TA Toolkit Workshops - Spring 2024
TA Toolkit Workshops, organized jointly by the NC State University Graduate School, Libraries, DELTA, and other units on campus are designed to empower our graduate student TAs.
The workshops will be held at strategic points throughout the semester, aligning with the unique challenges and opportunities that arise during different stages of the academic term. By offering timely guidance and equipping TAs with online resources, instructional technology tools, instructional supports, and insights into innovative spaces, this toolkit is essential for building a community that excels in both research and pedagogy.
Share insights and feedback on what workshops would be useful to offer in this series.
Jump to: Libraries Workshops | DELTA Workshops | Graduate School Workshops
- Early Semester Workshops
Workshop title & registration link Description Offered by Date & Time Teaching College (In person) This workshop discusses dynamics pertaining to teaching in the college classroom and presents pedagogical strategies for promoting student success such as Active Learning and Retrieval Practice. The Graduate School January 17 2024, 3-4:30pm Teaching College (Online) This workshop discusses dynamics pertaining to teaching in the college classroom and presents pedagogical strategies for promoting student success such as Active Learning and Retrieval Practice. The Graduate School January 19, 2024, 3-4:30pm Talking to Students about Misinformation (Online) Today’s students are facing an “Infodemic” in which they’re flooded with a constant stream of both reliable and unreliable information. We regularly ask students to navigate this overabundance in order to find “good” sources for their research assignments. How can we teach students to answer the question: Is this a reliable source? In this workshop, you will learn how to talk to your students about source evaluation, misinformation, and the importance of reading laterally. Participants will walk away with quick, simple ways to teach students how to evaluate online information and think beyond “scholarly or non-scholarly”. The Libraries January 23, 2024, 10-11am Writing Effective Moodle Forum Prompts (online) In this workshop, we'll discuss what research says about the type of benefits that different discussion prompts can provide...and types of discussion prompts that are generally not effective at all! We'll use the Practical Inquiry Model (Swan et al. 2009) to analyze discussion prompts and will work on revising prompts to be more effective. This workshop counts towards the "Exploring: Digital Assignments & Assessments" badge. DELTA January 23, 2024, 1-2pm Using Learning Outcomes (In person)
Create solidly grounded learning experiences for your students by ensuring that course objectives are aligned with assessments and learning activities. To do this, we will look at evidence-based methods such as Backward Design and engage in analyzing and discussing examples. The Graduate School January 24, 2024, 3-4:30pm Using Learning Outcomes (Online)
Create solidly grounded learning experiences for your students by ensuring that course objectives are aligned with assessments and learning activities. To do this, we will look at evidence-based methods such as Backward Design and engage in analyzing and discussing examples. The Graduate School January 26, 2024, 3-4:30pm Create Interactive Content in Moodle with H5P (online) Are you ready to give your students a richer, more engaging learning experience in Moodle? Upgrade your Moodle course with dynamic, interactive media using the H5P “Interactive Content” activity type. This workshop will provide an overview of H5P in Moodle and demonstrate a selection of content-type examples. This workshop counts towards the "Exploring: Active Learning with Technology" badge. DELTA January 31, 2024, 11am Active Learning Strategies (in person) Looking to engage your students? Explore strategies for promoting student engagement through methods such as pair-and-share, social annotation, collaborative projects and interactive polling. The Graduate School January 31, 2024, 3-4:30pm Active Learning Strategies (online) Looking to engage your students? Explore strategies for promoting student engagement through methods such as pair-and-share, social annotation, collaborative projects and interactive polling. The Graduate School February 2, 2024, 3-4:30pm Rubrics & Grading Guides: Consistent, Effective, and Efficient Assessment in Moodle (online) Rubrics and grading guides are useful ways to communicate effectively with students about assignment requirements while also creating a guide for you to grade them more easily and consistently. In this session, we will explore the qualities of good rubrics, discuss different types of rubrics, and talk about how to create rubrics and grading guides inside Moodle. Participants should have experience using Moodle to create Assignments. This workshop counts towards the “Exploring: Digital Assignments & Assessments” badge. DELTA February 6, 2024
11:30am
Facilitating Collaborative Learning with Social Technologies (in person) Collaborative learning research reveals that it offers many benefits, however, students often express resistance to it. Learn how to overcome this hurdle as we explore a variety of technology-enhanced methods for facilitating effective collaborative learning.
