2024 Teaching Assistant & Teaching Fellow Orientation
The TA/TF Orientation is held annually before the start of the fall semester and helps prepare new Teaching Assistants and Teaching Fellows to teach at BC. It provides the opportunity to learn about some of the particularities of teaching BC students and connect with and learn from other graduate students. This year’s event will be held in person on Friday, August 23, 2024 and will include a plenary, graduate student panels, and workshops
Past Orientations
Schedule Overview
Friday, August 25 in 245 Beacon & Higgins Hall
8:30 am: Light Breakfast and Registration (245 Beacon)
9:00 am: Plenary: Engaging and Supporting BC Students (245 Beacon)
10:30 am: Concurrent Session (Higgins)
11:30 am: Pick up box lunches (Higgins)
12:00 pm Concurrent Session (Higgin)
1:15 pm: Concurrent Session (Higgins)
2:30 pm: Planning for the First Weeks as a Teaching Assistant for TAs in Natural Sciences (Higgins)
See the detailed schedule below for more information about the sessions.
A representative from the Office of the Dean of Students will share some statistics about BC students and how that can inform how you approach teaching. This will be followed by a panel of faculty, who will share their experiences teaching BC students and strategies to help you get to know your students and teach them effectively. Q&A will follow the panel.
Experiences of Teaching Fellows at BC
This open discussion with a panel of experienced TFs will cover the challenges and opportunities of serving as a Teaching Fellow at Boston College, along with practical strategies for managing the responsibilities of your role.
Planning for the First Weeks as a Teaching Assistant
Open to all new Teaching Assistants who do not need to attend the session “Teaching Natural Sciences In The Lab,” this interactive workshop will help prepare you for a successful start to the semester. In this session, you will 1) identify strategies for working on a teaching team, 2) consider how you will grade, and 3) discuss how you might handle some typical challenging scenarios.
Teaching Natural Sciences In The Lab
Science Teaching Assistants generally have more opportunities in the laboratory setting for direct contact with individual students than do instructors who teach in a traditional classroom. In this session, we will present a variety of scenarios that a lab TA might encounter and then discuss the options and resources available for managing each situation. This session will be facilitated by Lynne O’Connell, Director, Undergraduate Chemistry Labs, Chemistry Department, and Douglas Warner, Director, Biology Laboratories, Biology Department. Please note: This session will be recorded and shared with natural science TAs who are unable to attend.
Experiences of Underrepresented & International Instructors at BC Panel
For instructors who identify as international or as belonging to historically underrepresented groups -- who are navigating a university system in a different culture or who don’t fit their students’ assumptions about who a “typical professor” should be -- the classroom can present unique challenges. In this open discussion with a panel of experienced TAs and TFs who identify as international or underrepresented in various ways, we’ll talk about some of those challenges and share strategies for responding to them.
Teaching as an Ally at BC Workshop
As international and underrepresented instructors meet to reflect on teaching experiences at BC, this session is a space for instructors who are members of groups that have historically had greater access to systems of power. During the session, participants will learn a little bit about the dynamics underrepresented and international instructors often end up negotiating when making pedagogical decisions. Participants will also have a chance to reflect on their own social location and identify some steps they can take in their teaching to practice solidarity with their colleagues.
Using Technology to Build Rapport with Students Workshop
Research shows that establishing rapport with students can increase participation and relationship-building, lower anxiety, support learning, and foster a more inclusive learning environment. However, deciding how you want to build rapport with students isn’t always easy. In this workshop, participants will explore ways in which technology–namely, Perusall and Poll Everywhere–can be integrated into your instruction to build stronger rapport with students. We will offer some background into the value of building rapport, and provide practical strategies and tools that can enhance instructor-student relationships when teaching and grading. The session will also include time for participants to experiment with various tools.
Planning for the First Weeks as a Teaching Fellow
Open to all new Teaching Fellows, this interactive workshop will help you prepare for the first weeks of class and, more broadly, for a successful first semester as a TF at Boston College. In this session, you will 1) practice creating a lesson plan, 2) reflect on ways to establish authority and navigate boundaries as a new instructor, 3) decide how you will get to know your students, and 4) discuss how to navigate difficult classroom situations. Participants will leave this session with the start of a plan for the first day of class. This session will end at 3:15 p.m.
