The Center for Teaching is hosting New TA Orientation 2025, which will take place virtually from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (CST) on Thursday, August 21. Students must register here by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 20. All new graduate student instructors are encouraged to register. Even if they are unable attend the August 21 event, they will be added to the NTAO ICON site, which contains materials from the event sessions and info on the Center for Teaching.
The synchronous event will include an introduction to the role of the TA and support getting started in the classroom. Attendees will also be able to choose and attend two sessions co-facilitated by experienced and trained graduate student instructors from a range of disciplines. Sessions will include:
- Effective Grading and Feedback Practices: This section offers practical strategies for grading. Learn how to provide meaningful feedback that supports student learning while managing your own workload.
- Planning Effective Lessons: Learn how to create clear, engaging, and purposeful lesson plans using the backward design framework.
- Leading a Discussion Section: Discussion sections are an important component of large courses at Iowa. Learn more about the format and function of discussion sections, including how to facilitate thoughtful conversations among students and how to communicate clearly with course supervisors about expectations.
- Creating Belonging in the Classroom: Discuss strategies for fostering a positive classroom climate by building trust with students.
- Teaching a Lab: Experienced graduate lab instructors share the essentials of teaching a well-structured lab, including how to manage groups and communicating key points of safety.
- Student Engagement: Learn how to promote participation and motivate students in your class through active learning techniques.
- Teaching in Art, Theater and Dance: Graduate instructors in the arts must foster and encourage students’ creativity, while teaching them how to critique work and bringing academic structure to the creative process. In this session TAs will learn how to motivate students’ artistic expression through process-based teaching practice.
- ICON Overview - Important Teaching Features: Familiarize yourself with key teaching features of ICON, the University of Iowa’s learning management system, including the Gradebook, Speedgrader, and communication functions.
Center for Teaching staff members are also available to support departmental teaching and professional development events. Email the Center for Teaching.