Date/Time:

August 23, 2023 - 8:30 AM (Check-in) - 4:30 PM E.T. (Lunch will be provided.)

Audience:

ALL graduate teaching assistants in various roles, new and returning and any graduate student or educator interested in the content. 

Registration:

https://grad.msu.edu/tapreg

Location:

STEM Teaching Building (642 Red Cedar Rd, East Lansing, MI 48824)

Format:

There will be 8 workshops, and GTAs can pick up to three of these. The delivery is in person, but GTAs will be required to complete corresponding modules on D2L.

Information for registering for individual workshops will be provided in August.

Goal:

Attendees will learn pedagogical practices relevant to effectively teaching students in various disciplines and they will learn to use various tools for successfully engaging students in their learning. Some of these workshops will count toward the completion of the Certification in College Teaching.

Learning Outcomes:

Participants will be able to:

• Identify evidence-based best practices in teaching and learning.
• Practice methods that can be immediately applied in the classroom or in specific roles as educators.
• Use tools to be more effective in preparing for teaching, grading, leading recitations and communicating expectations to students.

Agenda:

Workshop Details

These workshops are open to all instructors interested in the topics and were specifically designed for Graduate Teaching Assistants in collaboration with Dr. Stefanie Baier from the Graduate School and the Graduate Teaching Assistant Advisory Committee, and faculty and staff from various departments at MSU and support from MSU IT and other unit representatives.   

Audience: GTAs, Postdocs, Faculty, Instructors

Getting Started with D2L (Desire2Learn)

9:00 – 10:00 am ET | Presenters: Mark Hodgins (hodgins@msu.edu), 

James Bender (bender24@msu.edu) 

Prepared with Gloria Ashaolu ashaolug@msu.edu and Arya Gupta atgupta@msu.edu 

Recommended for New GTAs, International GTAs current GTAs, Lab Leads, Recitation Leads, Section Leads, Instructors of Record and anyone interested. 

Description: Desire2Learn (D2L) is the learning management system used to deliver and assess course content throughout MSU. In this workshop we will review essential components of setting up your D2L page for your course. This includes setting up and activating the course content page, adding assessments to course modules, managing the gradebook and attendance, and utilizing intelligent agents (software tools embedded within D2L). In addition to instructional resources, participants will also have an opportunity to engage with hands-on activities to practice newly learned skills.

Learning Outcomes:

Upon completing this session, GTAs will be able to:  

• Set up their course D2L page and most useful functions to get started.
• Evaluate assessments and attendance. 
• Use basic gradebook functions to add basic exams and quizzes. 
• Use Intelligent Agents to assess student progress and academic dishonesty.

Managing your Roles and Responsibilities

9:00 – 10:00 am ET | Presenter: Chase Bruggeman (bruggem7@msu.edu)

Recommended for New GTAs, International GTAs current GTAs, Lab Leads, Recitation Leads, Section Leads, Instructors of Record and anyone interested. 

Description: This workshop will be discussion-based, about how best to respond to several (real!) situations encountered in graduate school. The discussions will be interspersed with short presentations about the roles that accompany being a graduate student and how to navigate these roles.

Learning Outcomes:

Upon completing this session, GTAs will be able to: 

• Identify the roles that accompany being a graduate student
• Envision possible conflicts and how to respond to them
• Understand how boundaries contribute to a healthy environment in graduate school

The First Day: Tips & Strategies for Planning and Student Engagement

10:30 am – 12:00 pm ET | Presenters: Dr. Stefanie Baier (stbaier@msu.edu) 

Recommended for New GTAs (in instructional roles), Lab Leads, Recitation Leads, Section Leads, Instructors of Record and anyone interested. 

Description: The first day of teaching requires intentional preparation to set the stage. In this workshop, you will learn some tips and strategies to successfully engage with your students in your first class and beyond. This session is focused on engagement activities to help students to get to know the instructor and each other, spark curiosity, communicate expectations, build community, and successfully start your semester in your instructional role. 

Learning Outcomes:

Upon completing this session, GTAs will be able to:  

• Introduce themselves to their students, each other and build rapport and community.
• Identify ways to effectively introduce the course, expectations, and student success strategies.
• Create a learning outcome based on backward design.
• Use effective practices to gauge student learning.

This workshop can be counted toward the Certification in College Teaching competency “Creating Effective Learning Environments” when submitting instructional material developed based on the content learned. 

Developing a Plan for Effective Grading: Technology, Communication, and Time-Management

10:30 am – 12:00 pm ET | Presenter: Seth Hunt (huntseth@msu.edu)  

Recommended for Graders, Lab Leads, Section Leads, Recitation Leaders and anyone interested. 

Description:The Desire2Learn (D2L) learner management system is the main online forum by which instructors at MSU receive assessment submissions from students, provide feedback to them, and maintain updated course grades. This workshop will give you a brief overview of communicating expectations about your role as a grader to the instructor-of-record, using the D2L platform to grade assignments and quizzes, providing feedback to the students on their submissions, and end with some discussion on time management skills needed to be efficient in your grading.

