Many graduate students are awarded teaching assistantships, and while teaching assistant (TA) duties vary across departments, they all demand considerable skill and knowledge. These duties could include grading, consulting with students during office hours, leading discussion or problem sessions, teaching labs, or giving lectures.
To assist new TAs as they prepare for their duties, the Institute for the Advancement of Higher Education offers Teaching Assistant Orientation (TAO) each August.
- Sessions at the orientation offer effective strategies for the varied teaching duties assumed by TAs and provide information on campus resources.
- Participants at TAO also receive an opportunity to practice their teaching skills and receive feedback on their teaching from experienced teachers.
- Participation in the orientation can make students’ work as TAs easier and will be a valuable addition to their curriculum vitae, especially if they intend to pursue an academic career.
Program Details
August 14 - 16, 2023 | 9 - 11am
TAO will be held remotely via Brightspace and Zoom and will include a mix of synchronous and asynchronous activities spread across three days. New TAs will work in a small disciplinary cohort led by a Teaching Affiliate to learn about the skills and knowledge needed to be an effective TA in face-to-face and online learning settings.
Participants should plan to dedicate approximately 3 hours each day to complete all synchronous and asynchronous activities via Brightspace, Vanderbilt’s learning management system.
Brightspace
Brightspace is Vanderbilt's Learning Management System.
After you register, your TAO facilitator will enroll you in your TAO Brightspace course, and you will receive an email with a link to the Brightspace course and how to access your first synchronous session.
Eligibility
- Graduate students who will begin teaching assistant (TA) duties during the 2023-24 school year.
- You may be required to attend TAO by your department. Please check with your department to find out its TAO attendance policy.
- If you do not know if you will begin your TA duties during the 2023-24 school year, check with your department to find out.
- If you are not a TA during the 2023-24 school year, then you should defer your attendance of TAO until the beginning of the academic year in which you begin your TA duties.