Experiences of Teaching Assistants at BC: Humanities & Social Sciences
This open discussion with a panel of experienced TAs in the humanities and the social sciences will cover the challenges and opportunities of serving as a Teaching Assistant at Boston College, along with practical strategies for managing the responsibilities of your role. This session will end at 2:15 p.m.
Experiences of Teaching Assistants at BC: STEM
This open discussion with a panel of experienced TAs in STEM fields will cover the challenges and opportunities of serving as a Teaching Assistant at Boston College, along with practical strategies for managing the responsibilities of your role. This session will end at 2:15 p.m.
Planning for the First Weeks as a Teaching Assistant in the Natural Sciences
Open to all new Teaching Assistants who attend ‘Teaching Natural Sciences In The Lab,’ this interactive workshop will help prepare you for a successful start to the semester. In this session, you will 1) identify strategies for introducing a lab to students, 2) consider how you will grade, and 3) reflect on how to work on a teaching team. This session will end at 3:45 p.m.
Friday, August 26, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00/3:30 pm | Higgins Hall
9:00 - 10:15 am: Plenary: Engaging and Supporting BC Students (Higgins 300)
10:30 - 11:30 am: Concurrent Session #1
11:30 am - 12:00 pm: Pick up box lunches (Outside Higgins 300)
12:00 - 1:00 pm: Concurrent Session #2
1:10 pm: Concurrent Session #3
2:20 - 3:30 pm: Preparing for the First Semester as a Teaching Assistant (for TAs in Natural Sciences)
You can find more information about the sessions below.
Caroline Davis, Director of Student Outreach and Support Services, will share some statistics about BC students and how that can inform how you approach teaching. This will be followed by a panel of faculty, who will share their experiences teaching BC students and strategies to help you get to know your students and teach them effectively. Q&A will follow the panel.
Experiences of Underrepresented & International Instructors Panel
For instructors who identify as international or as belonging to historically underrepresented groups -- who are navigating a university system in a different culture or who don’t fit their students’ assumptions about who a “typical professor” should be -- the classroom can present unique challenges. In this open discussion with a panel of experienced TAs and TFs who identify as international or underrepresented in various ways, we’ll talk about some of those challenges and share strategies for responding to them.
Teaching as an Ally at BC
As international and underrepresented instructors meet to reflect on teaching experiences at BC, this session is a space for instructors who are members of groups that have historically had greater access to systems of power. The session will start with a brief presentation on acting in solidarity with underrepresented and international instructors when making pedagogical decisions before inviting a panel of experienced graduate student instructors to talk about how they try to prioritize students from historically marginalized groups in their teaching. The session will conclude with time for Q&A and discussion.
Recognizing and Responding to Students in Distress
Over the last decade the number of students arriving on campus with severe psychological problems has steadily increased, and this has only been exacerbated since 2020 with the COVID pandemic. This workshop will provide information and skills that will assist TAs and TFs when responding to students who are struggling. Participants will learn: 1) how to recognize students in distress, 2) what instructors can do to support students who are struggling, and 3) where on campus instructors can turn for help when working with a distressed student. This session will be facilitated by Eileen Suhrhoff, Associate Director, University Clinical Services, University Counseling Services.
Experiences of Teaching Fellows at BC
This open discussion with a panel of experienced TFs will cover the challenges and opportunities of serving as a Teaching Fellow at Boston College, along with practical strategies for managing the responsibilities of your role.
Experiences of STEM Teaching Assistants at BC
This open discussion with a panel of experienced TAs in STEM fields will cover the challenges and opportunities of serving as a Teaching Assistant at Boston College, along with practical strategies for managing the responsibilities of your role.
Experiences of Humanities & Social Sciences Teaching Assistants at BC
This open discussion with a panel of experienced TAs in the humanities and the social sciences will cover the challenges and opportunities of serving as a Teaching Assistant at Boston College, along with practical strategies for managing the responsibilities of your role.
Preparing for the First Semester as a Teaching Fellow
Open to all new Teaching Fellows, this interactive workshop will help you prepare for the first days of class and, more broadly, for a successful first semester as a TF at Boston College. In this session, you will 1) reflect on the kind of instructor you want to be, 2) decide how you will get to know your students, 3) identify strategies to help you grade, and 4) discuss how you might handle some typical challenging scenarios. You will also have the opportunity to synthesize what you learned in other orientation sessions and share key takeaways with peers. Participants will leave this session with the start of a plan for the first day of class. This session will end at 3:00 p.m.
