Teaching Assistant Orientation (TAO) 2003

Below is a description of TAO 2003.

The Center for Teaching (CFT) invites graduate and professional students from all schools and departments to attend TAO in the year they assume teaching duties at Vanderbilt. These duties may include but are not limited to: leading a lab or discussion section, holding office hours, running review sessions, and grading.

2003 Fall TA and ITA Orientation Workshops

Tuesday, August 19, 2003

For NEW Teaching Assistants

8:30-9:00 REGISTRATION AND CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST, Wilson Lobby.

9:00-10:00 PLENARY, Wilson Hall 103

Welcome, Allison Pingree, Director, Center for Teaching
Welcome, Lucius Outlaw, Associate Provost, Undergraduate Education
Welcome, Kirstin Fritz, President of Graduate Student Council
Center for Teaching Staff and Services
A Panel of VU Undergrads Talk about Teaching
F2P2: Future Faculty Preparation Program

10:00-10:15 BREAK (Walk to Calhoun Hall/Furman Hall)

10:15-11:30 TEACHING CLUSTER I, Calhoun Hall/Furman Hall
Getting Started: Expectations and Duties of TAs
Refer to table below for cluster and room location.

11:30-1:00 LUNCH (On your own)

1:00-3:00 TEACHING CLUSTER II, Calhoun Hall/Furman Hall
Teaching At Vanderbilt: Students, Policies, & Resources
Refer to table below for cluster and room location

GROUPS and ROOMS for TEACHING CLUSTERS I, II, III
Teaching Types	Disciplines	Rooms
Assisting Professors I	Anthropology, Art History, Economics, Psychology, Sociology	Calhoun 103
Assisting Professors II	All Peabody Departments, Owen Graduate School of Management	Furman 007
Engineering I	Biomedical, Civil/Environmental, Management of Technology	Furman 109
Engineering II	Electrical Engineering and Computer Science	Furman 217
Engineering III	Chemical, Material Science, Mechanical	Furman 325
Labs I	Biological Sciences, Physics and Astronomy, Geology, Biomedical Science and Medicine	Calhoun 204
Labs II	Chemistry, Neuroscience	Furman 132
Leading Discussions/ Own Course	Comparative Literature, History, Philosophy, Political Science	Calhoun 117
Leading Discussions	Graduate Department of Religion	Calhoun 219
Own Course	English, Mathematics	Calhoun 423
Own Course	Classical Studies, French/Italian, Germanic/Slavic, Spanish/Portuguese	Furman 209

2003 Fall TA and ITA Orientation Workshops

Wednesday, August 20, 2003

For NEW Teaching Assistants, All Graduate Students, & Post Docs

8:30-9:00 REGISTRATION AND CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST, Divinity School Common Room

9:00-10:15 TEACHING CLUSTER III, Calhoun Hall/ Furman Hall
Giving Students Feedback, Assessing Student Work, and Grading
Refer to table above for cluster and room location.

10:15-10:30 BREAK

10:30-11:45 CONCURRENT SESSIONS I, Calhoun Hall/Furman Hall, see descriptions below.

11:45-1:15 LUNCH BREAK

1:15-2:30 CONCURRENT SESSIONS II, Calhoun Hall/ Divinity School. see descriptions below. rooms.

2:30-3:00 SOCIAL, Calhoun Portico (covered area behind Calhoun Hall)

CONCURRENT SESSIONS (I and II) (Wednesday, August 20, 2003)	I 10:30-11:45	II 1:15-2:30
*Designing Your Own Course: From Objectives to the Syllabus* F2P2 Credit: Teaching and Learning (1.25 hours) Where does one start when designing a course? This session will discuss strategies for developing course objectives and student assessment and then show how to put it all together in a comprehensive syllabus.	Calhoun 204
*Leading Effective Class Discussions* F2P2 Credit: Teaching and Learning (1.25 hours) How can you get students to talk in discussion classes? This session will model the best practices in leading discussions, highlighting strategies that encourage students to talk, questions that provoke thinking, and factors that inhibit discussion.	Calhoun 117
*Writing Exams and Quizzes - In All Disciplines* F2P2 Credit: Teaching and Learning (1.25 hours) Multiple choice, true/false, or essay? Learn how to develop different types of questions, as well as how to design and assemble instruments that effectively assess student learning.	Furman 007
*Learning Styles and Group Dynamics in the Classroom* F2P2 Credit: Teaching and Learning (1.25 hours) How can you create a group dynamic and class atmosphere that acknowledges all student's learning styles? This session will cover principles of how people learn and ways in which teachers can accommodate various learning styles.	Calhoun 219
*Strategies for Effective Lectures* F2P2 Credit: Teaching and Learning (1.25 hours) How can you organize information for a presentation/lecture, speak with confidence, and get your point across clearly? This session will model and share tips on the art of public speaking.	Calhoun 103
*Daily Lesson Plans to Engage Students* F2P2 Credit: Teaching and Learning (1.25 hours) "What am I going to do in class today?" Learn how to develop daily lesson plans that meet your course objectives, keep students interested, and are fun for you!	Furman 109
*Managing Challenging Moments in Class and During Office Hours* F2P2 Credit: Teaching and Learning (1.25 hours) What will you do if you face a difficult teaching moment in your class or office hours? This session will explore a variety of scenarios and possible solutions to manage challenging moments.	Calhoun 423
*One-On-One with Students in Labs and Office Hours* F2P2 Credit: Teaching and Learning (1.25 hours) How can teachers maximize learning opportunities in one-on-one teaching situations such as labs and office hours? This session provides tips, such as managing time, personal dynamics, and space, that can help when guiding students through their work.	Furman 132
*Engaging Students in Mathematical Problem-Solving* F2P2 Credit: Teaching and Learning (1.25 hours) What are the best practices for teaching with problem-solving and what barriers do students face when solving problems? Aimed at TAs in engineering, sciences, economics, and mathematics, this session presents strategies for generating interest in problem solving and for motivating students through the process.	Furman 217
*Technology Overview: Using Prometheus, Web Sites, and E-mail in Teaching* F2P2 Credit: Teaching and Learning or Technology (1.25 hours) What are some effective strategies for using Prometheus (Vanderbilt's Course Management Software), web browsers, and e-mail in teaching? This is NOT a hands-on session, but instead looks at how technology can enhance teaching and learning.	Furman 209
*Time Management: Balancing Workloads* F2P2 Credit: Professional Development or Teaching and Learning (1.25 hours) Too much to do? The life of a TA is busy with teaching duties, research, and course work. Get some tips from the pros (experienced TAs) on how to get it all done.	Furman 325

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