International Teaching Assistant Orientation
Friday, August 17, 2018 — 5:00 pm - 8:30 pm — The Hub for Innovation in Learning and Technology, D-101 Wells Hall | Saturday, August 18, 2018 — 8:00 am - 5:00 pm — B-122 Wells Hall
The International Teaching Assistant Orientation program began Friday evening with a special reception just for International TAs. Individuals who registered came to both the Friday evening and Saturday program. Topics covered include: cultivating effective relationships with students and instructors of record; building learning communities in your classroom; U.S. classroom culture (an undergraduate perspective); the TA Role (a graduate student perspective). Most importantly, attendees engaged in role plays and teaching practice within small groups of TAs and undergraduate students.
It was up to departments to decide to require or recommend that their students attend this program (*graduate students asked their graduate program directors if they were unsure about participating). All attendees registered and were expected to attend the entire day. The deadline for registration was Sunday, August 5, 2018 at 5pm.
In assisting graduate students with determining whether or not to attend this orientation, we provided the following information:
Though designed to complement the New TA Institute (i.e. discussion around policies, strategies, and design processes will be similar), the International TA Orientation is meant to specifically welcome and support International Teaching Assistants here at MSU. As such, at this orientation, participants will work closely with trained facilitators in engaging in a variety of topics related to the unique needs of international graduate students teaching at MSU (including their transition to the MSU teaching and learning context and broader MSU and US culture).
If you are an International Teaching Assistant new to MSU or new to teaching at MSU, we encourage you to attend both the New TA Institute and the International TA Orientation, as the programs have been designed to be distinct but complementary.
2018 International Teaching Assistant Orientation Schedule
FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2018
5:00pm - 5:30pm - Registration
5:30pm - 6:00pm - Dinner Reception and Welcome from the Graduate School and the Graduate Employees Union
6:00pm - 6:30pm - Building Professional Learning Communities
6:30pm - 7:30pm - Real Talk: Undergraduate Perspectives on Student and Classroom Culture
7:30pm - 7:45pm - BREAK
7:45pm - 8:30pm - Student – Teaching Assistant Scenarios
8:30pm - EVALUATIONS
SATURDAY, AUGUST 18, 2018
8:00am - 8:45am - Registration and Breakfast
8:45am - 9:00am - Day 2 Welcome
9:00am - 9:45am - Managing Your Transition to East Lansing and your GTA Role
9:45am - 10:00am - BREAK
10:00am - 10:50am - Real Talk: The Graduate Teaching Assistant Perspective
10:50am - 11:00am - BREAK and TRANSITION TO BREAKOUT ROOMS
11:00am - 12:30pm - Teaching Planning and Practice Session 1: Connecting with Your Students from the First Day of Class
12:30pm - 1:15pm - LUNCH
1:15pm - 2:45pm - Student – Teaching Assistant Role Plays
2:45pm - 3:00pm - BREAK
3:00pm - 4:30pm - Teaching Planning & Practice Session 2: Teaching Concepts to Novices
4:30pm - 5:00pm - CLOSING / QUESTIONS / EVALUATIONS
Below are links to content shared and covered or referenced during the orientation. Please note, we have only provided links to materials we were given permission to share. By clicking on the links below, you can choose to download the content.
International Teaching Assistant Orientation Workbook
Resources for International Graduate Students
New Teaching Assistant Institute Policy Tip Sheets
New Teaching Assistant Institute Breakout Session - RVSM Definitions
New Teaching Assistant Institute Breakout Session - RVSM First Responder Information
Link to the MSU Prevention, Outreach, and Education Office
New Teaching Assistant Institute Breakout Session - Accommodations and Digital Accessibility