Teaching Natural Sciences In The Lab
Science Teaching Assistants generally have more opportunities in the laboratory setting for direct contact with individual students than do instructors who teach in a traditional classroom. In this session, we will present a variety of scenarios that a lab TA might encounter and then discuss the options and resources available for managing each situation. This session will be facilitated by Lynne O’Connell, Director, Undergraduate Chemistry Labs, Chemistry Department, and Douglas Warner, Director, Biology Laboratories, Biology Department. Please note: This session will be recorded and shared with natural science TAs who are unable to attend. The session will end at 2:10 p.m.
Preparing for the First Semester as a Teaching Assistant
Open to all new Teaching Assistants who do not need to attend the session “Teaching Natural Sciences In The Lab,” this interactive workshop will help you prepare for the first days of class and, more broadly, for a successful first semester as a TA at Boston College. In this session, you will 1) reflect on the kind of instructor you want to be, 2) identify strategies for working on a teaching team, 3) consider how you will grade, and 4) discuss how you might handle some typical challenging scenarios. You will also have the opportunity to synthesize what you learned in other orientation sessions and share key takeaways with peers. Participants will leave this session with the start of a plan for the first weeks of class. This session will end at 3:00 p.m.
Preparing for the First Semester as a Teaching Assistant in the Natural Sciences
Open to all new Teaching Assistants who attend ‘Teaching Natural Sciences In The Lab,’ this interactive workshop will help you prepare for the first days of class and, more broadly, for a successful first semester as a TA at Boston College. In this session, you will 1) reflect on the kind of instructor you want to be, 2) identify strategies for working on a teaching team, and 3) consider how you will grade. You will also have the opportunity to synthesize what you learned in other orientation sessions and share key takeaways with peers. Participants will leave this session with the start of a plan for the first weeks of class. This session will end at 3:30 p.m.
Friday, August 20, 2021, 10:00 a.m. - 3:15 pm | Virtual (via Zoom)
- 10:00 am - 11:00 am: Concurrent Sessions #1
- 11:15 am - 12:45 pm: Plenary: Engaging and Supporting BC Students
- 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm: Concurrent Sessions #2
- 2:15 pm - 3:15 pm: Concurrent Sessions #3
- 3:15 pm: Conference ends
You can find more information about the plenary and concurrent sessions below.
STEM graduate students TAing in lab courses were able to participate in the in-person session, Teaching Natural Sciences In The Lab, on Friday, August 27 from 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 am.
Troubleshooting Challenging Scenarios For Teaching Assistants
As a TA, you may need to respond to unexpected student comments or other behaviors, grade and provide feedback to students, and manage communication with the primary instructor of the course. In this session, we’ll talk through some typical “challenging” scenarios. We’ll also leave plenty of time for open discussion, questions, and ideas.
Troubleshooting Challenging Scenarios For Teaching Fellows
Even experienced instructors can sometimes be caught off guard by unexpected student comments or other behaviors. In this session, we’ll talk through some typical “challenging” scenarios. We’ll also leave plenty of time for open discussion, questions, and ideas.
This year’s plenary will include a panel of staff from Student Affairs who will share resources available on campus to help you support your students. This will be followed by a panel of faculty, who will share their experiences teaching BC students and strategies to help you get to know your students and teach them effectively.
Experiences of Underrepresented & International Instructors
For instructors who identify as international or as belonging to historically underrepresented groups -- who are navigating a university system in a different culture or who don’t fit their students’ assumptions about who a “typical professor” should be -- the classroom can present unique challenges. In this open discussion with a panel of experienced TAs and TFs who identify as international or underrepresented in various ways, we’ll talk about some of those challenges and share strategies for responding to them.
Teaching as an Ally at BC
This session will begin with a brief presentation, then transition to an open discussion with a panel of experienced graduate instructors. The presentation will focus on some ways instructors from traditionally privileged backgrounds can be in active solidarity with colleagues from underrepresented groups, while the panel discussion will focus on how some graduate student instructors have experimented with creating classroom environments that center the experiences of historically underrepresented students.
Experiences Of BC Teaching Assistants
This open discussion with a panel of experienced TAs will cover the challenges and opportunities of serving as a Teaching Assistant at Boston College, along with practical strategies for managing the responsibilities of your role.
