About TA Orientation
The Teaching Assistant (TA) Orientation is held each fall for all new TAs. The orientation is designed to inform new TAs of their duties and responsibilities, provide instruction on teaching and learning tools (i.e., Canvas), and essential shared resources. Participation is mandatory for new teaching assistants to fulfill training requirements set by their respective academic units.
Schedule of Events
9:00 – 10:30 am | Morning Orientation Session
Welcome and Introductions
• Sarah Riforgiate (Director CETL, Associate Professor of Communication)
• Andrew Daire (Provost, Vice Chancellor)
Role of the Teaching Assistant at UW-Milwaukee
• Sarah Riforgiate (Director CETL, Associate Professor of Communication)
Supporting Students and Navigating Challenging Situations
• Rebecca Freer (Associate Dean of Students)
Q&A Town Hall
• Sarah Riforgiate (Director CETL, Associate Professor of Communication)
• Rebecca Freer (Associate Dean of Students)
Review of Synchronous Sessions
• Lane Sunwall (Teaching, Learning, and Technology Consultant, CETL)
No session to join, enjoy a break 🙂
10:40 – 11:40 am | Concurrent Sessions: Block 1
- Canvas 1 | Canvas Basics
- Critical Skills for Teaching 1 | Difficult Conversations
- Teaching Focus 1 | Becoming a Learner-Centered Teacher: Creating the right environment and implementing principles into your materials
- Teaching Focus 2 |
No session to join, enjoy a break 🙂
12:25 – 1:40 pm | Concurrent Sessions: Block 2
- Canvas 2 | Canvas Advanced
- Critical Skills for Teaching 2 | Online Accessibility
- Teaching Focus 3 |
- Teaching Focus 4 |
No session to join, enjoy a break 🙂
1:50 – 2:50 pm | Concurrent Sessions: Block 3
- Canvas 3 | Tips & Tricks in Canvas
- Critical Skills for Teaching 3 | Handling Sensitive Data
- Teaching Focus 5 | I
- Teaching Fellow Q&A
No session to join, enjoy a break 🙂
3:00 – 4:00 pm | Concurrent Sessions: Block 4
- Canvas 4 | Multimedia and Canvas
- Critical Skills for Teaching 4 | Teaching with the Zoom Whiteboard
- Teaching Focus 6 |
- Teaching Fellow Q&A
No session to join, enjoy a break 🙂
4:10 – 4:40 pm | Closing and Q&A
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4:40 pm | Opening of Canvas asynchronous training content
Access self-paced Canvas Course!
All sessions will be recorded
Self-paced TA Orientation
The live orientation will be supplemented by an online course that offers self-paced access to additional content that will improve you as a teacher.
If you have questions, please feel free to reach out to Lane Sunwall at sunwall@uwm.edu.
New TA Social
Join us after the orientation for an authentic Milwaukee summertime tradition: Pete’s Pops! Cool off, meet your fellow new TA’s, and enjoy one of the many fun hand-made flavors. Please register below, so we know how many Pete’s Pops we should order!
Vegan, gluten, or dairy free options available.
Time and Location
The New TA Social will be held on campus following the New TA Orientation: August 29, 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. in the park on the north-east corner of East Hartford and North Maryland Avenues.
Additional Travel Accommodations
Given potential disruption to travel, we realize you may not be able to attend the synchronous portions of the training. Therefore, all synchronous components of the New TA Orientation will be recorded, and special accommodations will be made if you are unable to attend the live/synchronous components.
If you have questions, please feel free to reach out to Lane Sunwall at sunwall@uwm.edu.