The ability to read and comprehend course readings can affect student academic achievement. As such, this interactive workshop aims to provide graduate and teaching assistants with increased confidence engaging in reading related discussions with students, through exploring concrete reading skills and supportive resources. By the end of this workshop, graduate and teaching assistants will define reading in higher education, articulate the relationship between reading and student success, identify skills required for effective reading in higher education, develop strategies to address reading skill deficiencies, and create plans to support students' individual needs.

Trauma can be present in all settings, including in the university classroom. Learning to be trauma-informed in our teaching practices can help to create environments that are more accessible and remove barriers to trauma-affected learners. In this workshop, you will be introduced to the concept of trauma, its causes and effects, especially within school settings, as well as the concept of trauma-informed practices. We will also cover why it is important to be trauma-informed, the difference between trauma-informed and trauma-specific services, and practical strategies to engage in trauma-informed pedagogical practices.

This session will provide an overview of key Brightspace tools and topics for GAs and TAs in the online environment. Our focus will be on communicating with students (announcements, discussion board), and grading the different types of assessments found on Brightspace (tests, assignments, and discussion boards) in addition to using the Grade Centre and related features. For optimum experience, you should be using Google Chrome for this session.