Experiences Of BC Teaching Fellows
This open discussion with a panel of experienced TFs will cover the challenges and opportunities of serving as a Teaching Fellow at Boston College, along with practical strategies for managing the responsibilities of your role.
Friday, August 21, 2020, 9:30 a.m. - 4:15 p.m. | Virtual (via Zoom)
- 9:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. Opening Plenary: Engaging BC Students
- 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Concurrent Panels I
- 12:00 p.m. - 12:45 p.m. Break for lunch
- 12:45 p.m. - 1:45 p.m. Concurrent Panels II
- 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Concurrent Sessions III
- 3:15 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. Teaching Natural Sciences in the Lab (STEM participants only)
- 4:15 p.m. Conference ends
Please find workshop materials below
Experiences Of BC Teaching Assistants
This open discussion with a panel of experienced TAs will cover the challenges and opportunities of serving as a Teaching Assistant at Boston College, along with practical strategies for managing the responsibilities of your role.
Experiences Of BC Teaching Fellows
This open discussion with a panel of experienced TFs will cover the challenges and opportunities of serving as a Teaching Fellow at Boston College, along with practical strategies for managing the responsibilities of your role.
Experiences Of International And Underrepresented Instructors At BC
For instructors who identify as international or belonging to historically underrepresented groups -- who are navigating a university system in a different culture or who don’t fit their students’ assumptions about who a “typical professor” should be -- the classroom can present unique challenges. In this open discussion with a panel of experienced TAs and TFs who identify as international or underrepresented in various ways, we’ll talk about some of those challenges and share strategies for responding to them.
Teaching As An Ally At BC
This open discussion, with a panel of experienced graduate instructors, will focus on the ways instructors from traditionally privileged backgrounds can create classroom spaces that are more attentive to the needs of historically underrepresented students, with a particular focus on how the current national context (regarding COVID, police brutality, and the up-coming federal election) may be shaping students’ classroom experience. We will also discuss what it means to be an ally to our colleagues from underrepresented groups and how we can help build more just working and learning environments within the academy.
Troubleshooting Challenging Scenarios For Teaching Assistants
As a TA, you may need to respond to unexpected student comments or other behaviors, grade and provide feedback to students, and manage communication with the primary instructor of the course. In this session, we’ll talk through some typical “challenging” scenarios as well as concerns that might be more particular to our socially distanced and remote classes this Fall. We’ll also leave plenty of time for open discussion, questions, and ideas.
Troubleshooting Challenging Scenarios For Teaching Fellows
Even experienced instructors can sometimes be caught off guard by unexpected student comments or other behaviors, whether in person or virtual. In this session, we’ll talk through some typical “challenging” scenarios as well as concerns that might be more particular to our socially distanced and remote classes this Fall. We’ll also leave plenty of time for open discussion, questions, and ideas.
Teaching Natural Sciences In The Lab (STEM Participants Only)
Science Teaching Assistants generally have more opportunities in the laboratory setting for direct contact with individual students than do instructors who teach in a traditional classroom. In this session, we will present a variety of scenarios that a lab TA might encounter and then discuss the options and resources available for managing each situation.
Friday, August 23, 2019, 8:30 - 2:00 | Higgins 300
- 8:30 a.m. Light Breakfast
- 9:00 a.m. Plenary: Engaging BC Students
- 10:30 a.m. Concurrent Sessions #1
- 11:50 a.m. Box Lunches & Concurrent Sessions #2
- 1:00 p.m. Concurrent Sessions #3
Please find workshop materials below
Interactive Lectures
While lecturing is often an essential part of teaching in Higher Education, students can be most successful when they also have opportunities to participate in more active learning. This session will explore ways to deliver engaging content and make the most of a strong lecture by interweaving it with other types of learning activities.
Lesson Planning
Knowing what concepts and skills to prioritize each day in the classroom can be challenging. This session will help those organizing class sessions or discussion sections think through effective and efficient ways of structuring each lesson to help them best implement their course’s learning goals.
Teaching Natural Sciences In The Lab
Science Teaching Assistants generally have more opportunities in the laboratory setting for direct contact with individual students than do instructors who teach in a traditional classroom. In this session, we will present a variety of scenarios that a lab TA might encounter and then discuss the options and resources available for managing each situation.