Learning Outcomes:

Upon completing this session, GTAs will be able to:

• Communicate with the instructor-of-record about grading responsibilities ahead of time.
• Familiarize themselves with using D2L to assess student submissions.
• Recognize and articulate the value in providing students with feedback on assessments.
• Recognize and develop time management skills needed to fulfill your duties with grading.

STEM Teaching: What are the Pathways to Scientific Teaching?

1:00 pm – 2:30 pm ET | Presenter(s): Dr. Diane Ebert-May (ebertmay@msu.edu) 

Recommended for: All STEM GTAs, Recommended for New GTAs, International GTAs current GTAs, Lab Leads, Recitation Leads, Section Leads, Instructors of Record and anyone interested. 

Description: During this workshop, we will use scientific teaching to actively engage in evidence-based instructional methods shown to be effective in helping all students learn core disciplinary concepts by using science practices to demonstrate it is not only what students learn, but how they use knowledge. Importantly, the pathway to scientific teaching integrates the STEM research model into a teaching approach by using science practices desired for all students, such as working with data, creating descriptive and predictive models, reasoning analytically, constructing scientific arguments, and working collaboratively. Without question, teaching scientifically will contribute positively to your growth and development as a scientist. 

Learning Outcomes:

Upon completing this session, GTAs will be able to:  

• Connect scientific teaching and assessment of student learning to what you do as a practicing scientist. 
• Explain and use 3-dimensional learning assessment practices in your courses. 
• Design an assessment that is 3-dimensional and aligns with the learning objectives and instruction in your course.

Accessible Teaching: Resources and Demonstration of Tools and Practices

1:00 pm – 2:30 pm ET | Presenter(s): Tyler Smeltekop (smeltek5@msu.edu)

Kevin Henley (henley@msu.edu)

Recommended for any new and returning GTA with instructional responsibilities

Description: We will discuss some basic tenets of creating and fostering an accessible and inclusive learning environment, as well as demonstrating various ways to make your course content as accessible as possible. We will also show you some of the most commonly used assistive technologies implemented on campus that your students may be using to engage with you and their coursework. This session addresses why it is important to be mindful of accessible academic experiences, what it should look like, and what tools and resources are available to help you (e.g., Spartan Ally, accessibility indicators and checklists, captions, accessible presentations). 

Learning Outcomes:

Upon completing this session, GTAs will be able to:  

• Create an accessible PowerPoint presentation.
• Operate Spartan Ally for D2L content remediation.
• Have familiarity with some of the most commonly used accessible technologies by students.
• Explain the importance and benefits of supporting accessibility in the classroom.

This workshop can be counted toward the Certification in College Teaching competency “Creating Effective Learning Environments” when submitting instructional material developed based on the content learned.  

Teaching Techniques and Managing Students in Labs and Recitations

3:00 pm – 4:30 pm ET | Presenter(s): Dr. Johanna Herman (herman80@msu.edu)  and Dr. Michael Lockett (mlockett@msu.edu)

Recommended for: Recitation Leaders, Lab Leads, Anyone Interested

Description: This session is for recitation and lab leaders. After an overview and discussion of general structures for recitation and lab sessions, participants will split into two groups: one focused on lab-specific practices and the other focused on recitation-specific practices. Participants will be introduced to examples of active learning strategies, classroom design and lab safety, classroom equity and workload management, lesson planning, and rapport building.  Participants will also have opportunities to ask questions throughout the session in both small and large group formats.

Learning Outcomes:

Upon completing this session, GTAs will be able to:  

• Design lesson and learning activities for lab and recitations

• Foster physically and discursively safe learning environments
• Build rapport with students, fellow GTAs, and instructors
• Manage and communicate fair labor expectations

Caring Communication for Learning & Belonging

3:00 pm – 4:30 pm ET I Presenter:  Mary-Beth Heeder (heeder@msu.edu)

Recommended for: Instructor of Record, Section Leads, Recitation Leaders, Help Room Tutor, Lab Leads, Graders, and Anyone Interested

Description: There are several opportunities for educators to communicate care and compassion to their students in different educational settings. In this workshop, GTAs will explore the advantages of cultivating a culture of care in their classroom so students feel valued, connected and engaged. Furthermore, GTAs will reflect on the question Do your students care whether you care about them? and receive resources and information about how to speak to their students with compassion through the syllabus, emails, assignment feedback, and the way they address students’ questions and needs. 

Learning Outcomes:

Upon completing this session, GTAs will:  

• Reflect on the question ‘Do your students care about whether you care about them?’
• Consider the impact of instructor mindset on student learning and sense of belonging.
• Use three questions to review syllabus for belonging and messages that communicate care.
• discover how to use a wise feedback intervention to communicate caring.
• Identify a minimum of one way you can say “I care” to students and apply this strategy to create a learning environment that builds better attention and engagement.

This workshop can be counted toward the Certification in College Teaching competency “Creating Effective Learning Environments” when submitting instructional material developed based on the content learned.