The opening plenary session will welcome the 2010 FASS GATAcademy participants, and will discuss the important role that GAs and TAs play in education at the University of Windsor. Alan Wright, Vice Provost, Teaching and Learning and Nick Baker, Learning Specialist/GATA Co-ordinator will welcome participants. The session will also include activities that will set the stage for the rest of the day so it is important that participants attend the opening session.

Walking the tightrope between constructive criticism, empathy and motivation is not always straightforward when it comes to performing as a GA/TA. Student expectations, coupled with the demands of a position that expects the highest level of integrity, can sometimes lead to blurred lines of communication. This workshop will help you assimilate 10 Principles for Effective TAs/GAs. You will also learn some tips for occupying the simultaneous roles of student and teacher.

Making 'it' look easy usually requires effort. To be an effective GA or TA you will be required to balance a multitude of responsibilities. This seminar will provide you with tips, tricks, and interactive scenarios designed to assist you in your transition from student to GA/TA. It is our goal to prepare you to be of maximum benefit to your students.

How do you get your point across? How do you explain complex ideas to confused people who have just graduated high school? Surprisingly, forty minutes of pointless droning rarely helps students understand. Effective teaching requires effective explanation - a skill that anyone can develop through knowledge and - most importantly - practice. This workshop will help you understand the strengths and limitations of your own explanation style, while providing you with additional explanation techniques that can be integrated into an adaptive teaching strategy.

Discussion can be a powerful way to teach and to learn. But it can also be intimidating to face a room full of faces and wonder, What if no one wants to say anything? How can I get them started? And what do I do when they have nothing left to say? Using active, discussion-based methods, this workshop will introduce you to some techniques for setting a comfortable atmosphere, stimulating discussion through the use of questioning strategies, and dealing with that dreaded moment when discussion just fizzles out!

Walking the tightrope between constructive criticism, empathy and motivation is not always straightforward when it comes to performing as a GA/TA. Student expectations, coupled with the demands of a position that expects the highest level of integrity, can sometimes lead to blurred lines of communication. This workshop will help you assimilate 10 Principles for Effective TAs/GAs. You will also learn some tips for occupying the simultaneous roles of student and teacher.

Making 'it' look easy usually requires effort. To be an effective GA or TA you will be required to balance a multitude of responsibilities. This seminar will provide you with tips, tricks, and interactive scenarios designed to assist you in your transition from student to GA/TA. It is our goal to prepare you to be of maximum benefit to your students.

How can you mark written assignments fairly and efficiently? What kind of comments can help students understand their grade and improve their work? This interactive workshop will teach you how to create practical grading guidelines that will help you develop a fair, consistent and efficient system of assessment. You will also learn how to generate appropriate comments to reflect the assigned grade.

Discussion can be a powerful way to teach and to learn. But it can also be intimidating to face a room full of faces and wonder, What if no one wants to say anything? How can I get them started? And what do I do when they have nothing left to say? Using active, discussion-based methods, this workshop will introduce you to some techniques for setting a comfortable atmosphere, stimulating discussion through the use of questioning strategies, and dealing with that dreaded moment when discussion just fizzles out!

How can you mark written assignments fairly and efficiently? What kind of comments can help students understand their grade and improve their work? This interactive workshop will teach you how to create practical grading guidelines that will help you develop a fair, consistent and efficient system of assessment. You will also learn how to generate appropriate comments to reflect the assigned grade.

How do you get your point across? How do you explain complex ideas to confused people who have just graduated high school? Surprisingly, forty minutes of pointless droning rarely helps students understand. Effective teaching requires effective explanation - a skill that anyone can develop through knowledge and - most importantly - practice. This workshop will help you understand the strengths and limitations of your own explanation style, while providing you with additional explanation techniques that can be integrated into an adaptive teaching strategy.

Join us for a closing plenary session where we will wrap up and invite you to sum up your experiences of the event, share your learning, get any further questions you might have answered, and possibly even win a fabulous door prize!