Troubleshooting Challenging Classroom Moments
Even experienced instructors can sometimes be caught off guard by unexpected student comments or other behaviors in the classroom. In this session, we’ll talk through some typical “challenging” scenarios and also leave plenty of time for open discussion, questions, and ideas.
Experiences Of BC Teaching Assistants Panel
A discussion among Boston College students who have served as Teaching Assistants about the opportunities and challenges of the TA role.
Experiences Of BC Teaching Fellows Panel
A discussion among Boston College students who have served as Teaching Fellows about the opportunities and challenges of the TF role.
Empowering Student Survivors
As a graduate student instructor, a student may disclose to you that they have survived a sexual assault. Moreover, the disturbingly high rate of sexual assaults on college campuses means that it is safe to assume that survivors are in your classes. In this interactive session participants will become acquainted with their obligations under Title IX, devise a script for receiving student disclosures, and identify strategies for supporting and empowering survivors in the classroom.
Facilitating Classroom Discussions
Classroom discussions are commonly used in higher education, but it is challenging to make discussion productive and engage all students. By the end of this interactive workshop, participants will be able to identify techniques for asking effective questions and devise strategies for managing some common challenges when facilitating discussion.
Experiences Of International Instructors Panel
A discussion among Boston College international students who have served as instructors about their opportunities, challenges, and experiences.
Experiences Of Underrepresented Instructors Panel
A discussion among Boston College students who are members of underrepresented groups and have served as instructors about their opportunities, challenges, and experiences.
Recognizing And Responding To Students In Distress
Over the last decade the numbers of students arriving on campus with severe psychological problems has steadily increased. This workshop will provide information and skills that will assist TAs and TFs when responding to students who are struggling. Participants will learn: 1) how to recognize students in distress, 2) what instructors can do to support students who are struggling, and 3) where on campus instructors can turn for help when working with a distressed student.
Tips For Grading Effectively And Efficiently
Grading is often believed to be one of the least enjoyable parts of teaching, but it is an incredibly important component of the learning process for our students. In this session, we’ll share ideas for how to more effectively manage your grading load while still providing useful guidance to students about their progress. Although we’ll briefly discuss the planning for grading more typical of a Teaching Fellow role, this session is intended to be most useful for Teaching Assistants who are newer to grading.
Friday, August 24, 2018, 8:30 - 2:00 | Higgins 300
- 8:30 a.m. Light Breakfast
- 9:00 a.m. Plenary: Engaging BC Students
- 10:30 a.m. Concurrent Sessions #1
- 11:50 a.m. Box Lunches & Concurrent Sessions #2
- 1:00 p.m. Concurrent Sessions #3
Please find workshop materials below
Experiences Of International Instructors Panel
A discussion among Boston College international students who have served as instructors about their opportunities, challenges, and experiences.
International Teaching Assistant/Teaching Fellow Resources
Experiences Of Underrepresented Instructors Panel
A discussion among Boston College students who are members of underrepresented groups and have served as instructors about their opportunities, challenges, and experiences.
Teaching Natural Sciences In The Lab
Science Teaching Assistants generally have more opportunities in the laboratory setting for direct contact with individual students than do instructors who teach in a traditional classroom. In this session, we will present a variety of scenarios that a lab TA might encounter and then discuss the options and resources available for managing each situation.
Troubleshooting Challenging Classroom Moments
Even experienced instructors can sometimes be caught off guard by unexpected student comments or other behaviors in the classroom. In this session, we’ll talk through some typical “challenging” scenarios and also leave plenty of time for open discussion, questions, and ideas.
Experiences Of BC Teaching Assistants Panel
A discussion among Boston College students who have served as Teaching Assistants about the opportunities and challenges of the TA role.
Experiences Of BC Teaching Fellows Panel
A discussion among Boston College students who have served as Teaching Fellows about the opportunities and challenges of the TF role.
Gathering And Interpreting Feedback On Your Teaching
Although end-of-semester course evaluations can provide valuable guidance as you think about changes to future classes, they come too late to impact a course in progress. However, there are many simple strategies you can implement on your own to gather feedback during the semester, so you can make positive adjustments as you go. In this session we will review some of these approaches to gathering formative feedback, as well as discuss approaches for interpreting student feedback.
Recognizing And Responding To Students In Distress
Over the last decade the numbers of students arriving on campus with severe psychological problems has steadily increased. This workshop will provide information and skills that will assist TAs and TFs when responding to students who are struggling. Participants will learn: 1) how to recognize students in distress, 2) what instructors can do to support students who are struggling, and 3) where on campus instructors can turn for help when working with a distressed student.
