Each August, the Graduate School hosts a workshop for all new graduate teaching assistants (GTAs). The program is mandatory for all U.S. and international GTAs. All GTAs who are non-native speakers of English must also successfully complete the International Teaching Assistant Program (ITAP), conducted by the University's English Language Institute, before they will be allowed to teach. Details on the ITAP program are available at http://eli.ua.edu/itap.html

At the Workshop for New GTAs, faculty and staff who have been recognized for their superior teaching provide formal presentations on topics such as syllabus and course preparation, the advantages and disadvantages of the lecture format for college teaching, using multimedia and the Internet in teaching, effective communication by classroom and laboratory instructors, and the effective use of active and collaborative learning techniques in both small and large classes.

Experienced GTAs recognized for superior teaching in their respective colleges lead one day of sessions at the workshop. These "Graduate Teaching Fellows" videotape new GTAs who have each prepared a short presentation. Each GTA receives both written and oral analyses of teaching strengths and areas for improvement. The new GTAs then have the opportunity to analyze videos that show some of the most frequently occurring problems in the classroom. The Fellows conclude the day with the new GTAs by discussing important University policies such as services for students with disabilities, sexual harassment, academic misconduct, academic grievances, and the confidentiality of student records.
 
 

THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA GRADUATE CATALOG

:: TABLE OF CONTENTS

The Graduate School | UA Catalogs | Graduate Publications | Contact

Update: Oct. 2007