The Graduate School February 7, 2024, 3-4:30pm Facilitating Collaborative Learning with Social Technologies (online) Collaborative learning research reveals that it offers many benefits, however, students often express resistance to it. Learn how to overcome this hurdle as we explore a variety of technology-enhanced methods for facilitating effective collaborative learning. The Graduate School February 9, 2024, 3-4:30pm RealTime Assessments (online) Help students be successful in your class by using digital assessment tools to gauge student understanding of course learning objectives and concepts. In this session, we will review the various tools available at NC State to get instant feedback from students in the form of quizzing, polling, or open-ended responses. Instructors can then use these responses to see if students are prepared to move on or need a review of skills or concepts. Participants will leave the session with resources to implement these tools into their teaching. This workshop counts towards the "Exploring: Active Learning with Technology" badge. DELTA February 14, 2024 10am Designing for Accessible & Equitable Learning (in person) Strive to create a learning environment that accommodates and welcomes all learners by learning about approaches such as Universal Design for Learning and Culturally Responsive Teaching. The Graduate School February 21, 2024, 3-4:30pm Moodle Quiz Questions and Question Bank (online) Did you know there is more to Moodle Quizzes than multiple-choice questions? In this session, you'll explore some different question types you can use to assess student learning. We will also discuss ways to manage and organize all your questions in the Moodle Question Bank. PLEASE NOTE: We will not be going through the process of creating a quiz and configuring quiz settings. If you need to review how to create a Moodle Quiz, please watch the Moodle Quiz Basics tutorial prior to this session. DELTA February 21, 2024, 10am Digital whiteboards like Miro and Zoom provide teaching and learning opportunities for instructors and students. Participants can develop concept maps, integrate drawings and text, organize ideas, and more both independently and collaboratively. In this workshop, we’ll share the affordances of different tools and common functionalities. We will also discuss creative ways to use digital whiteboarding to engage students online and in face-to-face teaching to help them interact with content and with each other. This workshop counts towards the "Exploring: Active Learning with Technology" badge.DELTA February 22, 2024, 2pm Designing for Accessible & Equitable Learning (Online) Strive to create a learning environment that accommodates and welcomes all learners by learning about approaches such as Universal Design for Learning and Culturally Responsive Teaching. The Graduate School February 23, 2024, 3-4:30pm Helping Undergraduate Students with Common Research Challenges In this workshop, we will share librarian observations of undergraduate student struggles with research assignments that reveal some foundational misunderstandings of the research process. We will also share best practices in information literacy instruction to set students up for success with these assignments.
The Libraries February 27, 2024, 3-4pm More workshops coming soon!
- Mid Semester Workshops
Workshop title & registration link Description Offered by Date Teaching in an AI Environment (in person) How do you deal with Artificial Intelligence as a teacher? What classroom policies should you have regarding questions of academic integrity? In what ways can AI be used to support the processes of teaching and learning? We’ll look at this and related issues in this workshop. The Graduate School March 6, 2024, 3-4:30pm Teaching in an AI Environment (Online) How do you deal with Artificial Intelligence as a teacher? What classroom policies should you have regarding questions of academic integrity? In what ways can AI be used to support the processes of teaching and learning? We’ll look at this and related issues in this workshop. The Graduate School March 8, 2024, 3-4:30pm Using Game Elements to Support Learning (in person) Games can be an excellent means for promoting student engagement. Learn how game design principles can be applied in learning environments and different examples of how these can be implemented in your classroom. The Graduate School March 20, 2024, 3-4:30pm Using Game Elements to Support Learning (Online Games can be an excellent means for promoting student engagement. Learn how game design principles can be applied in learning environments and different examples of how these can be implemented in your classroom. The Graduate School March 22, 2024, 3-4:30pm Wellness Event: TA Toolkit Countdown to Finals: Reflect, Rejuvenate, Relax, and Prepare (in person) All Graduate Teaching Assistants are invited to gather in the Hunt Library Teaching & Visualization Lab to relax, rejuvenate, and reflect as you navigate and prepare for the final stretch of the semester.