Experiences Of International Instructors Panel
A discussion among Boston College international students who have served as instructors about their opportunities, challenges, and experiences.
International Teaching Assistant/Teaching Fellow Resources
Experiences Of Underrepresented Instructors Panel
A discussion among Boston College students who are members of underrepresented groups and have served as instructors about their opportunities, challenges, and experiences.
Teaching Natural Sciences In The Lab
Science Teaching Assistants generally have more opportunities in the laboratory setting for direct contact with individual students than do instructors who teach in a traditional classroom. In this session, we will present a variety of scenarios that a lab TA might encounter and then discuss the options and resources available for managing each situation.
Troubleshooting Challenging Classroom Moments
Even experienced instructors can sometimes be caught off guard by unexpected student comments or other behaviors in the classroom. In this session, we’ll talk through some typical “challenging” scenarios and also leave plenty of time for open discussion, questions, and ideas.
Friday, August 25, 2017, 8:30 - 1:30 | Higgins 300
- 8:30 a.m. Light Breakfast
- 9:00 a.m. Plenary: Engaging BC Students
- 10:30 a.m. Concurrent Sessions #1
- 11:30 a.m. Concurrent Sessions #2
- 12:40 p.m. Lunchtime Sessions
Please find concurrent session materials below.
Implementing The 7 Principles: Technology As The Lever
As we continue to be bombarded by new and upgraded technology tools, it is vital to remember to be purposeful in why we choose various tools and how we use them to facilitate student learning. Taking the Seven Principles of Good Teaching Practice in Undergraduate Education as a framework, this session will introduce you to the tools available at BC that can support the 7 principles and provide you with effective strategies to identify and integrate technology into any course.
Identity Matters In The Classroom
As college classrooms welcome an increasingly diverse student body, instructors are faced with the challenge of creating learning environments that give all of our students—no matter their background or identity—the opportunity to succeed. This session will address the factors that can impact student success and discuss strategies for creating inclusive classrooms. We will also touch on the ways our own identities as instructors can matter in the classroom and how we navigate students’ varied reactions to us.
Teaching Natural Sciences In The Lab
Science Teaching Assistants generally have more opportunities in the laboratory setting for direct contact with individual students than do instructors who teach in a traditional classroom. In this session, we will present a variety of scenarios that a lab TA might encounter and then discuss the options and resources available for managing each situation.
Representing Your Teaching On The Job Market
If you intend to pursue a teaching career in higher education, it is never too soon to start thinking about how you will represent your teaching on the job market. In this session we will talk about the materials that are most often requested by search committees and strategies for showcasing your strengths as an instructor, whether or not you have had much teaching experience.
Teaching Assistant Panel
A discussion among Boston College students who have served as Teaching Assistants about the opportunities and challenges of the TA role.
Teaching Fellow Panel
A discussion among Boston College students who have served as Teaching Fellows about the opportunities and challenges of the TF role.
Facilitating Classroom Discussions
Classroom discussions are commonly used in higher education, but it is easy for the conversations to be derailed, or the discussions to ‘get out of hand’. This interactive workshop will focus on the strategies that can be employed during a class discussion to help students have the opportunity to maximise the shared learning experience.
Preparing For A Teaching Demonstration
As part of the application process for academic jobs, you will likely be asked to give a teaching demonstration. This workshop will include a discussion of what the search committee is hoping to see and concrete strategies for creating and delivering an effective teaching demonstration.
Tips For Grading Effectively And Efficiently
Grading is often believed to be one of the least enjoyable parts of our roles as instructors, but it is also an incredibly important component of the learning process for our students. In this session we’ll share ideas for how to more efficiently manage your grading load while still providing useful guidance to students about their progress.
Troubleshooting Challenging Classroom Moments
Even experienced instructors can sometimes be caught off guard by unexpected student comments or other behaviors in the classroom. In this session we’ll talk through some typical “challenging” scenarios and also leave plenty of time for open discussion, questions and ideas.
Experiences Of International Instructors Panel
A discussion among Boston College international students who have served as instructors about their opportunities, challenges, and experiences.
Experiences Of Underrepresented Instructors Panel
A discussion among Boston College students who are members of underrepresented groups and have served as instructors about their opportunities, challenges, and experiences.
