The Graduate Teaching Assistant Practicum (GTAP) offers graduate student Teaching Assistants (TAs) an opportunity to explore teaching and learning in higher education and reflect on their growth as a facilitator of student learning.
Goals of the GTAP:
The practicum consists of a number of components that together reflect growth as a facilitator of student learning.
- Explore and discuss various approaches and techniques related to teaching and learning in the university environment through the Centre for Pedagogical Innovation’s (CPI) TA Workshops and/or CPI’s graduate course.
- Engage in the application of various teaching approaches and techniques in one’s teaching experiences.
- Demonstrate an awareness of the varying ways instructors enact their pedagogical beliefs through their instructional design through teaching observations.
- Reflect on one’s teaching knowledge, skills, and professional growth through the development of a teaching dossier in consultation with a member of CPI’s Educational Development team.
The Graduate TA Practicum offers participants the opportunity to construct a pathway for professional development that reflects their interests. Participants select activities from three component areas including professional learning, teaching assessment, and teaching observation to support their growth as a university educator.
Components of practicum
Participants must complete one element from each GTAP component: professional learning, teaching assessment, and teaching observations.
Reflections on the experiences of each component undertaken in pursuit of the GTAP is documented by the participant in their teaching dossier.
GTAP participants should complete one of the following:
The Advanced Certificate in Teaching and Learning
Completion of the Advanced Certificate in Teaching and Learning by participating in 16 workshops (from the CPI TA Workshop Series) and submitting a Statement of Teaching Philosophy to the Educational Development team.
Graduate Course (GRST 5P01) – The Theory and Practice of University Teaching
The Theory and Practice of University Teaching – GRST 5P01 explores the theories and practices of teaching in the post-secondary environment. Students engage in experiential approaches to course planning, instructional methods, evaluation and assessment, and reflective practice.
GTAP participants should complete one of the following:
Teaching Assistants Teaching about Teaching
Contribute to the CPI TA workshop series through the development and delivery of 2 TA workshops in consultation with a member of the CPI Educational Development team. Following the workshops, participants meet with an Educational Developer to discuss – identifying areas of strength and improvement. Participants are expected to draft a reflection piece on the experience that can contribute to their teaching dossier.
Instructional Skills Workshop (ISW)
The ISW is a 3-day (24 hours) workshop that provides the opportunity to engage in robust and iterative peer-feedback around your teaching practice. These feedback processes are couple with opportunities for reflection in order to support growth in your teaching and learning practice.
Two Teaching Observations
Practicum participants will observe two classes (e.g. lectures, seminars, labs, tutorials) facilitated by a Brock Instructor. Wherever possible, participants join one class within their discipline and one class outside of their discipline for observation. Observations may happen in a variety of class types including on-campus, asynchronous and synchronous online courses.
Observations are organized collaboratively by a member of the CPI Educational Development team and the GTAP participant. Participants will pre-meet with a member of the Educational Development team to prepare for their observation. Each observation is to be accompanied by a reflective statement identifying what was observed in terms of instructional strategies used and learning outcomes obtained.
Interested in the Graduate Teaching Assistant Practicum?
If you are interested in completing the Graduate Teaching Assistant Practicum or if you need some more information, please contact the Educational Development team to assist you.
Please indicate your interest to be connected with a member of the Educational Development team at CPI: