Teaching to Teach: A Guide for New Instructors and Teaching Assistants

Session Submission Type: Workshop

Description

We all enter the classroom as instructors for the first time—but some of us are better prepared than others. Whether we jumped head-first with or without preparation, there is always more to learn. This workshop is geared for the first-time instructor, teaching assistant, and course grader, as well as those who train and mentor first-time instructors.

The topics we will explore include:
· Designing a new course or discussion section
· Planning assignments
· Creating grading rubrics
· Dealing with challenging situations in and out of the classroom
· Managing the emotional labor of teaching and mentoring

Participants should come to this workshop with a new course in mind that they are developing or would like to develop, or for teaching mentors, examples of past challenges and solutions you have found within this process. Through hands-on activities, attendees will create basic tools in course, assignment, and assessment design.

Veteran instructors will share their experiences with participants and develop enhanced mentoring strategies, as well as the foundation to create a course in teaching sociology.

Sub Unit

• Workshops / Teaching Workshop

Presenter

• Juliana McGene, University of Southern California

Session Organizer

• Karen Sternheimer, University of Southern California