Many graduate students at the University of Lethbridge are assigned work as a Teaching Assistants during their graduate program. Graduate Teaching Assistants may be required to grade examinations and assignments, instruct laboratory and tutorial classes, lead discussion groups, or teach an undergraduate level class.
The Graduate Assistant Teaching Professional Development Program (GATPD) provides an opportunity for professional development in critical teaching skills, equipping graduate students to carry out their teaching duties effectively. Graduate students are also encouraged to attend the Teaching Centre's Talking about Teaching and Spark: Teaching Symposium events.
Participation in the GATPD provides an opportunity for professional development as well as formal recognition of involvement. At the conclusion of the academic year, students who have participated in the Teaching Centre's GATPD are eligible to receive a “Certificate of Participation” on MyExperience platform documenting their hours of completed participation in the program. This certificate can be a valuable addition to a graduate student’s curriculum vitae when applying for academic positions, doctoral programs, or post-doctoral placements.
GATPD - IMPACT Teaching and Learning Workshop
The name of our workshop, IMPACT, stands for Innovation, Mentorship, Planning, Assessment, Collaboration and Technology in Teaching and Learning. This workshop is designed to support graduate student professional development through critical reflection and application of best practices in teaching and learning.
In this workshop, you will learn essential skills such as class design, syllabus development, educational assessment, class/lesson planning, and class management. These skills are crucial for success as a future educator.
Through interactive sessions and hands-on activities, you will develop a deeper understanding of how to create engaging and effective learning experiences for your students. We will provide you with the tools and strategies you need to succeed in the classroom.
By participating in this workshop, you will be able to design effective syllabus and assessments that align with your course learning objectives. You will also learn how to plan and deliver engaging and effective lessons that meet the needs of your students. Additionally, you will gain the skills necessary to manage your classroom effectively and create a positive learning environment for your students.
This workshop is a part of the GATPD IMPACT Teaching and Learning series, which provides training and support for graduate students entering Teaching Assistantships. In this series, you are encouraged to complete the four workshops of the IMPACT Teaching and Learning Program, as they were developed to provide fundamental teaching skills for new and current Teaching Assistants and course instructors.
Our FOUR core IMPACT Teaching and Learning workshops are:
1. Course Design and Syllabus Development
In this first workshop Course Design and Syllabus Development, you will learn the basics of designing and developing a course for online and traditional delivery and creating your Course Outline. This series of workshops aims to support your professional development by encouraging critical reflection and best practices that support the teaching and learning needs of undergraduate students per the University of Lethbridge's high standards.
2. Educational Assessment
In this second workshop about Educational Assessment, you will learn about the different kinds of assessment and evaluation criteria. You will also develop the skills needed to grade assignments and give effective feedback. The objective of this series of workshops is to support your professional development by encouraging critical reflection and best practices that support the teaching and learning needs of undergraduate students in accordance with the University of Lethbridge's high standards.
3. Class/Lesson Planning
In this third workshop about Class/Lesson Planning, you will explore different frameworks for understanding effective teaching and build your facilitation skills through application and interactive tasks. The objective of this series of workshops is to support your professional development by encouraging critical reflection and best practices that support the teaching and learning needs of undergraduate students in accordance with the University of Lethbridge's high standards.
4. Class Management Strategies
In this fourth workshop about Class Management Strategies, you will identify and develop your class dynamic to facilitate learning while building positive interactions with your students in the classroom. This series of workshops aims to support your professional development by encouraging critical reflection and best practices that support the teaching and learning needs of undergraduate students per the University of Lethbridge's high standards.
If you would like more information about the IMPACT workshops, please contact Diana Letts in the Teaching Centre.
THRIVE Workshops
The THRIVE Professional Development Program offers optional events, workshops, and other resources compliment your degree.