GATAcademy 2018
GATAcademy 2018 is a full-day professional development event open to all current and prospective UWindsor graduate assistants (GAs) and teaching assistants (TAs).
Offering a series of interactive workshops led by experienced professionals from across the campus, GATAcademy 2018 will feature resources and activities relevant to both new and experienced GAs/TAs. Topics will include designing lessons, conducting effective labs and tutorials, best practices in grading and feedback, and a whole lot more!
GATAcademy 2018 will be held on September 4th, from 9:00am-2:30pm, in Dillion Hall.
Remember: Workshops are concurrent, so register for one workshop per time slot. Please be sure to register below if you would like to attend lunch.
GATAcademy is generously sponsored by the Centre for Teaching and Learning, Student Life Enhancement Fund, Graduate Student Society (GSS), UWSA, and faculties at the University of Windsor.
Past offerings
Tuesday, September 4, 2018
8:00 AM
Registration
Schedule:
Tuesday, September 04, 2018, 08:00 AM – 09:00 AM
Location:
Dillon Hall 256
9:00 AM
Connecting Best Practices for Teaching Linguistically-Diverse International Students with International Student Satisfaction
Registration for this event is now closed.
Schedule:
Tuesday, September 04, 2018, 09:00 AM – 10:30 AM
Location:
Dillon Hall 350
In this session, you will learn about some of the best practices for teaching linguistically-diverse international students and how they connect with international student satisfaction, including the outcomes of a recent study conducted at the University. A student panel of current UWindsor international students will discuss their preferred teaching practices. Participants will leave with a concept map that shows how best practices for teaching linguistically-diverse international students connect with international student satisfaction.
Designing Lessons and Creating Lesson Plans
Registration for this event is now closed.
Schedule:
Tuesday, September 04, 2018, 09:00 AM – 10:30 AM
Location:
Dillon Hall 255
Instructors:
Sara Santarossa ,
Samantha Monk
An engaging class involves careful and thoughtful planning. Therefore, it is beneficial for instructors to develop effective lesson planning skills. This workshop will provide instructors with strategies for organizing and structuring lessons that are aligned with prepared learning outcomes.
You will have the opportunity to see various lesson planning templates and create your own example lesson plan that considers content, delivery, timing, and the learning processes involved in your class. Through these activities, you will be able to develop a framework for lesson planning that is compatible with your teaching context and style.
Ethical Issues Encountered by GAs and TAs
Registration for this event is now closed.
Schedule:
Tuesday, September 04, 2018, 09:00 AM – 10:30 AM
Location:
Dillon Hall 253
While it is widely recognized that professors face a number of potential ethical dilemmas in the course of their work, the specific ethical issues faced by GAs and TAs are often overlooked. The work of GAs and TAs typically involves interacting with students and professors, grading student work, and enforcing course policies, all of which can give rise to ethical missteps. How can you recognize the ethical issues underlying the situations you encounter as a GA/TA? When ethical violations occur, how might you engage in damage control to keep things from getting worse? This workshop will present examples of commonly occurring ethical issues in the GA/TA context, and will introduce a problem-solving approach to help you deal with them.
Grading and Providing Effective Feedback
Registration for this event is now closed.
Schedule:
Tuesday, September 04, 2018, 09:00 AM – 10:30 AM
Location:
Dillon Hall 264
Instructors:
Harmony Peach
One of the biggest responsibilities of a TA/GA is grading and providing effective feedback. It is also one of the most complex tasks, as you will likely draw on your critical judgement, social intelligence, and time management skills, not to mention the task of mediating between the students and professors. Luckily, there are strategies that can make your life easier. This session will provide tips and tricks that will help to coordinate assigning grades between you and the course instructor, as well as advice for making the most of the opportunities you have to help the students improve.
Learning is not a Spectator Sport: Engaging Students using Active Learning Techniques
Registration for this event is now closed.
Schedule:
Tuesday, September 04, 2018, 09:00 AM – 10:30 AM
Location:
Dillon Hall 265
Instructors:
Lisa Salfi
Picture this: You’re excited to teach a university class. You painstakingly prepare your lecture, making sure to fit in every detail that you think the students need to learn. You deliver your lecture, only to see your students’ eyes glazing over, their heads bobbing, or their thumbs swiftly composing text messages to friends. What went wrong? We likely don’t have to imagine this. In fact, perhaps we have been the students to quietly drift off into dreamland or socialize in cyberspace during a traditional lecture. Wouldn’t it be great if, instead, students actively participated in their learning? This session will introduce you to several active learning techniques that will help you to make classes more engaging and content more memorable. The focus will be on student-centred learning, turning spectators into star players.
