Programs

Fall Workshop

The fall workshop is given during the first week of the fall term in September for all new TAs in the Physics & Astronomy department. It is a two half-days of training (sample schedule) and is mandatory for everyone who plans to teach in the Physics and Astronomy Department. Graduate classes are cancelled for the duration of the workshop. This workshop aims to get new TAs thinking critically about their own learning experiences, allow them to gain exposure to effective classroom pedagogies such as Socratic questioning and learning goals, and to develop their teaching skills. During this workshop new TAs are also given training that is specific to the course they will teach in their first semester at UBC. Underlying all of these goals is our desire for new TAs to feel prepared, comfortable, and supported in their endeavours as teachers in our department.

There are also near-identical workshops offered for undergraduate students who will be TAing in the physics department, both in fall and also in winter for students TAing term 2.

Mentor Program

The Physics & Astronomy Department has implemented a mentor TA program for all new TAs. Mentor TAs have an interest in education and have previous experience as Teaching Assistants in our department. The primary role of the mentor TA is to help new TAs develop their teaching skills by observing one of their labs or tutorials. Mentor TAs also provide new TAs with a comfortable environment in which they can reflect on their teaching practices as well as receive feedback. As in any learning process, feedback is essential in helping TAs develop their teaching skills. Mentor TAs are also available to help answer any other questions new TAs have regarding issues related to teaching, graduate school or our department.

Course-Specific Training

To address the needs of particular courses, and to offer all Physics and Astronomy TAs more tangible and directly relevant guidance, course specific weekly meetings and training workshops are given by Head-TAs for each of the major introductory courses (Physics: 100, 101, 102, 118, 157 and Astronomy: 101). Head-TAs are senior level TAs working directly with the course instructor to address the training needs of each particular course individually, such as effective tutorial and lab delivery and marking strategies.

Course-specific workshops developed by Head TAs are presented to new TAs during the fall training workshop and later in the term if necessary. Weekly meetings to all TAs in the course, new and returning, serve to address learning goals, common student misconceptions and pitfalls, any relevant teaching strategies or pedagogies, as well as to discuss the procedures and technical components of the lab or tutorial.