Teaching Assistants

A Handbook for Teaching Assistants

by Allyson Hadwin and Susan Wilcox,

Instructional Development Centre, Queen's University, Canada

A 68-page guide to the skills of becoming an effective TA. Sections include roles and responsibilities of the teaching assistant, getting started (including surviving the first day of class), leading seminars and tutorials, lab teaching, lecturing and presenting, advising and counselling students, and tips on setting and marking assignments, tests and exams. The guide ends with hints on dealing with problems and suggestions for assessing your own performance as a TA.

Preparing a Teaching Dossier

by Christopher Knapper and Susan Wilcox

Centre for Teaching and Learning, Queen's University, Canada

The teaching dossier is an increasingly popular way for faculty to document their teaching effectiveness, both for self-improvement and for tenure and promotion. This practical guide outlines the steps in preparing a dossier, explains what to include, and shows how to review and revise a draft dossier. Five authentic dossiers are included as examples, and useful appendices include a list of possible items for a dossier, instructions on developing a statement of your teaching philosophy, and guidelines for the interpretation of student evaluations of teaching.

Preparing TAs for Teaching: Training Manual

This manual is intended to help departmental representatives develop and implement a strategy for TA training in your department. You will find activities that could be incorporated into a TA orientation day, tips for assessing TA work, strategies for supporting the professional development of TAs, suggestions for planning workshops, and handouts on teaching and learning.