Teaching Assistant Resources

Please review readily available resources for new teaching assistants:

1. Teaching Assistants can sign up for CTL workshops throughout the academic year.

Many of the CTL workshops culminate to two teaching certificates:

  • Essentials of Teaching and Learning Certificate: This workshop series provides a foundation in important aspects of teaching and learning in higher education. It includes topics such as Inclusive Teaching, an Introduction to Active Teaching and Learning, Syllabus Design, Learning Objectives, and Giving and Receiving Feedback.
  • Essentials of Learning Technologies Certificate: This workshop series provides a foundation in essential learning technologies available at UNC Charlotte.

Note: Each Fall semester, CTL hosts a series of workshops on a range of topics such as Canvas (quizzes, assignments, speedgrader, studio), Poll Everywhere, active learning, giving feedback, syllabus 101, introduction to learning objectives, generative AI, Inclusive Teaching and Learning, etc.

2. Teaching Assistants can sign up for self-paced workshops anytime.

The CTL offers a wide list of self-paced short courses that anyone can self-enroll such as those below:

  • Starting with a Fresh Canvas (2 hrs)
  • Canvas Assignments and Gradebook (2 hrs)
  • Teaching with Zoom (2 hrs)
  • Canvas Analytics Foundations (2 hrs)
  • Online Teaching Foundations (5 hrs)
  • Accessibility 101: Creating Accessible Courses (3 hrs)
  • Universal Design for Learning (2 hrs)

3. Teaching Assistants can access online teaching guides written by instructional designers and faculty experts.

Here are short readings/articles on a very specific skill or concept that can benefit all teaching assistants:

4. Establish a communication plan between Teaching Assisstants and Instructors.

Many teaching asisstants have different / varied responsibilities anywhere from teaching, research, grading, office hours, etc. The training needs are dependent on each asssitant’s actual duties and disciplinary context. However, all teaching assistants and instructors need to manage effective communication. Here are some strategies to establish a communication plan:

  • Schedule “meet and greet” orientations between instructors members and the teaching assistants. See First Meeting Conversation Template
  • Develop a clear description on the roles of the teaching assistant and the instructor.
  • Establish in regular check-ins. ​Regular meetings are useful to review upcoming content for class. Working closely together enables the instructor to recognize the developing skill sets of the preceptors and to provide support or feedback so that they can improve.
  • Gather class feedback regularly. Consistent communication with the teaching assistant alerts the instructor on common areas of misunderstanding or misconceptions and gives us the opportunity to provide proactive suggestions to support students.

5. Academic program coordinators can link to our academic partners for resources on training new teaching assistants.