Friday, August 26, 2016, 8:30 - 1:30 | Fulton 511
- 8:30 a.m. Light Breakfast
- 9:00 a.m. Plenary: Tom Mogan, Associate Vice President and Dean of Students
- 10:00 a.m. Concurrent Sessions #1
- 11:15 a.m. Concurrent Sessions #2
- 12:30 p.m. Lunchtime Sessions
Please find concurrent session materials below.
Advice For Teaching Assistants
This open discussion with a panel of experienced TAs will cover the challenges and opportunities of serving as a Teaching Assistant at Boston College, along with practical strategies for managing the responsibilities of your role.
Advice For Teaching Fellows
This open discussion with a panel of experienced TFs will cover the challenges and opportunities of serving as a Teaching Fellow at Boston College, along with practical strategies for managing the responsibilities of your role.
Teaching Natural Sciences In The Lab
Science Teaching Assistants generally have more opportunities in the laboratory setting for direct contact with individual students than do instructors who teach in a traditional classroom. Lab TAs need to exercise good judgment when interacting socially with students, handling students with special requirements, or dealing with attendance and grading issues. In this session, we will present a variety of scenarios that a lab TA might encounter and then discuss the options and resources available for managing each situation.
Facilitating Better Class Discussions
Whether you’re faced with a sea of silent students or trying to get a runaway conversation back on topic, leading class discussion can be one of the most challenging—and enjoyable—parts of your work as an instructor. In this session, we’ll talk about the components of a successful discussion and consider concrete strategies for getting a conversation started and keeping it on track.
Using Technology To Build Classroom Community
Although Sherry Turkle and others have warned about the ways that technology can lead to social isolation, educational technologies can also be used strategically in order to build a greater sense of community among your students. In this lively session, we’ll look at a number of technologies that can be used in and outside the classroom in order to encourage students’ collaborative engagement with the materials and each other.
Identity Matters In The Classroom
As college classrooms welcome an increasingly diverse student body, we as instructors are faced with the challenge of creating learning environments that give all our students--no matter their background or identity--the opportunity to succeed. In this session, we will talk about the factors that can impact student success and discuss strategies for creating inclusive classrooms, including strategies for welcoming students with disabilities. We will also touch on the ways our own identities as instructors can matter in the classroom and how we can navigate students’ varied reactions to us.
Tips For Grading Effectively And Efficiently
Grading is often believed to be one of the least enjoyable parts of our roles as instructors, but it is also an incredibly important component of the learning process for our students. Learning the skills of effective grading can help you give more meaningful feedback to students so they can take more ownership of their learning process. In this session we’ll share ideas for how to more efficiently manage your grading load while still providing useful guidance to students about their progress.
Teaching One-On-One
Many TAs and TFs find that some of their most important teaching work happens when they’re working one-on-one with students in office hours or review sessions. In this session we’ll talk about your responsibilities as an instructor in those one-to-one contexts (and what makes them different from a tutoring session) and strategies for helping students get the most out of their time with you.
Representing Your Teaching On The Job Market
Whether you’re entering the classroom for the first time or starting your final year at BC, if you intend to pursue a teaching career in higher education, it’s never too soon to start thinking about how you’ll represent your teaching on the job market. In this session we’ll talk about the kinds of materials that are most often requested by search committees and strategies for showcasing your strengths as an instructor even when you haven’t had much teaching experience.
Troubleshooting Challenging Classroom Moments
Even experienced instructors can sometimes be caught off guard by unexpected student comments or other behaviors in the classroom. In this session we’ll talk through some typical “challenging” scenarios and also leave plenty of time for open discussion of participants’ questions and ideas.
Experiences Of Underrepresented Instructors At BC
For instructors who identify as belonging to historically underrepresented groups -- who don’t fit their students’ assumptions about who a “typical professor” should be -- the classroom can present unique challenges. In this open discussion with a panel of experienced TAs and TFs who identify as underrepresented in various ways, we’ll talk about some of those challenges and share strategies for responding to them.
Experiences Of International Instructors At BC
Whether they are brand new to the U.S. classroom or long-term participants in U.S. higher education, international instructors can face particular challenges in the classroom. In this session, a panel of experienced international TAs and TFs at Boston College will talk about their own experiences in the classroom, what has surprised them most about American students, and their own strategies for navigating teaching at BC.