GTA Teaching Support
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Our Commitment to Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs)
The Center for Teaching Excellence is committed to supporting our graduate teaching assistants (GTAs), which include GTAs who teach a course as the instructor of record, GTAs who lead labs, GTAs who primarily support faculty with LMS maintenance, or GTAs who primarily tutor or grade. No matter their role, we are here to support GTAs through a wide range of services, workshops and training.
Graduate TA Services
MICRO-CREDENTIAL IN TEACHING
We offer an online micro-credential course for graduate students at SIU who are teaching or interested in teaching. The course provides valuable insights from experienced teachers and covers essential tools for instructors. To register, you can visit “micro-credential in teaching” on D2L.
It will be relaunched soon!
INTERNATIONAL TA ORAL INTERVIEW
All international Teaching Assistants (ITAs) at SIU must undergo an oral interview to assess their English communication skills for effective classroom communication. The interview provides constructive feedback and support for improvement if needed. If you are required to complete the interview, the graduate director of your academic program will submit your name and we will contact you with further details. You can find more details on the Information for International Teaching Assistants (ITAS) webpage.
NEW GRADUATE TEACHING ASSISTANT AND WORKSHOPS
We offer an annual orientation to help new graduate TAs transition smoothly into their teaching roles. The orientation includes both asynchronous and synchronous elements, providing an overview of SIU and training in our learning management system (LMS) called D2L/Brightspace.
We also provide various workshops throughout the year to address online instruction, classroom instruction, and ways to incorporate technology into your teaching.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES
We provide support resources for teaching assistants to navigate their academic careers. Additionally, we offer relevant information and training for those considering roles outside academia. Our resources include workshops and handouts. Contact the instructional design team for details.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
⨠ WHERE DO I GET HELP FOR MYCOURSES (D2L Brightspace)?
You can get help with MyCourses (D2L) in a variety of ways.
- You can call the MyCourses Helpdesk at 618-453-2258.
- The MyCourses Helpdesk is also available with 24/7 online support.
⨠ WHERE DO I GO FOR TECHNICAL HELP IN MY CLASSROOM?
Technical help is provided by the Center for Teaching Excellence for general-use classrooms. If your department maintains your equipment, your department should be your primary point of contact. Refer to the Technology Enhanced Classrooms page to search open access classrooms and view the technology available in those rooms.
To contact us for technical help, or individual instruction on using your podium, please contact SalukiTech.
⨠ WHERE DO I GET A KEY FOR THE PODIUM IN MY CLASSROOM?
Podium keys can be obtained in the Center for Teaching Excellence in Morris Library room 110. Podium keys work for all podiums on campus so you do not need one for each room you teach in. It is also suggested that you test your key to be sure it unlocks your podium before your first class meeting.