A range of activities tailored to your well-being, academic, and teaching success as well as snacks will be provided. Drop in anytime between 2-5pm
Libraries, Graduate School, & DELTA March 22, 2024, 2-5pm Immersive Learning with AR & VR (in person) Explore how technologies such as Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality can be used to create immersive, rich learning experiences. The Graduate School March 27, 2024, 3-4:30pm Immersive Learning with AR & VR (Online) Explore how technologies such as Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality can be used to create immersive, rich learning experiences. The Graduate School March 29, 2024, 3-4:30pm Assessments & Rubrics (in person) How do you assess student learning? In this workshop, you will learn about different approaches to assessment. You’ll also learn about rubrics and how they can help promote consistency and efficiency in your grading. The Graduate School April 3, 2024, 3-4:30pm Assessments & Rubrics (Online) How do you assess student learning? In this workshop, you will learn about different approaches to assessment. You’ll also learn about rubrics and how they can help promote consistency and efficiency in your grading. The Graduate School April 5, 2024, 3-4:30pm More workshops coming soon!
- Late Semester Workshops
Workshop title & registration link Description Offered by Date Processing Course Evaluations (In person) Learn ways to interpret end-of-course evaluations so they can be a helpful tool for reflecting on your teaching and also as a resource for generating new ideas for change (e.g., continuous improvement). The Graduate School April 10, 2024, 3-4:30pm Processing Course Evaluations (Online) Learn ways to interpret end-of-course evaluations so they can be a helpful tool for reflecting on your teaching and also as a resource for generating new ideas for change (e.g., continuous improvement). The Graduate School April 12, 2024, 3-4:30pm Writing a Teaching Philosophy (in person) How would you describe your teaching philosophy to someone who has never observed your teaching? In this workshop, you’ll learn strategies for distilling the most important elements of your teaching philosophy and expressing it in a clear, succinct narrative. We will especially think about how it can be used to highlight your strengths when applying for academic teaching positions. The Graduate School April 17, 2024, 3-4:30pm Course Conclusion: Wrapping Up, Grading and Reflecting (online)Learn how to finish up the semester strong. In this session, we will review how to submit grades and prepare to reuse course content. You’ll also take time to do a guided reflection on your semester and make a plan for the next time you teach the course. DELTA 4/18 Time and Registration info TBA Writing a Teaching Philosophy (Online How would you describe your teaching philosophy to someone who has never observed your teaching? In this workshop, you’ll learn strategies for distilling the most important elements of your teaching philosophy and expressing it in a clear, succinct narrative. We will especially think about how it can be used to highlight your strengths when applying for academic teaching positions. The Graduate School April 19, 2024, 3-4:30pm Using the NC State University Libraries Studios in your class Learn what the Studios has to offer your class, see some example assignments and outcomes from the Makerspace, Digital Media Lab, and VR and Innovation Studios. The Libraries TBD More workshops coming soon!
DELTA (Digital Education Learning Technology Applications) offers workshops to faculty and instructors and graduate teaching assistants are welcome to attend any workshops! We're offering workshops specific to TAs learning to use Moodle including setting up courses and gradebooks for easy navigation, but also exploring other digital tools to foster collaboration and engagement in online and hybrid classes.
The Graduate School's Professional Development team offers master’s, doctoral, and postdoctoral scholars guidance for how to effectively teach and mentor within a higher education environment. All of the Graduate School's workshops and two electives from the Libraries or DELTA will count toward the Graduate School's Teaching Certificate.
The Libraries' Teaching Supports include class visits for assignment-based library instruction, talking to students about emerging trends, skills, and tools in your field and sharing information about research resources. Our Special Collections, textbook or course reserves collections can enhance your course as can our specialized spaces, built to facilitate active learning and showcase student projects. Review the workshops below to learn how we can support your classes.
