Induction: graduate teaching assistants

LSE is keen to ensure that all graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) and guest teachers get adequate support to undertake their teaching roles effectively. To this end, the Teaching and Learning Centre (TLC) offers a range of induction and training opportunities for GTAs.

The School expects all GTAs who are also registered students at the School, and who do not have prior teaching experience, to attend, as a minimum:

• a series of workshops from one of the two options outlined below;
• the Deans' Induction for GTAs organised by the Deans' office; and
• any briefing sessions offered by the department in which they will be teaching.

Please note: the Deans' Inductions for GTAs will be held from 2-4pm on Wednesday 5 October 2005 and are compulsory for all new GTAs.

Option 1: Postgraduates Who Teach: an introduction to teaching and learning for those teaching predominantly qualitative subjects

Part 1: Introduction to teaching and learning at the LSE (please select one session from a choice of three). Topics considered include how students learn, class teaching, presenting and explaining, preparation and understanding student diversity.

• Thursday 22 September 2005, 9.45am - 5pm or
• Friday 23 September 2005, 9.45am - 5pm or
• Thursday 29 September 2005, 9.45am - 5pm

Part 2: Videoed practice teaching session (please select one session from a choice of four). A videoed practice teaching session that gives you a brief practical experience of running part of a class, with feedback and discussion led by a facilitator, and involving other GTAs.

(NB: in order for this session to run successfully you must stick to the session selected or let us know well in advance if you cannot attend.)

• Friday 30 September 2005, 10am - 1pm or
• Friday 30 September 2005, 2 - 5pm or
• Tuesday 4 October 2005, 10am - 1pm or
• Tuesday 4 October 2005, 2 - 5pm

In preparation for part 2, please be ready to lead a small group discussion on a topic from the subject area that you will be teaching during the coming term. Pick something that doesn't require too much specialist knowledge. Think about how you will introduce the discussion topic, how you will stimulate and guide the discussion, and what you anticipate the group members will gain from the discussion. Each person will have six to eight minutes to lead a discussion. (This might seem very short - but is sufficient to look at a range of issues to do with how you introduce the discussion, and get people involved.)

The session will run as follows:

• Each of you will introduce and lead a discussion (please feel free to arrange the furniture to suit your needs/ bring any handouts/ visual aids etc which might help)
  
  
• The rest of the group will act as 'students' involved in the discussion
  
  
• The discussion will be recorded on video

Following the discussions, we will review the video, and discuss aspects of the discussions - mainly looking at the discussion process (eg how effective the discussion leader is at clarifying the purpose of the discussion, introducing it, and involving others in it).

The session will give each person in the group the opportunity for practice and feedback, and will give you the opportunity to reflect on being a student in that situation, and seeing how other people approach small group discussion sessions.

Part 3: Assessing students' work (please select one session from a choice of three). This workshop focuses on how to use assessment criteria to fairly mark coursework and on giving constructive and helpful feedback to students.

• Tuesday 11 October 2005, 10am - 1pm or
• Thursday 20 October 2005, 10am - 1pm or
• Friday 21 October 2005, 10am - 1pm
• Thursday 3 November 2005 (Government), 10am - 1pm (Government Department)

Part 4: Reviewing your teaching, writing student reports and references, and responding to student feedback about your teaching (please select one session from a choice of two). This is a two hour session at the end of term to review how teaching has gone, compare experiences, ask questions and collectively solve any problems that have arisen.

• Monday 21 November 2005, 10am - 12 noon or
• Monday 21 November 2005, 2 - 4pm or
• Tuesday 22 November 2005, 10am - 12 noon

You are expected to attend one session for each part (1, 2, 3 and 4).

NB: We aim to allocate you your chosen session, but this may not always be possible.

We may arrange further sessions through the year. We make special arrangements for teachers in Economics, Mathematics and Statistics. If you are teaching in a predominantly quantitative area and feel these sessions may be more appropriate, please let us know. Dates for these sessions are as follows:

Option 2: Postgraduates Who Teach: an introduction to teaching and learning for those teaching predominantly quantitative subjects

Part 1: Introduction to running problem-set classes, and marking class work (please select one date from two).

NB: those in Maths/ Statistics should attend the session on Wednesday 28 September 2005.

• Wednesday 28 September 2005, 9.45am -5pm or
• Monday 3 October 2005, 9.45am -5pm

Part 2: Videoed practice teaching exercises (please select one session from a choice of four).

• Thursday 6 October 2005, 10am - 1pm or
• Thursday 6 October 2005, 2 - 5pm or
• Friday 7 October 2005, 10am - 1pm or
• Friday 7 October 2005, 2 - 5pm

Part 3: Reviewing your teaching, writing student reports and references, and responding to student feedback about your teaching (please select one session from a choice of two). This is a two hour session at the end of term to review how teaching has gone, compare experiences, ask questions and collectively solve any problems that have arisen.

• Monday 21 November 2005, 10am - 12 noon or
• Monday 21 November 2005, 2 - 4pm or
• Tuesday 22 November 2005, 10am - 12 noon

You are expected to attend one session for each part (1, 2 and 3).

NB: We aim to allocate you your chosen session, but this may not always be possible.

If you are teaching in the coming year, and would like to attend one of the introductory workshops, please contact us, tlc@lse.ac.uk or ext. 6624. Please note that these courses are often over-subscribed, and we may not be able to accommodate all workshop date preferences.

Anyone who has a GTA contract with LSE, and attends the Deans' Induction for GTAs and the introductory workshops, will receive payment of £25 for each half day session attended, up to a maximum of six half days (ie £150) in recognition that this is a compulsory requirement of the School's. Please ensure that you sign in for each session, so that we have accurate records on which to base payments.

If you are already an experienced teacher and have had appropriate training but are new to LSE we can arrange an 'advanced' programme. This will ensure that you are properly briefed about the School but do not have to cover ground that you are already familiar with from previous training and experience. If this is the case please contact the TLC for an appointment with the Director, Dr Liz Barnett. Please note you should still attend the Deans' Induction for which you will be paid.

For details of other events through the year, see the Teaching and Learning Central events programme, hard copies of which will be available at the start of the new academic year.

If would like any further advice or support in your teaching, please contact us to make an appointment. Email: tlc@lse.ac.uk, ext: 6624.

^