10:30 AM
Break
Schedule:
Tuesday, September 04, 2018, 10:30 AM – 10:45 AM
Location:
Dillon Hall 2nd Floor Lobby
Coffee and refreshments will be generously provided by the Graduate Student Society (GSS).
10:45 AM
Copyright and Open Access
Registration for this event is now closed.
Schedule:
Tuesday, September 04, 2018, 10:45 AM – 12:15 PM
Location:
Dillon Hall 350
Instructors:
Scott Cowan,
Dave Johnston
Our ability to access and use information impacts our work as both researchers and teachers. Issues of copyright and ownership of information are often at the heart of this discussion in higher education. This session will provide an overview of copyright, including tips on what can and cannot be done, what to look out for, and where to go for help. It will also explore topics such as open educational resources and open licensing. So, if you’re thinking about what content you’re allowed to share on Blackboard, what might happen if your slides get shared online by students, or even what happens to your work when you publish a thesis, dissertation or article, then this session is for you.
Designing Lessons and Creating Lesson Plans
Registration for this event is now closed.
Schedule:
Tuesday, September 04, 2018, 10:45 AM – 12:15 PM
Location:
Dillon Hall 255
Instructors:
Sara Santarossa ,
Samantha Monk
An engaging class involves careful and thoughtful planning. Therefore, it is beneficial for instructors to develop effective lesson planning skills. This workshop will provide instructors with strategies for organizing and structuring lessons that are aligned with prepared learning outcomes.
You will have the opportunity to see various lesson planning templates and create your own example lesson plan that considers content, delivery, timing, and the learning processes involved in your class. Through these activities, you will be able to develop a framework for lesson planning that is compatible with your teaching context and style.
Do You Need Blackboard for What You Do?
Registration for this event is now closed.
Schedule:
Tuesday, September 04, 2018, 10:45 AM – 12:15 PM
Location:
University Computer Centre
Discover the power of the University of Windsor’s learning management system, Blackboard Learn. In this workshop, you will have an opportunity to participate in an introductory hands-on Blackboard experience from a GA or TA’s perspective, and test out key features and tools that you may be expected to use in your role. Come join us to learn more about Blackboard and where to access further resources to help you maximize its potential.
This workshop is being held in the University Computer Centre-G01.
Please visit the Campus Map for directions.
.
Ethical Issues Encountered by GAs and TAs
Registration for this event is now closed.
Schedule:
Tuesday, September 04, 2018, 10:45 AM – 12:15 PM
Location:
Dillon Hall 253
While it is widely recognized that professors face a number of potential ethical dilemmas in the course of their work, the specific ethical issues faced by GAs and TAs are often overlooked. The work of GAs and TAs typically involves interacting with students and professors, grading student work, and enforcing course policies, all of which can give rise to ethical missteps. How can you recognize the ethical issues underlying the situations you encounter as a GA/TA? When ethical violations occur, how might you engage in damage control to keep things from getting worse? This workshop will present examples of commonly occurring ethical issues in the GA/TA context, and will introduce a problem-solving approach to help you deal with them.
Grading and Providing Effective Feedback
Registration for this event is now closed.
Schedule:
Tuesday, September 04, 2018, 10:45 AM – 12:15 PM
Location:
Dillon Hall 264
Instructors:
Harmony Peach
One of the biggest responsibilities of a TA/GA is grading and providing effective feedback. It is also one of the most complex tasks, as you will likely draw on your critical judgement, social intelligence, and time management skills, not to mention the task of mediating between the students and professors. Luckily, there are strategies that can make your life easier. This session will provide tips and tricks that will help to coordinate assigning grades between you and the course instructor, as well as advice for making the most of the opportunities you have to help the students improve.
Leading Effective Discussions
Registration for this event is now closed.
Schedule:
Tuesday, September 04, 2018, 10:45 AM – 12:15 PM
Location:
Dillon Hall 352
Instructors:
Ashlyne O’Neil ,
Michelle Krieger
Do you dream of lively student discussions but dread the silent stares of disengaged learners? This workshop will touch on why discussion is a valuable teaching tool and introduce strategies for facilitating engaging and productive discussions. You will practice developing discussion questions/strategies in groups and leave with resources to use in your classes.
Learning is not a Spectator Sport: Engaging Students using Active Learning Techniques
Registration for this event is now closed.
