CTL Teaching Assistant (TA) Short Courses and Resources
The JHSPH Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) offers some comprehensive resources and courses for preparing to TA:
1. The first is the Teaching Toolkit web site, which contains an area for TA's: https://sites.google.com/site/ctltteachingtoolkit/teaching-assistants including specific TA information for each JHSPH department, an FAQ, and information on our two mostly self-paced TA training offerings.
2. The second part of the training program is a self-paced, fully online short course, Teaching Assistantships 1: Essential Elements (TA1), which orients Teaching Assistants to the roles and responsibilities of their position, relevant policies and regulations, technical tools, teaching tips, and other important information. This short course is offered every term and must be completed within an academic year. Facilitators will be available to answer questions, but the course is specifically designed so that a student can complete activities at their convenience. Students will be required to interact with others at the school (i.e. faculty, academic coordinators, other TA's) in order to complete the brief assignments. Register here!
3. Finally, there is Teaching Assistantships 2: Interactive Methods (TA2), a cohort-based practicum for those who have completed TA1: Essential Elements, in which TA's put their skills and knowledge into practice by facilitating discussions, resolving potential issues, brainstorming management techniques, and interacting with each other and their course facilitators. This course is scheduled 2-3 times per academic year and runs for 3 weeks, with the first 2 weeks completed online, but requiring interaction with other students taking the course. The third week will involve either two 1-hour on-campus sessions or two 1-hour LiveTalks. Students can decide if the online or on-campus session in the final week is appropriate, based on their planned TA assignment (online or on campus course). If desired, a student can attend both the on campus and online LiveTalk sessions.
We offer a certificate of completion for those who complete both TA1 and TA2.
We look forward to your participation!