and attend the following sessions:

• Opening Plenary: “Teaching at the UW: What You Can Look Forward To” (Session I)
• Plenary II: “Teaching at the UW: Policies and Professionalism” (Session III)

Please choose three workshops from the following list:

• Activities to Engage Your Student in Learning
• Presenting Information Effectively
• Teaching One-to-One in Office Hours and Student Centers
• Dealing with Difficult Classroom Situations
• Teaching in Lab Settings: First Day and Beyond
• Balancing Graduate School Demands
• Motivating Students to Learn: Applying Principles of Learning to Teaching

Molecular and Cellular Biology

MCB students need to attend the plenary sessions and at least three additional workshops. TA's are encouraged to choose any three workshops that meet your needs as a TA.

Music

The School of MusIc recommends that TAs attend the following workshop on September 22, and make other choices for the conference based on your own interests.

• Assessing Student Work in the Fine Arts

New International TAs are required to attend the two workshops on Monday September 21, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. in Smith Hall, Room 120:

• Getting to Know UW Students: Overview for International TAs
• Panel Discussion with Experienced International TAs

Near Eastern Language and Civilization

All new TAs should register for and attend the following sessions:

• Session I: Opening Plenary
• Session II: Teaching Modern Languages: First Day and Beyond
• Session III: Second Plenary
• Session IV: Dealing with Difficult Classroom Situations
• Session V: Presenting Information Effectively

New International TAs are required to attend the two workshops on Monday September 21, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. in Smith Hall, Room 120:

• Getting to Know UW Students: Overview for International TAs
• Panel Discussion with Experienced International TAs

Nursing

In addition to the two Plenary sessions, Nursing recommends that you choose three workshops from the following list:

• Activities to Engage Your Students in Learning
• Gathering and Using Student Feedback to Improve Teaching
• Motivating Students to Learn: Applying Principles of Learning to Teaching
• Planning and Facilitating Discussions
• Presenting Information Effectively
• Understanding Who Your Students Are
• Dealing With Difficult Classroom Situations
• Including All Students: Teaching in the Diverse Classroom
• Responding to Longer Student Essays and Assigning Grades

Nutritional Sciences

The Nutritional Sciences Program recommends the following sessions for our TAs:

• 9:00 - 10:20 – Session I: Opening Plenary - Teaching at the UW: What You Can Look Forward To
• 1:00 - 2:00 – Session III: Second Plenary - Teaching at the UW: Policies and Professionalism

In addition the following workshops (found throughout the day) will be useful:

• Planning and Facilitating Discussions
• Understanding Who Your Students Are
• Teaching One-to-One in Office Hours and Study Centers
• Presenting Information Effectively
• Grading Short-Answer Questions on Homework, Exams, or Lab Reports
• Dealing with Difficult Classroom Situations
• Balancing Graduate School Demands

Oceanography

Required: Both Plenary Sessions

• Required (Choose One):
• Teaching Math, Science, and Engineering Quiz Sections: First Day and Beyond
  OR
  Teaching in Lab Setting: First Day and Beyond
• Required (Choose One):
• Teaching One-to-One in Office Hours and Study Centers
  OR
  Dealing with Difficult Classroom Situations
  OR
  Understanding Who Your Students Are
• Required (Choose One):
• Activities to Engage Your Students in Learning
  OR
  Motivating Students to Learn: Linking Principles of Learning to Teaching

New International TAs are required to attend the two workshops on Monday September 21, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. in Smith Hall, Room 120:

• Getting to Know UW Students: Overview for International TAs
• Panel Discussion with Experienced International TAs

Pharmacology

Along with the two Plenary Sessions, Pharmacology TAs are required to choose two out of the three following workshops to attend:

• Teaching Math, Science, and Engineering Quiz Sections
• Presenting Information Effectively
• Balancing Graduate School Demands

They must also attend one of the following workshops:

• Motivating Students to Learn: Applying Principles of Learning to Teaching
• Planning and Facilitating Discussions

Pharmacy

The three workshops we would like our new TA's to take (along with the two Plenary Sessions) are:

• Activities to Engage Your Students in Learning
• Planning and Facilitation Discussions
• Presenting Information Effectively

Philosophy

Philosophy department Teaching Assistants are expected to attend both plenary sessions, "Teaching at the UW: What You Can Look Forward To," "Teaching at the UW: Policies and Professionalism" and at least three (3) additional sessions from the following list.

• Dealing with Difficult Classroom Situations
• Planning and Facilitation Discussions
• Teaching Social Science and Humanities Quiz Sections - First Day and Beyond
• Balancing Graduate School Demands

Physics

The Physics Department would like to recommend the following workshops for our participating TAs in the 2009 TA Conference:

Assessing Student Work:

• Grading Short-Answer Questions on Homework, Exams, or Lab Reports

Effective Teaching:

• Dealing with Difficult Classroom Situations
• Including All Students
• Understanding Who Your Students Are

Professional Development:

• Balancing Graduate School Demands

Types of TA Assignments:

• Teaching in Lab Settings: First Day and Beyond

New International TAs are required to attend the two workshops on Monday September 21, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. in Smith Hall, Room 120:

• Getting to Know UW Students: Overview for International TAs
• Panel Discussion with Experienced International TAs

Political Science

The Political Science Department requires all TAs teaching for the first time at UW to attend the TA Conference on Teaching and Learning.

Recommended Sessions for Session II Concurrent Workshops:

• Activities to Engage Your Students in Learning
• Motivating Students to Learn: Applying Principles of Learning to Teaching
• Planning and Facilitating Discussions (esp. first-time teachers)
• Presenting Information Effectively
• Teaching One-to-One in Office Hours and Study Centers
• Understanding Who Your Students Are

Recommended Sessions for Session IV Concurrent Workshops:

• Activities to Engage Your Students in Learning
• Motivating Students to Learn: Applying Principles of Learning to Teaching
• Planning and Facilitating Discussions (esp. first-time teachers)
• Including All Students: Teaching in the Diverse Classroom
• Understanding Who Your Students Are

Recommended Sessions for Session V Concurrent Workshops:

• Including All Students: Teaching in the Diverse Classroom
• Presenting Information Effectively
• Teaching One-to-One in Office Hours and Study Centers

REQUIREMENTS FOR NEW INTERNATIONAL TAS: In addition to attending the TA Conference on Teaching and Learning, new international students who are not native speakers of English must attend the International TA Workshops on Monday, September 21. For more information please go to http://depts.washington.edu/cidrweb/TAConference/2009/ITARegistration.html.

Psychology

The Psychology PhD Graduate Program requires all new Teaching Assistants during the 2009-2010 academic year to attend the TA Conference. We recommend the workshops listed below. Please attend all 5 sessions (including 3 workshops of your choosing from our recommendations during sessions 2,4,5) as listed on the TA Conference program schedule.

We encourage continuing Psych TAs to attend any workshops of interest.

Grading:

• Responding to Longer Student Essays and Assigning Grades
  OR
  Grading Short-Answer Questions on Homework, Exams, or Lab Reports

Teaching:

• Activities to Engage Your Students in Learning
  OR
  Motivating Students to Learn: Applying Principles of Learning to Teaching
  OR
  Planning and Facilitating Discussions
  OR
  Dealing with Difficult Classroom Situations

Types of Teaching Assignments:

• Teaching Social Science and Humanities Quiz Sections: First Day and Beyond
  OR
  Teaching in Lab Settings: First Day and Beyond (TAs for 209, 315, 317, 318, 522, 523)
  OR
  Teaching One-to-One in Office Hours and Study Centers

Development:

• Balancing Graduate School Demands

New International TAs are required to attend the two workshops on Monday September 21, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. in Smith Hall, Room 120:

• Getting to Know UW Students: Overview for International TAs
• Panel Discussion with Experienced International TAs

Public Affairs

The Evans School asks all of our incoming TAs to attend the TA Conference this fall. You may choose to participate in any of the TA Conference Sessions offered on Sept. 22, and we recommend that you plan to attend both the plenary sessions (Session I and Session III). International graduate students who will be TAs for the first time during 2009/10 are required to attend the two afternoon sessions for International TAs on Monday, September 21.

Required:

• Dealing with Difficult Classroom Situations

Strongly recommended (any two of the following):

• Motivating Students to Learn
• Presenting Information Effectively
• Including All Students
• Planning and Facilitating Discussions

New International TAs are required to attend the two workshops on Monday September 21, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. in Smith Hall, Room 120:

• Getting to Know UW Students: Overview for International TAs
• Panel Discussion with Experienced International TAs

Quantitative Science

We recommend that TAs attend the two plenary sessions and any of the following workshops:

• Teaching One-to-One in Office Hours and Study Centers
• Dealing with Difficult Classroom Situations
• Understanding Who Your Student Are
• Motivating Students to Learn: Linking Principles of Learning to Teaching

Scandinavian Studies

All Department TAs should attend the following two workshops:

• Dealing with Difficult Classroom Situations
• Including all Students: Teaching in the Diverse Classroom

New International TAs are required to attend the two workshops on Monday September 21, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. in Smith Hall, Room 120:

• Getting to Know UW Students: Overview for International TAs
• Panel Discussion with Experienced International TAs

Slavic Languages and Literature

In addition to the Plenary Sessions, we recommend two of the following three workshops for our graduate TAs:

• Presenting Information Effectively: Session II (10:45), Session V (3:30)
• Balancing Graduate School Demands: Session II (10:45), Session V (3:30)
• Teaching Modern Languages: First Day and Beyond: Session II (10:45)

New International TAs are required to attend the two workshops on Monday September 21, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. in Smith Hall, Room 120:

• Getting to Know UW Students: Overview for International TAs
• Panel Discussion with Experienced International TAs

Social Work

The School of Social Work requires:

• Opening Plenary: Teaching at UW: What You Can Look Forward To
• Including All Students: Teaching in the Diverse Classroom

The School recommends that you select additional sessions from the following:

• Gathering and Using Student Feedback to Improve Teaching
• Presenting Information Effectively
• Planning and Facilitating Discussions
• Teaching One-to-One in Office Hours
• Dealing with Difficult Classroom Situations
• Motivating Students to Learn: Applying Principles of Learning to Teaching

New International TAs are required to attend the two workshops on Monday September 21, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. in Smith Hall, Room 120:

• Getting to Know UW Students: Overview for International TAs
• Panel Discussion with Experienced International TAs

Sociology

Sociology requires:

• Opening Plenary: Teaching at UW: What You Can Look Forward To
• Responding To Longer Student Essays And Assigning Grades (either session)

The department recommends that you select additional sessions from the following:

• Teaching Social Science and Humanities Quiz Sections: First Day and Beyond
• Presenting Information Effectively
• Planning and Facilitating Discussions
• Including All Students: Teaching in the Diverse Classroom
• Understanding Who Your Students Are
• Activities to Engage your Students in Learning
• Gathering and Using Student Feedback to Improve Your Teaching
• Motivating Students to Learn: Applying Principles of Learning to Teaching

New International TAs are required to attend the two workshops on Monday September 21, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. in Smith Hall, Room 120:

• Getting to Know UW Students: Overview for International TAs
• Panel Discussion with Experienced International TAs

Spanish

Required for all TAs:

• Session I: Opening Plenary
• Session II: Choose One:
• Teaching Modern Languages: First Day and Beyond
• Session III: Second Plenary
• Session IV: Choose One:
• Activities to Engage Your Students in Learning
  OR
  Dealing with Difficult Classroom Situations
  OR
  Including All Students: Teaching in the Diverse Classroom
• Session V: Choose One
• Balancing Graduate School Demands
  OR
  Dealing with Difficult Classroom Situations
  OR
  Including All Students: Teaching in the Diverse Classroom

New International TAs are required to attend the two workshops on Monday September 21, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. in Smith Hall, Room 120:

• Getting to Know UW Students: Overview for International TAs
• Panel Discussion with Experienced International TAs

Speech and Hearing Sciences

The Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences requires all new Teaching Assistants during the 2009-2010 academic year to attend the TA Conference. Please attend all 5 sessions (including the 2 Plenary Sessions and 3 workshops). Below, we have provided a list of workshops that we highly recommend; however, feel free to attend workshops that are of particular interest to you. Check the Conference Schedule for offerings. We encourage continuing SPHSC TAs to attend any workshops of interest.

Teaching:

• Activities to Engage Your Students in Learning
  OR
  Motivating Students to Learn: Applying Principles of Learning to Teaching
  OR
  Presenting Information Effectively
  OR
  Dealing with Difficult Classroom Situations
  OR
  Including All Students: Teaching in the Diverse Classroom

Types of Teaching Assignments:

• Teaching in Lab Settings: First Day and Beyond

Grading:

• Responding to Longer Student Essays and Assigning Grades
  OR
  Grading Short-Answer Questions on Homework, Exams, or Lab Reports

Other:

• Balancing Graduate School Demands

Statistics

The Department of Statistics requests that its graduate students attend the TA Conference on Teaching and Learning.

We draw your attention to both opening plenary sessions: “Teaching at the UW: What You Can Look Forward To,” “Teaching at the UW: Policies and Professionalism”.

We especially recommend the Teaching Math, Science and Engineering Quiz Sections workshop. In addition, you are strongly encouraged to attend as many of the other workshops as possible.

Women Studies

Recommended Workshops:

• Balancing Graduate School Demands
• Understanding Who Your Students Are
• Gathering and Using Student Feedback to Improve Teaching
• Teaching One-to-One in Office Hours and Study Centers
• Teaching Social Science and Humanities Quiz Sections: First Day and Beyond
• Planning and Facilitating Discussions
• Responding to longer student essays and Assigning Grades
• Motivating Students to Learn: Applying Principles of Learning to Teaching
• Presenting Information Effectively
• Activities to Engage Your Students in Learning
• Dealing with Difficult Classroom Situations

TA Conference Links

• TA Conference Home
• Conference Program
• Workshop Descriptions
• Department Recommendations
• Conference Registration
• Information for Departments
• Information for Facilitators
• Information for Non-Native Speakers of English
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Contact CIDR


• Download Conference Invitation

Related Links

• TA Conference Home
• Conference Program
• Workshop Descriptions
• Department Recommendations
• Conference Registration
• Information for Departments
• Information for Facilitators
• Information for Non-Native Speakers of English
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Contact CIDR

The University of Washington is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities.

To request disability accommodation contact the Disability Services Office at least ten days in advance at: 206.543.6450/V, 206.543.6452/TTY, 206.685.7264 (FAX), or e-mail at dso@u.washington.edu

CIDR
Center for Instructional Development and Research
100 Gerberding Hall, Box 351265
University of Washington
Seattle, WA 98195-1265

206.543.6588 (phone)
206.685.1213 (fax)

e-mail: TAConference@cidr.washington.edu
web: http://depts.washington.edu/cidrweb/TAConference/

© 2009 Center for Instructional Development and Research