Schedule:
Tuesday, September 04, 2018, 10:45 AM – 12:15 PM
Location:
Dillon Hall 265
Instructors:
Lisa Salfi
Picture this: You’re excited to teach a university class. You painstakingly prepare your lecture, making sure to fit in every detail that you think the students need to learn. You deliver your lecture, only to see your students’ eyes glazing over, their heads bobbing, or their thumbs swiftly composing text messages to friends. What went wrong? We likely don’t have to imagine this. In fact, perhaps we have been the students to quietly drift off into dreamland or socialize in cyberspace during a traditional lecture. Wouldn’t it be great if, instead, students actively participated in their learning? This session will introduce you to several active learning techniques that will help you to make classes more engaging and content more memorable. The focus will be on student-centred learning, turning spectators into star players.
12:15 PM
Lunch
Registration for this event is now closed.
Schedule:
Tuesday, September 04, 2018, 12:15 PM – 01:00 PM
Location:
Dillon Hall 2nd Floor Lobby
Once you have registered for lunch, be sure to email Marilyn at ctl@uwindsor.ca with any allergies or dietary needs (no later than 12:00 pm on Monday, August 13th, 2018).
1:00 PM
Creating and Using Rubrics for Grading Assignments
Registration for this event is now closed.
Schedule:
Tuesday, September 04, 2018, 01:00 PM – 02:30 PM
Location:
Dillon Hall 264
Instructors:
Michelle Bondy
Rubrics play an important role in assessing student achievement in a fair and consistent manner. A well-developed rubric will contribute to a more transparent class environment in which students know how they are being assessed, and how the assessments align with the course learning outcomes. A good rubric will also save you time when you are marking. Participants in this session will get hands-on experience creating and working with rubrics, using examples from different types of assignments and various disciplines.
Do You Need Blackboard for What You Do?
Registration for this event is now closed.
Schedule:
Tuesday, September 04, 2018, 01:00 PM – 02:30 PM
Location:
University Computer Centre
Discover the power of the University of Windsor’s learning management system, Blackboard Learn. In this workshop, you will have an opportunity to participate in an introductory hands-on Blackboard experience from a GA or TA’s perspective, and test out key features and tools that you may be expected to use in your role. Come join us to learn more about Blackboard and where to access further resources to help you maximize its potential.
This workshop is being held in the University Computer Centre-G01.
Please visit the Campus Map for directions.
.
Leading Effective Discussions
Registration for this event is now closed.
Schedule:
Tuesday, September 04, 2018, 01:00 PM – 02:30 PM
Location:
Dillon Hall 352
Instructors:
Ashlyne O’Neil ,
Michelle Krieger
Do you dream of lively student discussions but dread the silent stares of disengaged learners? This workshop will touch on why discussion is a valuable teaching tool and introduce strategies for facilitating engaging and productive discussions. You will practice developing discussion questions/strategies in groups and leave with resources to use in your classes.
Leading Effective Labs and Tutorials
Registration for this event is now closed.
Schedule:
Tuesday, September 04, 2018, 01:00 PM – 02:30 PM
Location:
Dillon Hall 354
Instructors:
Maria Cioppa
Laboratories and tutorials are a significant part of a University of Windsor undergraduate’s education, often providing these students with experience in the practice of their discipline. GAs and TAs thus play a critically important role, which they need to recognize so as to provide an effective experience for the students. From determining the GA/TAs role in the class (expectations and limitations), to introducing and making subjects relevant and interesting, to providing feedback within the lab/tutorial class time, to assessing the final work, this workshop will discuss techniques and tips for leading effective, engaging and (hopefully) enjoyable labs and tutorials.
Universal Design for Instruction and Equity
Registration for this event is now closed.
Schedule:
Tuesday, September 04, 2018, 01:00 PM – 02:30 PM
Location:
Dillon Hall 255
Instructors:
Stephanie Cragg,
Debra Hernandez Jozefowicz
Universal Design for Learning is an approach to teaching and learning that is diverse and inclusive, with the goal of engaging and including all in the educational process and outcomes. In this workshop we will highlight principles of UDL, explore benefits and challenges, and offer examples of the application of UDL to multiple aspects of the teaching and learning environment.
3:00 PM
Graduate Studies Orientation
Schedule:
Tuesday, September 04, 2018, 03:00 PM – 04:30 PM
Location:
Toldo 202
The Graduate Studies orientation for New Graduate and Teaching Assistants (GAs & TAs) will take place in Toldo 202 at 3:00pm.
No registration for this event is necessary.