Whole Group Sessions
TAing at IU Indianapolis 101
We’ll begin our day with an introduction to your roles as a TA at IU Indianapolis. This will be an information session on the types of TA roles, your responsibilities as TAs, and resources that can come in handy in your roles as a TA. There will be scenario activities that reflect actual situations you may be in as a TA.
Graduate Student Panel
We follow up with a panel discussion with experienced graduate student TAs from IU Indianapolis. In this panel discussion, TAs from a variety of disciplines and teaching roles will share their experiences, give advice, and answer any questions you may have.
Graduate School Information Session
Dr. Tabitha Hardy, Assistant Vice Provost for Graduate Education, will be leading a session on graduate school life and resources. Lunch is sponsored during this session by the Graduate School, IU Indianapolis.
Breakout Sessions
Navigating Graduate School as a TA
Are you worried about all the different commitments that will come from TAing? Do you want to learn some strategies to navigate graduate school, the research commitments and coursework? This session will introduce you to the nuance of life as a TA at IU Indianapolis, as well as tips and strategies to manage your time.
Lab Planning and Management
Are you going to be a TA in fields of science or other STEM fields where you will be in charge of Labs? This session will introduce you to your role as a lab instructor before, during, and after labs. It will also provide helpful tips on how to manage responsibilities and offer insight into effective and efficient practices, working to build your confidence as you step into this important role.
Grading 101
Grading responsibilities include evaluating student work in the form of homework assignments, discussions, projects, exams, and other assessments. In this breakout session, attendees will learn more about the grading tools used at IU Indianapolis, rubrics, strategies for providing effective feedback, and tips for time management in order to become a fair, timely, and resourceful grader. The session will also review common challenges graders face with students’ complaints and academic misconduct.
Course Design 101
If you are preparing to teach a course for the first time, this session might be for you! Here, we will offer an introduction to the basics of course design, highlighting common practices for implementation. Participants will learn strategies for developing effective course structures and ensuring that students achieve the intended learning outcomes.
Active Learning 101
Teaching is not just about delivering information, but it involves students reflecting and being engaged with the materials you provide them. As a primary instructor, recitation leader, or learning assistant, you may want to create a class that is more engaging and involves students in the learning process. This breakout session walks through some of the active learning strategies you can implement in your courses or sections.
Navigating Difficult Conversations in Class
Navigating difficult conversations as a classroom instructor has become an integral part of the teaching and learning process, especially in discussion-based courses. If you are feeling nervous about how to approach these moments as a TA, this breakout session will offer practical tips and tools to help you manage challenging discussions with confidence and foster a supportive classroom environment.
Online Canvas Modules
These modules will be available through a self-enrolling Canvas course throughout the month of August.
IU Indianapolis Policies and Procedures
In these short modules, you will receive information and resources, on IU Indianapolis policies and procedures regarding: grading and The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA); student academic misconduct; equal opportunity, discrimination, and sexual harassment; campus safety and emergency management.
SEA202, Your Rights and Responsibilities
SEA 202 is a law that was passed in 2024 that requires instructors to protect the intellectual diversity of students.If you have a teaching role, this law is applicable to you. In this short module, we lay out what the law says, what it means for your classes, and your rights and responsibilities in adherence with it.
Teaching with Care and Pedagogical Wellness as a Graduate Student
Students find it difficult to learn when they feel like they do not belong in a classroom, do not feel that they can express their opinions, or just do not know where to start their learning journey. This module introduces you to some of the resources you may tap into to ensure that you are not overcommitting your time and resources; while providing appropriate materialsso all your students have an opportunity to succeed in your class.
Using the University Library
The University Library has several resources that are useful to you both as a student and as a TA. This module has three units, which will provide you with an overview of the University Library. During your time at IU Indianapolis, you can use the library's resources to help develop your research and teaching.
General TA Resources
As a TA, you might encounter students who come to you asking for help, either with academics or circumstances in their personal life that are impacting their academic progress. This module includes a list of many campus resources that may be useful to both you and your students.
International TA Resources
We have developed this module to be a resource for international TAs (ITAs) who are new to teaching in the United States. Since many of the resources provided pertain to good teaching practices, all graduate TAs would benefit from viewing this module.